Intestinal infections are a group of pathologies that affect the gastrointestinal tract. An adult, whose body is distinguished by strong immunity, quickly copes with such ailments. But they can cause serious harm to the he alth of the crumbs. If the child is not provided with timely medical care, then the fragile body may not be able to cope with such a problem. In some cases, intestinal infection even leads to death. Therefore, it is very important not to let such diseases take their course. An adult is simply obliged to know how to treat an intestinal infection. In addition, it is important to understand that only a specialist can provide qualified assistance.
Characterization of pathologies
What is hidden behind such a name? How does the disease manifest itself and how to treat an intestinal infection?
With a disease, sometimes quite dangerous, almost every person faces in his life. After all, thisthe group contains many infectious pathologies that have a detrimental effect on the work of the gastrointestinal tract. The causes of infection are bacteria, viruses, toxins. Diseases vary in duration and severity of symptoms. For example, a staphylococcal infection is cured quickly enough, which cannot be said about a disease such as cholera.
The most dangerous intestinal infections in the summer. The peak incidence is associated with the use of unboiled, dirty water, poorly washed vegetables, fruits, and berries. In addition, in the heat, fish, meat, and dairy products deteriorate much faster. Insects are also carriers of the infection. That is why the question often arises: how to treat an intestinal infection at sea? It is almost impossible to determine therapy without examination. Since some diseases require antibiotics to fight. Other illnesses need a completely different approach.
Causes of illness
People who are interested in how to treat an intestinal infection in adults or children should understand that such pathologies are much easier to prevent than to look for ways to deal with them. At the same time, avoiding ailments is not as difficult as it might seem. Understanding the mechanism of infection allows you to protect yourself and your baby from the development of pathology.
The main cause of intestinal pathologies is contact with an infected person. Such a person releases pathogens into the environment with vomit, feces, sometimes with urine.
Routes of infection:
- Oral-fecal. Infection occurs through water or food. Many pathogens are highly resistant to environmental conditions.
- Household. Sources of infection can be any household items. In addition, sometimes infection occurs after swimming in open polluted water bodies. Special mention should be made of non-observance of hygiene. Such an elementary procedure as hand washing can significantly reduce the risk of infection.
- Airborne. Some viral pathologies can be transmitted by coughing, sneezing.
Babies are the most susceptible to pathology. That is why the question is so sharply posed: how to treat an intestinal infection in children? Especially often there is an ailment in premature babies, crumbs who are bottle-fed, with immunodeficiency and diseases of the nervous system.
However, adults also suffer from intestinal infections. The risk group includes the elderly population, patients with gastrointestinal pathologies, people suffering from alcohol dependence.
The main causative agents of ailments
Many viruses and bacteria can cause unpleasant symptoms. The doctor, before treating a gastrointestinal infection, will definitely determine which pathogen caused the pathology. After all, therapy is completely based on understanding the root cause of the disease.
So, there are several types of such infections:
- Intestinal bacterial pathology. This species includes: salmonellosis, dysentery, yersiniosis, escherichiosis, campylobacteriosis, acute intestinal infection (AII) provoked by Pseudomonas aeruginosacoli, clostridia, klebsiella, proteus, staphylococcal poisoning, typhoid fever, cholera, botulism.
- OKI of a viral nature. Such pathologies are caused by rotaviruses, enteroviruses, adenoviruses, reoviruses, coronaviruses.
- Fungal intestinal ailments. Often they are provoked by Candida.
- Protozoal intestinal pathology. These are diseases giardiasis, amoebiasis.
Characteristic symptoms
It can manifest itself in 6 hours - 2 days after infection. Already by the symptoms, one can suspect what pathology the patient has encountered. And this makes it much easier to understand how to treat an intestinal infection.
Almost any disease in this group causes 2 main syndromes:
- infectious-toxic;
- intestinal.
Let's look at them.
