Eating foods or drinking liquids contaminated with a virus, bacteria, or parasites
Medicines such as antibiotics or anticancer drugs
Damage from radiation therapy to the pelvic area (radiation enteritis)
Medical conditions such as Crohn disease or celiac disease
What are the signs and symptoms of enteritis?
Diarrhea
Blood or mucus in your bowel movements
Nausea and vomiting
Fever
Abdominal pain
How is enteritis diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider will examine you and ask about your medical conditions, medicines, or recent treatments. The provider will ask about your symptoms and when they started. Tell your provider if you if you have traveled to a foreign country recently. You may also need a blood or bowel movement sample tested for the germ causing your enteritis.
How is enteritis treated and managed?
Treatment for enteritis depends on the cause. Enteritis may get better on its own, or you may need any of the following:
Medicines may be given to fight an infection caused by bacteria or a parasite. You may also need medicines to slow or stop your diarrhea or vomiting. Do not take these medicines unless your healthcare provider say it is okay. Other medicines may be needed to treat medical conditions that are causing enteritis.
Eat foods that help to decrease symptoms. Limit or avoid foods and liquids that are high in sugar, fat, and fiber to help relieve diarrhea. It may be helpful to avoid lactose. Lactose is a type of sugar that is found in milk products. You may be able to tolerate soups, broths, well-cooked vegetables, canned fruit, and baked or broiled meats. Ask your dietitian or healthcare provider if you should follow a special diet. You may need to avoid other foods if you have certain medical conditions such as celiac disease.
Drink liquids as directed. Ask how much liquid to drink each day and which liquids are best for you. It is important to prevent or treat dehydration. Even if you have been vomiting, suck on ice chips or take small sips of clear liquids often. Slowly increase the amount of clear liquids you drink. If you become dehydrated, you may need IV liquids.
Drink an oral rehydration solution (ORS) as directed. An ORS contains water, salts, and sugar that are needed to replace lost body fluids. Ask what kind of ORS to use, how much to drink, and where to get it.
How can I help prevent enteritis?
Enteritis that is caused by bacteria, parasites, or viruses can be prevented. The following may help to prevent this type of enteritis:
Wash your hands often. Use soap and water. Wash your hands after you use the bathroom, change a child's diapers, or sneeze. Wash your hands before you prepare or eat food.
Clean surfaces and do laundry often. Wash your clothes and towels separately from the rest of the laundry. Clean surfaces in your home with antibacterial cleaner or bleach.
Clean food thoroughly and cook safely. Wash raw vegetables before you cook. Cook meat, fish, and eggs fully. Do not use the same dishes for raw meat as you do for other foods. Refrigerate any leftover food immediately.
Be aware when you camp or travel. Drink only clean water. Do not drink from rivers or lakes unless you purify or boil the water first. When you travel, drink bottled water and do not add ice. Do not eat fruit that has not been peeled. Do not eat raw fish or meat that is not fully cooked.
When should I seek immediate care?
You cannot stop vomiting.
You have not urinated for 12 hours.
When should I contact my healthcare provider?
You have a fever over 101.5.
You have blood or mucus in your bowel movements.
You continue to vomit or have diarrhea for more than 3 days, even after treatment.
You have a dry mouth and eyes, you are urinating less than usual, and you feel dizzy when you stand up.
Your mouth or eyes are dry. You are not urinating as much or as often.
You are losing weight without trying.
You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.
Care Agreement
You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your healthcare providers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment. The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
Enteritis is most often caused by eating or drinking things that are contaminated with bacteria or viruses. The germs settle in the small intestine and cause inflammation and swelling. Enteritis may also be caused by: An autoimmune condition, such as Crohn disease.
Enteritis is inflammation of your small intestine. It may also include your stomach (gastroenteritis) or colon (enterocolitis). It's usually caused by a viral, bacterial or parasitic infection (food poisoning, stomach bug or the stomach flu). Sometimes it's caused by radiation, drugs or disease.
How long does enteritis last? Enteritis can last anywhere from a few days when caused by an infection to several months when caused by radiation treatment. In the case of chronic enteritis, it may last for much longer.
Otherwise, slowly begin to eat bland, easy-to-digest foods, such as soda crackers, toast, gelatin, bananas, applesauce, rice and chicken. Stop eating if your nausea returns. Avoid milk and dairy products, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and fatty or highly seasoned foods for a few days. Get plenty of rest.
Mild cases often do not need testing or treatment. Antidiarrheal medicine is sometimes used. You may need rehydration with electrolyte solutions if your body does not have enough fluids. You may need medical care and fluids through a vein (intravenous fluids) if you have diarrhea and cannot keep fluids down.
Symptoms of enteritis can include fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Viral enteritis usually clears up without treatment in a few days. However, if you have symptoms of enteritis for more than three or four days, or you suspect that you have bacterial enteritis, seek medical attention.
Share on Pinterest Symptoms of enteritis can include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. Infectious enteritis is the most common type and includes bacterial and viral enteritis. Eating or drinking contaminated food or water causes bacterial enteritis.
In some cases, adults can take over-the-counter medicines such as loperamide link (Imodium) and bismuth subsalicylate link (Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate) to treat diarrhea caused by viral gastroenteritis.
A person with gastroenteritis is most infectious from when their symptoms start until 48 hours after all their symptoms have passed, although they may also be infectious for a short time before and after this.
Several different viruses including rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus, and astroviruses account for most cases of acute viral gastroenteritis. Most are transmitted via the fecal-oral route, including contaminated food and water.
Gastroenteritis is often mistaken for stomach flu although it is actually an inflammation of the lining of the intestines caused by a virus, bacteria or parasites. Symptoms of gastroenteritis include diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, headache, fever and chills. Most people recover with no treatment.
There's no medicine for stomach flu. Antibiotics don't work on viruses — they're for bacterial infections. The best thing you can do to help your immune system do its work is to stay home and rest, stay hydrated and eat a little if you can. Give your body the energy it needs to fight the infection.
Avoid dairy products and meat for at least 36 hours. Also avoid large meals, coffee, alcohol, fatty, fried, greasy foods (hamburgers, hot dogs, hoagies), highly seasoned or spiced foods (pizza, tomato products), salad dressing, oil, butter, and raw vegetables until you feel better.
Treatment often involves intravenous nutrition to allow the bowel to rest, which typically resolves the disease within one or two weeks. However, in some cases, surgery might be necessary.
It often occurs after eating at picnics, school cafeterias, large social gatherings, or restaurants. Your food may get infected in many ways: Meat or poultry may come into contact with bacteria when the animal is processed. Water that is used during growing or shipping may contain animal or human waste.
Limit dairy products. Many people with inflammatory bowel disease find that problems such as diarrhea, abdominal pain and gas improve by limiting or eliminating dairy products. ...
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