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- Commentary on ACUTE GASTROENTERITIS’s Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
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Commentary on ACUTE GASTROENTERITIS’s Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Yes, stomach flu or gastroenteritis is a medical condition in the form of inflammation of the walls of the digestive tract, such as the intestines and stomach. This condition can cause sufferers to experience diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea and vomiting.
Gastroenteritis (GE) is an inflammation of the stomach lining and small intestine, characterized by loose stools >3 times in 24 hours. Acute GE occurs in less than 14 days and chronic GE lasts over 30 days. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, heartburn, bowel spasms (tenesmus), fever, and signs of dehydration.
Viral gastroenteritis has a short incubation period and high frequency of vomiting, including diarrhea. Treatment is usually continuous fluid and nutritional replacement. Patients with severe dehydration require fluid IVs. Other causes include infection, malabsorption, food poisoning, allergies, and the patient’s psychology. Rotavirus is the most common cause among children 5 years old or younger. Other infections include dysentery, giardiasis, and cholera.
The outcome for GE is generally good, but severe dehydration can be fatal if not treated properly. Prevention is focused on educating the community about sanitation and cleanliness of water, food, and drinks. Rotavirus vaccination, especially in children, is an important component of preventing diarrhea.
Gastroenteritis is caused by two common types of viruses:
- Rotavirus
- This virus, which is transmitted through the mouth, tends to transmit infants and children because children often put their fingers or other contaminated objects in their mouths. Adults infected with this type of virus may not experience any symptoms, but they can still transmit it to young children and infants.
- Norovirus：
- This type of virus can infect anyone at any age, both adults and children. Most cases of food poisoning that occur worldwide are caused by this virus. Some places where this virus is often transmitted are classrooms or schools, school or campus dormitories, and child care facilities.
Contaminated food and water are the main reasons for spreading the virus, but direct contact with infected individuals can also transmit the virus. - Bacteria：
- In gastroenteritis caused by bacteria, the mechanisms that occur include mucosal invasion, adhesion, and toxin production. The small intestine has an important role in absorbing fluids, but in people with gastroenteritis, the small intestine fails to absorb fluids due to the presence of toxins in the intestine.
Most cases of gastroenteritis can heal on their own without requiring special medical treatment. To speed up the recovery process and prevent dehydration, gastroenteritis patients are advised to carry out self-care at home, such as getting enough rest and drinking lots of water. In addition, gastroenteritis patients are also advised to eat food little by little so as not to worsen nausea and vomiting.
However, if the symptoms that appear are quite severe, the doctor will provide IV fluids and medications, such as pain relievers and nausea. The doctor can also prescribe antibiotics to treat gastroenteritis caused by bacterial infections.
Gastroenteritis is a disease that can be prevented by maintaining personal and environmental hygiene. Here are steps to prevent gastroenteritis that you can apply in your daily life:
● Give your child rotavirus vaccinations regularly.
● Wash your hands with soap and running water after using the toilet and before eating.
● Make sure food has been prepared using clean and sterile cooking utensils.
● Avoid sharing personal items, such as cutlery and towels.
● Avoid consuming raw food.
● Keep your distance from people with gastroenteritis.
Rotavirus vaccine is a vaccine to prevent diseases caused by rotavirus infection, such as diarrhea. Rotavirus infection is the main cause of diarrhea with severe dehydration.
There are 2 types of oral rotavirus vaccines, namely monovalent vaccine (RV1) containing weakened viruses and pentavalent vaccine (RV5) containing live viruses. The virus in the vaccine will replicate in the intestines and interact with the patient’s immune system to produce immunity.
RV1 vaccine is given 2 times with a 4-week interval, in children aged 6–24 weeks. RV5 vaccine is given 3 times with a 4-week interval between doses, in children aged 6–32 weeks.
監修した医師
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内科
Dr.Kanti Widya paramartha
PB IDI. Panduan Praktik Klinis Dokter di Fasilitas Tingkat Pertama. Cetakan ke-2. Jakarta; 2017
Medscape. Viral gastroenteritis. Tersedia di: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/176515-overview#a4
Burke RM, Tate JE, et al. Global Experience With Rotavirus Vaccines. J Infect Dis. 2021 Dec 20;224(12 Suppl 2):S792-S800. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiab399. PMID: 34374426; PMCID: PMC8687052.
National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Patent Summary for US-5932223-A, Rotavirus vaccine formulations. November 2022. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/patent/US-5932223-A.
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