Toxic Infectious Syndrome may manifest:
- Rise in temperature. With some pathologies, the thermometer shows the figure 37 ° C. Hyperthermia (above 38 °C) is sometimes observed. But some ailments are able to proceed even at normal temperature or its short-term rise. For example, the latter is typical for a staphylococcal infection.
- Symptoms of intoxication. The patient may experience weakness, aches, nausea. Against the background of hyperthermia, vomiting often occurs.
Intestinal syndrome manifests itself in different ways. However, the symptoms are also similar. Knowing what provoked the disease, you can easily determine how to treat an intestinal infection.
The patient may experience the following manifestations of intestinal syndrome:
- Gastritis. Pain occurs in the region of the stomach. The person has constant nausea. Vomiting can be provoked by any food and even a drunk sip of water. It brings a little relief. As a rule, vomiting is repeated. Sometimes there is diarrhea. However, this phenomenon is observed infrequently.
- Gastroenteritis. The pain syndrome covers the region of the stomach and the umbilical region. The disease is characterized by vomiting, loose stools (watery). The color of the stool may indicate pathology. With salmonellosis, it is greenish, and in the case of escherichiosis, it is light brown. Often there is undigested food, mucus in it.
- Enteritis. There is only a violation of the chair. The diarrhea is watery in nature.
- Gastroenterocolitis. The patient is faced with repeated diarrhea (which does not provide relief), persistent abdominal pain (diffuse), and severe discomfort during defecation. Sometimes impurities of blood, mucus appear in the stool.
- Enterocolitis. It is characterized by pain over the entire area of the abdomen, frequent stools.
- Colitis. Discomfort occurs in the lower abdomen. Most often it is localized on the left. Defecation is painful, the stool contains impurities of mucus, blood. Emptying does not bring relief. Often there are false urges to defecate.
What do the symptoms indicate? Often, it accurately characterizes the pathology:
- Gastroenteritis, gastroenterocolitis and enterocolitis occur with salmonellosis.
- Dysentery is characterized by enterocolitisand colitis.
- Escherichiosis is accompanied by gastroenteritis.
- And cholera is characterized by enteritis.
Features of pathology in infants
Unfortunately, the baby is not able to explain what hurts him. Therefore, parents should carefully monitor any changes in the behavior of the crumbs. After all, some symptoms may indicate the development of AII.
Attention should be paid to the following signs:
- Rejection of food. This is quite a wake-up call. Especially if after eating there is not only regurgitation, but also vomiting.
- Worry. The baby does not calm down, does not sleep well. At the same time, he drums his legs and pulls them up to his tummy.
- Bloating. Colic is quite common in newborns. However, with intestinal pathologies, they increase many times over.
- Vomiting. Such symptoms may even be absent. But if a baby is vomiting, then its repetition should alert.
- Temperature. It can rise from 37 to 39 °C. In no case should you decide on your own how to treat an intestinal infection in children. This is the prerogative of specialists only. Such crumbs should be under the supervision of doctors.
- Diarrhea. The chair becomes much more frequent. It becomes watery. Often contains mucus, undigested food, streaks of blood.
Often, parents ask themselves: how to treat an intestinal infection in a baby? Doctors strongly recommend not to take any measures to combat pathology without an appointment. You should know that the consequences of the disease, such as dehydration,weight loss, babies develop rapidly. Sometimes a few hours is enough. Such conditions are extremely dangerous for the he alth of the child and for his life. Therefore, the only sure way is to immediately contact the doctors.
Symptomatology requiring an urgent visit to the doctors
Unfortunately, the occurrence of diarrhea is rarely regarded as a need to see a doctor. Usually, people, not even always understanding how to treat an intestinal infection in adults, try to stop diarrhea on their own. Sometimes this procedure can turn into serious problems.
Mandatory doctor visit required condition:
- the above symptoms in preschool children;
- pathology in people aged (over 65);
- repeated diarrhea in an adult (more than 5 times);
- presence of blood in the stool;
- fever accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea;
- cramping abdominal discomfort;
- intense thirst and marked weakness;
- presence of a history of chronic ailments.
