What causes a gastrointestinal infection. Intestinal infection than to treat

The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Expert advice is required!

Intestinal infection is an acute disease manifested by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis, enteritis, colitis, gastroenteritis, gastroduodenitis, enterocolitis, etc.), accompanied by digestive disorders (diarrhea, undigested food residues in the feces) and caused by various pathogenic microorganisms, capable of entering the intestine through the mouth and causing an inflammatory process in the cells of this organ.

General characteristics and essence of the disease

Under the term "intestinal infection" doctors and scientists mean a whole group of infectious diseases (about 30), in which the organs of the digestive tract are affected - the stomach or various parts of the intestine. As the name implies, all intestinal infections are infectious in nature, that is, they are caused by various pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses or protozoa. Regardless of the nature of the pathogenic microorganism, all intestinal infections are characterized by the same type of symptoms, including intoxication (fever, headache, weakness, etc.), stool disorder (diarrhea), nausea and vomiting, and abdominal pain. In addition to the same symptoms, some intestinal infections also have unique manifestations, the presence of which can accurately diagnose the disease.

Thus, it can be concluded that the intestinal infection- This is a disease caused by a pathogenic microorganism that occurs with symptoms of general intoxication (headache, weakness, temperature), diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain caused by inflammation of the intestinal mucosa or stomach.

Intestinal infections are very widespread, and people of any age get sick with them. But the most susceptible to intestinal infections are children, the elderly, and those who have recently had some other serious illness. According to the frequency of visits to the doctor in developed countries, intestinal infections are in second place after SARS.

Microbes-causative agents of intestinal infections are excreted into the environment with feces, saliva, urine and vomit by people who currently carry the infection or had it less than 2-4 weeks ago. Microbes get into the water, on various objects, as well as on food, in which they remain for a long time. Further, when these microbially contaminated objects, products and water enter the oral cavity, any healthy person becomes infected with an intestinal infection.

Intestinal infections occurs when a pathogenic microorganism enters the digestive tract through the mouth with microbially contaminated food, water, household items, etc. That is, intestinal infection is transmitted by fecal-oral and alimentary routes. In other words, if microbes that cause intestinal infections are found in water, on any objects, parts of the body or products, then when they enter the mouth, they penetrate into the underlying sections of the gastrointestinal tract and cause disease.

Microbes can get into the mouth when eating poorly washed vegetables and fruits, neglecting the rules of hygiene (hands not washed before eating, using the same household items with sick people, etc.), drinking unboiled water (including accidental ingestion during bathing), insufficient heat treatment of meat and dairy products, etc. In addition, causative agents of intestinal infection can be transmitted directly from person to person, for example, by kissing. Very often, children become infected as follows: one of the adults smacks the baby on the cheek, the child wipes the remaining saliva with his hand and then after a while pulls the same hand into his mouth. And if an adult or another child was a carrier of an intestinal infection, then in his saliva there is a microbe-causative agent, which will enter the digestive tract of a healthy baby, causing the disease.

Any intestinal infection leads to inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach or various parts of the intestine. And inflammation of the mucosa leads, in turn, to indigestion, which is manifested by diarrhea (diarrhea), abdominal pain and vomiting. Depending on which mucosa of which organ is inflamed, all intestinal infections can occur in the following forms:

• Acute gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining);
• Acute enteritis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the small intestine);
• Acute colitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the large intestine);
• Acute gastroduodenitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum);
• Acute enterocolitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the small and large intestines).

The form of the intestinal infection is important for the formulation of the diagnosis, but not for the treatment, which is almost the same in all cases of diseases with different infections. The diagnosis is formulated as follows: acute colitis on the background of an intestinal infection. That is, the main diagnosis is the area of ​​localization of the inflammatory process (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the large intestine), and an indication of an intestinal infection is only a clarification of the causative factor of inflammation.

