Infective gastroenteritis

Question 1

what is the most common symptom of gastroenteritis?

Answer 1

Acute diarrhoea

Question 2

What are the symptoms in gastroenteritis?

Answer 2

• Diarrhoea, may have bleeding with it
• Vomiting / nausea
• Abdominal pain
• Fever

Question 3

what is the duration of gastroenteritis? particularly the diarrhoea.

Answer 3

Typically do not last beyond 2 weeks — If longer than this, start thinking about causes of chronic diarrhoea.

Question 4

what is the key information about duration that will likely to be gastroenteritis?

Answer 4

Short/sudden illness with fever and abdomenal pain with in 2 to 3 days, start thinking of infection and the symptoms have resolved in a 1 week.

Question 5

what are the pathogens that are likely to cause gastroenteritis?

Answer 5

Bacteria
virus - rotavirus
protozoa

Question 6

what are the way people can contract bacteria can cause gastroenteritis?

Answer 6

Ingestion of toxins produced by bacteria, and the bacteria can adhere to the mucosa.

Question 7

what are the bacteria’s that adhere to the mucosa?

Answer 7

Salmonella, E. coli, Shigella

Question 8

what are the bacterial toxins that can be ingested?

Answer 8

Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cerus, Clostridium

Question 9

what are the 3 types of virus that causes gastroenteritis?

Answer 9

Rotavirus, adenovirus, norovirus

Question 10

what are the 3 protozoa that causes gastroenteritis?

Answer 10

Giardialamblia,Cryptosporidium,Entamoeba histolytica

Question 11

what are the risk factors of gastroenteritis?

Answer 11

• Food‐borne — Eating out, BBQs
• Contaminated water sources
• Travel — A history or travel is a good indication of infection, travel is a common cause of gastrointeritis.
• Daycare / nurseries (rotavirus)
• Nursing homes (norovirus)
• Recent antibiotic use (Clostridium difficile) — with somone who is had prolonged antibiotic use.

Question 12

How do we manage gastroenteritis?

Answer 12

• Symptoms often spontaneously resolve and disease is self‐limiting
• Avoid anti‐diarrhoea agents in those with fever or bloody diarrhoea — may prolong illness
• Hydration very important

Question 13

Which groups of people we should be aware of when it comes to managing gastroenteritis?

Answer 13

Exception:bewareinimmunocompromised individuals