Baby Therapy
How to treat a viral intestinal infection in children? It is very important to call a doctor at the first symptoms. In addition, you should not select medicines on your own. Even activated charcoal can disrupt the pattern of pathology. He paints the chair black. And this can mask the clinic of such a serious pathology as intestinal bleeding.
Parents should know how to treat an intestinal infection at home before the doctor arrives.
The following therapy is recommended:
- Diet. Infants are not hungry. And older children should refrain from eating. If the crumbs have an appetite, then you need to feed him in small portions. But be sure to exclude dairy products, vegetables, fruits, juices.
- Drinking mode. This is a mandatory and most important condition. During diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration can occur very quickly. Therefore, the child simply needs to drink plenty of water. In case of severe vomiting, it is necessary to give liquid in small quantities, but often. To restore the water-s alt balance, it is recommended to use electrolyte solutions: Regidron, Oralit, Glucosolan.
- Antipyretic. It can only be given for hyperthermia. It is better to use a suppository. But with severe diarrhea, you can give the baby an antipyretic syrup.
- Enterosorbents. They are used only in extreme cases. It is best to use the preparations "Smecta", "Enterosgel".
Therapeutic diet
Toddlers of early age must be hospitalized. Adults are admitted to the hospital with moderate and severe forms of the disease. After examining the patient, the doctor will definitely explain how to treat a viral intestinal infection in adults.
All patients are assigned dietary table number 4.
It implies use in the acute period:
- mucus soups;
- mashed meat;
- weak broths;
- boiled fish;
- stale bread;
- omelet,porridge;
- bad cookies.
Totally excluded:
- milk,
- smoked meats, canned food,
- seasonings, spices,
- green onion, garlic, radish,
- alcohol,
- beans.
Return to normal eating occurs gradually over 4 weeks.
Drug therapy
How to treat an acute intestinal infection? It is important to understand that with such a serious pathology, only a doctor should prescribe therapy. In addition, depending on the disease, a treatment regimen will be selected. So, if a viral intestinal infection is diagnosed, how to treat it?
Typically, drug therapy is based on application:
- Rehydration drugs. They are prescribed for any intestinal pathologies, which are accompanied by loss of body fluid. The patient is recommended medicines "Regidron", "Citroglucosolan", "Enterodez". In addition, it is advisable for the patient to drink plenty of water. In severe conditions in a hospital setting, the patient is prescribed intravenous solutions.
- Antidiarrheal drugs. To neutralize the harmful effects of toxins on the body, enterosorbents are prescribed to the patient. Most often, the therapy includes the drugs "Polyfepam", "Filtrum", "Laktofiltrum", "White Coal", "Enterosgel". No less effective medicines "Smecta", "Hilak forte", "Baktisubtil" can be recommended for use.
- Probiotics. They are prescribed to normalize the microflora of the gastrointestinal tract. An excellent therapeutic effect will be provided by the medicines "Linex", "Acipol", "Bion 3", "Acilak",Bifidumbacterin forte, Bifistim, Bifiform.
- Enzymes. They can significantly reduce the load on the digestive tract and facilitate digestion. It is advisable to use one of the following drugs: Pancreatin, Ermital, Mezim, Creon, Mikrazim.
What to do with hyperthermia?
How to treat an intestinal infection with a high temperature? In case of hyperthermia, the patient in the above therapeutic course includes antipyretics.
Medicines may be prescribed:
- "Paracetamol" (suspension is allowed to take children from 1 month).
- Panadol.
- "Tsefekon D".
- Calpol.
- Efferalgan.
- Nurofen.
Additional medicines
In addition to the above medications, may be included in the treatment:
- Intestinal antiseptics. They suppress the vital activity of staphylococcal forms, Proteus, yeast fungi. At the same time, the microflora has practically no effect. Often prescribed medicines "Intetrix", "Enterol", "Intestopan", "Enterofuril", "Entero-Sediv".