Depending on what kind of pathogen caused the disease, intestinal infection can be bacterial, viral or protozoal. In principle, the type of pathogen is not very important for treatment, since the treatment of almost all intestinal infections is exactly the same. That is, the treatment of any intestinal infection is carried out according to the same principles, regardless of the type of microbe that provoked it. There are differences only in the treatment of severe bacterial infections, but these diseases are easily recognized by the characteristic clinical symptoms inherent only to them, as a result of which the identification of the pathogen is simply not needed.

In the treatment of intestinal infections the main role is played by replenishment of fluid and salt losses, as well as diet, since the main and very dangerous consequence of any infection is dehydration. If a person can live without food for a month, then without enough water and salts - literally a few days or even hours. Therefore, the main thing in the treatment of any intestinal infection is to replenish the volume of water and salts lost with vomiting and diarrhea.

In the vast majority of cases, to treat an intestinal infection, you do not need to take any medications - antibiotics, sorbents, antiviral agents, etc., since the human body independently produces antibodies to microbes and destroys them, leading to recovery (as in situations with ARVI ). In the meantime, antibodies have not been developed, the body just needs, relatively speaking, to "hold on." In order to "hold out", it is necessary to constantly replenish the loss of fluid and salts that are excreted from the body with loose stools and vomiting. That is why the main treatment for any intestinal infection is to drink plenty of rehydration solutions (Regidron, Trisol, etc.) and diet. Taking antibiotics for intestinal infections is necessary only for severe cholera, blood in the feces and prolonged diarrhea against the background of giardiasis. Enterosorbents and probiotics can be taken at will, since their effectiveness for the treatment of intestinal infections has not been proven, but these drugs do not bring harm either.

Usually, with adequate replacement of fluid loss, intestinal infections, without taking any medications, resolve on their own in 3 to 5 days. If the infection turned out to be severe or fluid losses were not adequately replenished, then complications may develop, and in this case the disease will last longer.

In 90% of cases, any intestinal infection, provided that the loss of fluid and salts is replenished, disappears on its own, without special treatment. And only 10% of cases of intestinal infections require special therapy - antibiotics, intravenous salt solutions, etc.

Diseases related to intestinal infections

Currently, intestinal infections include approximately 30 different diseases, among which the most common are the following:

1. Bacterial intestinal infections:

• Botulism;
• Typhoid fever;
• Halophilia;
• Dysentery;
• Yersiniosis;
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection;
• Infection caused by clostridia;
• Klebsiella infection;
• Proteus infection;
• Campylobacteriosis;
• Paratyphoid A and B;
• salmonellosis;
• Staphylococcal food poisoning;
• Cholera;
• Shigellosis;
• Escherichiosis (infections caused by pathogenic varieties of Escherichia coli E. coli).

2. Viral intestinal infections:

• adenovirus infection;
• Infections caused by Norfolk group viruses;
• Coronavirus infection;
• Reovirus infection;
• Rotavirus infection;
• Enterovirus infection (Coxsackie A and B viruses, ECHO viruses).

3. Protozoal intestinal infections:

• Giardiasis;
• Amoebiasis;
• Schistosomiasis;
• Cryptosporidiosis.

Acute intestinal infection

All intestinal infections are acute, that is, they develop suddenly, have pronounced characteristic symptoms and disappear within a relatively short period of time. Cases of chronic intestinal infections are not known, since these diseases are either completely cured or lead to death of a person due to dehydration. Thus, it is obvious that an intestinal infection can only be acute.

After recovery from an intestinal infection, a person may experience digestive disorders within 1 to 3 months, which are attributed to complications or residual effects of the disease. Digestive disorders are caused by severe damage to a large number of intestinal cells, which take time to recover. Accordingly, until the intestinal cells are restored, a person may experience residual effects after an infection, which are a variety of digestive disorders: single loose stools, flatulence, colic, etc.

However, complications are not a sign of a chronic intestinal infection, but only indicate deep damage to a large number of intestinal cells. Some time after the infection, when the intestinal cells are restored, all symptoms and episodes of indigestion will completely disappear. During the period of residual effects after an intestinal infection, it is recommended to follow a diet and carefully process thermally food products, and rinse vegetables and fruits well so as not to get sick again and maximize the recovery of intestinal cells.

