"Oh, I still feel like something is wrong with my stomach today... as if I'm not digesting my food." Do you sometimes feel this way? You've probably struggled with things like stomach upset, bloating, and vomiting. Most of the time, these things go away in a couple of days, but sometimes it's something you need to be more careful about. That's the kind of condition we're going to talk about today, called enteritis.
Simply put, what is Enteritis?
Simply put, enteritis is an inflammation of your small intestine, which means swelling with inflammation. Just like when we sometimes get a wound, it becomes red, swollen, and painful. The main causes of this are various viral and bacterial infections. Sometimes this enteritis condition can be associated with the stomach, in which case we call it gastroenteritis. Or if it involves the large intestine, it is called enterocolitis. The conditions we all know as "food poisoning" or "stomach flu" most often fall into this category of gastroenteritis.
So, when your small intestine becomes red, swollen, and irritated like this, you may experience symptoms like fever, stomach pain, and bloating. It can also interfere with your digestive system. This can cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Most of the time, this condition, called ``Acute enteritis,'' comes on suddenly and goes away in a few days. However, rarely, some chronic conditions can cause this enteritis to become chronic and last for a long time.
Is this enteritis serious?
Most of the time, enteritis is a short-term condition. You can manage it at home by getting plenty of rest and drinking plenty of fluids. However, the biggest risk is dehydration. This is when your body loses water. This can happen due to diarrhea and vomiting, as well as not being able to properly drink fluids. If you get plenty of rest and drink electrolyte formulas like Jeevani to replenish your body's fluids, you will start to feel better soon.
However, if you have a bacterial infection, you may need to take antibiotics. If dehydration suddenly becomes severe, you may need to be hospitalized. If enteritis persists for a long time, it can cause serious complications. However, this is very rare.
What causes this enteritis?
There are four main categories of causes that can cause enteritis. There are also common causes related to each category. Let's take a look at what they are.
1. Enteritis caused by infection `(Infectious enteritis)`
This is the most common type of enteritis. It is caused by viruses, bacteria, and sometimes parasites. These viruses, bacteria, and parasites spread very quickly. They can be transmitted through contaminated food and water, or by contact with an infected person. Think about it, sometimes when we buy food from the store, or when we prepare food without washing our hands properly, these types of germs can easily enter our bodies.
- The most common types of viruses that cause enteritis are:
- Norovirus
- Rotavirus
- Adenovirus
- Astrovirus
- The most common types of bacteria that cause enteritis are:
- Salmonella
- Shigella
- E. coli `(E. coli)`
- C. jejuni `(C. jejuni)`
- C. difficile `(C. difficile)`
- S. aureus `(S. aureus)`
- The most common parasites that cause enteritis are:
- Giardia
- Cryptosporidium `(Cryptosporidium)`
- Cyclospora `(Cyclospora)`
2. Inflammatory enteritis caused by inflammatory conditions
The main cause of this type of enteritis is certain autoimmune diseases that affect the digestive system. Simply put, our immune system sometimes mistakenly attacks our own body parts, in this case the digestive system, as if they were infectious agents. This can lead to inflammation. This can be a chronic, long-term problem. Examples of such diseases are:
- Celiac disease
- Ulcerative enteritis
- Eosinophilic enteritis
- Microscopic enteritis
- Lupus enteritis
- Crohn's disease (also called regional enteritis)
In addition to these diseases, certain medications, especially nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), some antibiotics, alcohol, and cocaine, can also cause inflammation in your intestines.
3. Radiation enteritis
This is also called secondary inflammatory enteritis. It is caused by exposure to radiation, especially radiation therapy to the abdomen and pelvis. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy, which are used to kill cancer cells, can also damage the protective cells in our mouth, stomach, and intestines. This destroys that protective lining, causing inflammation.
For most people, radiation enteritis gets better after a few weeks of treatment. But in rare cases, it can last for months or even years. Scientists don't know exactly why this happens. People with this chronic form of radiation enteritis are at risk of serious damage to the small intestine.
4. Ischemic enteritis (IE) caused by impaired blood supply
This is also called intestinal ischemic syndrome. This is when the blood supply to part of your intestines is blocked. Small intestine ischemia is an uncommon but serious condition. It can also cause enteritis and all the other symptoms associated with it.
What are the symptoms of Enteritis?
No matter what type of enteritis you have, the symptoms are largely the same. They may include:
- Having a fever
- Body pain
- Abdominal pain and cramping (feeling like your stomach is being squeezed and squeezed)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Appetite
- Diarrhea (vomiting)
- Rarely, blood in the stool
What are the complications of acute enteritis?