- Antibacterial drugs. Such drugs are prescribed only when diagnosing severe forms of the disease. The most commonly used cephalosporins. Since such agents have a wide range of effects and low toxicity. For intestinal infections, the drugs "Cefabol", "Klaforan" are prescribed. Such medicines are used by injection. If a patient is diagnosed with cholera, the following may be included in the treatment:antibiotics: "Erythromycin", "Tsiprolet", "Levomycetin", "Tetracycline", "Succinate", "Doxycycline".
Very often, these drugs are prescribed by doctors before the diagnosis is confirmed. Often the question arises: why include them in therapy? After all, neither antibacterial medicines nor intestinal antiseptics are able to fight a viral infection. The use of these drugs avoids the addition of a bacterial infection.
Rotovirus intestinal infection is a very common pathology. How to treat such an ailment? It should be noted that the methods of struggle are not particularly different from the standard therapy described above. The treatment process is based on the normalization of gastrointestinal enzyme deficiency. Be sure to follow the diet. In addition, antiviral drugs are included in the therapy.
Features of pathology in pregnant women
Women who are expecting a baby are very careful about their diet. They wonder which foods contain more vitamins. After all, the baby needs to provide good nutrition. This is a very correct approach. However, as a result of such scrupulous selection of he althy food, many mistakes are often made.
As a result, an intestinal infection may develop in pregnant women. How to treat her? Initially, it should be noted that it is categorically contraindicated for expectant mothers to undertake any therapy on their own. After all, most drugs that can get rid of pathology are not intended for use by pregnant women.
The following symptoms may indicate the presence of an intestinal infection:
- unpleasant discomfort, pain in the stomach area;
- loss of appetite;
- nausea, vomiting;
- increased gas formation;
- diarrhea.
Such signs should absolutely not be ignored, believing that they will pass on their own. After all, most often they indicate the diagnosis of "intestinal infection" in pregnant women. How to treat such an ailment, only a doctor can say. It is he who will select the appropriate therapy aimed at eliminating negative symptoms and at the same time safe for the unborn baby.
Methods of treatment of pregnant women
Any delay is very dangerous. After all, the risk of developing intoxication of the body and dehydration is high. Such pathologies will pull a thickening of the blood. As a result, blood clots can form. In addition, the concentration of oxytocin in the blood increases. Such a substance can provoke premature birth, and early miscarriage.
Dangerous for the unborn baby dehydration of the mother. After all, a woman loses useful minerals and vitamins along with the liquid. Namely, they ensure the full development of the fetus. Therefore, when observing unpleasant symptoms, it is very important to consult a doctor in a timely manner with the question: how to treat an intestinal infection during pregnancy? Only a doctor is able to choose a therapy, assessing the patient's condition and weighing all the risks. The only thing that remains unchanged in the treatment is the use of drugs:
- Enterosorbents. They allow much faster and more efficientcleanse the body of toxins. As a rule, activated charcoal is prescribed, "Smecta".
- Rehydration drugs. It is extremely important to protect the body from dehydration. Therefore, along with the use of liquid, it is recommended to use the medicine "Regidron". Apply it until the feeling of thirst and dryness in the mouth completely disappears. The drug should be taken in small sips.
Pregnant women are prohibited from fasting. After the disappearance of nausea, it is recommended to drink tea with sugar. After a few hours you need to eat. However, fatty, spicy, fried foods are excluded from the diet. During this period, cereals on the water are more useful. It is best to eat rice.
As soon as the discomfort in the stomach subsides, you can drink chicken broth (only low-fat) with crackers. Do not eat raw vegetables and sweets. They will only aggravate the pathology.
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to protect the body from the development of an intestinal infection. However, knowing how to deal with it, you can avoid serious consequences. In addition, a timely visit to the doctor provides adequate therapy.
He alth to you!