The most serious complication of acute enteritis is dehydration . This means that the body loses water. This dehydration can range from mild to severe. While healthy adults can recover from dehydration relatively quickly, it is a serious risk for young children, the elderly, and those who are immunocompromised. Severe dehydration can have serious consequences. If you have enteritis, or are caring for someone with it, it is important to give them fluids after vomiting or diarrhea has stopped. Also, watch out for the signs of dehydration. These include:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Fast heart rate
- Low blood pressure
- Dry mouth
- Dark urine
- Constipation
- Lack of tears
- Sunken eyes
What are the complications of chronic enteritis?
This is not common. However, chronic enteritis, which can be caused by radiation therapy or inflammatory bowel disease, can have serious long-term side effects. These include:
- Anemia (low blood count)
- Chronic diarrhea
- Frequent abdominal cramps
- Abdominal distention
- Nausea
- Partial obstruction of the small bowel
How do doctors diagnose enteritis?
Enteritis can usually be diagnosed based on your symptoms, your medical history, and a physical exam. However, in some cases, your doctor may need to do tests to find out exactly what's causing it. For example, a stool sample may be sent to a lab to find out what kind of infection you have. If there is any doubt about the cause, or if more information is needed, X-rays or other images of your small intestine may be taken. An upper endoscopy, which examines the upper part of your intestine, can take pictures and tissue samples at the same time. The tissue samples can then be examined to find out more about what's really going on in your small intestine.
What are the treatments for enteritis?
Treatment for enteritis focuses on controlling symptoms. In most cases, getting plenty of rest and rehydration is enough. If the cause is an infection, your body will usually fight it off without any help. However, in rare cases, if a bacterial infection lasts longer than usual, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to help fight it.
If the cause is radiation, your doctor may temporarily or permanently stop your radiation treatment. If the cause is ischemia or an autoimmune disease, those conditions will need to be treated directly. If you have chronic enteritis, your doctor may also prescribe anti-inflammatory medication.
Remember, don't take any medication on your own without consulting a doctor. It could make the condition worse.
Will this enteritis get better on its own?
Yes, most of the time it will get better on its own. Enteritis caused by an infection should get better within a week. Enteritis caused by radiation therapy should get better within a few weeks. If you have a chronic condition that causes frequent enteritis, it may come and go. Long-term enteritis is rare, but it can be serious. If your symptoms last longer than usual, be sure to see a doctor.
How are we protected from this enteritis?
The most common type of enteritis is infectious enteritis, which is also the easiest to prevent. You've probably had a lot of stomach problems in your life. So, it's important to follow good hygiene habits to avoid such conditions and stop spreading them to others.
- Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap after using the bathroom and before handling food.
- Thoroughly wash kitchen utensils and surfaces that have touched raw meat, fish, and vegetables.
- Cook meat, fish, and shellfish well before eating.
- Keep cold food cold and hot food hot.
- Use bottled water when traveling abroad.
- If you are sick, stay home until your symptoms are gone for 48 hours. This will help prevent you from spreading the virus to others.
What kind of food should you eat when you have enteritis?
If you have trouble keeping food down, it's best to eat simple, bland foods. Doctors still recommend a "BRAT" diet when you're starting to eat slowly. That's Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. This isn't very nutritious in the long run, but it's enough for a few days. Eat small, frequent meals to avoid nausea.
Saltine crackers with chicken soup are also a good idea when you're starting to feel a little better. If you can't eat solid food yet, just drinking plain broths will help you stay hydrated and give you a little energy. Being sick isn't easy.
When should I seek medical advice for Enteritis?
If you treat enteritis at home, you should get better in a few days. However, you should definitely see a doctor if:
- If your symptoms have not improved after three or four days.
- If you have been vomiting for more than two days.
- If your child has diarrhea for more than 24 hours.
- If you have not been able to take in fluids for 24 hours.
- If you or your child are showing signs of dehydration.
- If your fever is higher than 102 Fahrenheit (38.9 Celsius).
- If you have blood in your stool or vomit.
- If you suddenly have severe stomach pain.
Finally, things to remember
We've all heard and experienced things like "stomach flu," "stomach virus," and "food poisoning." These are often referred to as enteritis. But it's not just like influenza, which is an infection of the respiratory system. A "stomach flu" is just like any other cold and is easily spread from person to person. But you may not know that enteritis can also be caused by excessive use of alcohol, aspirin, or ibuprofen, or as a side effect of another medical condition.
Whatever the cause, enteritis is not a pleasant experience. But most of the time, it will go away on its own within a few days. If you are suffering from this condition, get plenty of rest and stay hydrated. If symptoms persist for more than a few days, be sure to see a doctor. Then you can get well soon!
` Enteritis, stomach upset, diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, small intestinal infection, food poisoning
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