Classification

Currently, there are two main classifications of intestinal infections: the first is pathogenetic, for clinical use, and the second is etiological, for scientific purposes. Practitioners use the pathogenetic classification, while scientists and researchers use the etiological one. The pathogenetic classification is based on the characteristics of the course of the disease, and the etiological classification is based on the variety of the pathogenic microbe that causes the infection.

According to the etiological classification, all intestinal infections are divided into the following types:

1. Bacterial intestinal infections (salmonellosis, dysentery, cholera, typhoid fever, botulism, yersiniosis, escherichiosis, staphylococcal food poisoning, etc.);
2. Viral intestinal infections (adenoviral, rotavirus, enterovirus, reoviral, coronavirus infections, etc.);
3. Protozoal intestinal infections (amebiasis, giardiasis, etc.).

bacterial intestinal infections caused by various microbes belonging to bacteria. Moreover, microbes that cause infections can be both purely pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic. Pathogenic bacteria are bacteria that are not normally present in the human body, and when they enter the intestines, they always cause an infectious disease. Examples of pathogenic bacteria are Vibrio cholerae, typhoid bacillus. Opportunistic bacteria include microorganisms that are normally present in the human intestine in small quantities, and therefore do not cause harm. But if these opportunistic microbes multiply or enter the intestine in large numbers from the outside, then they become pathogenic and cause disease. An example of opportunistic bacteria is Staphylococcus aureus, which is normally present in small quantities in the intestine. But if a large amount of Staphylococcus aureus enters the intestine with poor-quality food (eggs, mayonnaise, etc.), then the microbe acquires pathogenic properties, and an intestinal infection develops in a person.

Bacterial intestinal infections are transmitted by the fecal-oral and alimentary-household routes, that is, when hygiene rules are not followed or when poor-quality products contaminated with microbes are consumed.

Viral intestinal infection caused by the entry into the human intestine of viruses that can cause acute inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. Enteroviral and rotavirus intestinal infections are most common in people of different ages. Unlike bacterial, viral intestinal infections can be transmitted not only by the fecal-oral and alimentary-household routes, but also by airborne droplets. Thus, the risk of contracting a viral intestinal infection is higher than that of bacterial infections.

In addition, a person who has had a viral infection remains a carrier of the virus and a source of infection for others for 2 to 4 weeks after recovery. And with bacterial infections, a person is a source of infection for others only 2-4 days after recovery.

Protozoal intestinal infection is less common than bacterial and viral, and infection, as a rule, occurs when unboiled water is swallowed, for example, drinking from untested reservoirs or accidentally swallowed during bathing. Unlike bacterial and viral infections, protozoal intestinal infections can be long-term and require treatment with antiprotozoal drugs.

According to the pathogenetic classification, intestinal infections are divided into the following three groups:

• Infections caused by an unknown pathogen(make up approximately 70% of the total number of cases of intestinal infections recorded by doctors);
• Infections caused by an identified pathogen(make up approximately 20% of the total number of cases of intestinal infections registered by doctors);
• Bacterial dysentery(accounts for approximately 10% of the total number of cases of intestinal infections recorded by physicians).

Ways of infection

The source of intestinal infections is a sick person or an asymptomatic carrier, who release pathogenic microorganisms into the external environment with feces and vomit, as well as with urine. The release of microbes into the external environment occurs from the onset of the disease until complete recovery (disappearance of clinical symptoms). And in the case of viral intestinal infections, the release of the pathogen continues for another 2 to 3 weeks after recovery. Accordingly, a person suffering from an intestinal infection or having had it less than 2 weeks ago is a source of infection for others.

The ways of infection with intestinal infections are oral-fecal, household or, less often, airborne, and the mechanism of transmission of the disease is alimentary. This means that the infectious agent always enters the body through the alimentary route, that is, through the mouth. The pathogen enters the body when eating contaminated food, swallowing water, accidentally licking dirty hands or objects, etc.

The most common ways of transmission of intestinal infections are oral-fecal and household. These transmission routes contaminate food, water or household items with pathogenic microbes excreted by a sick person or an asymptomatic carrier. As a rule, such microbial contamination occurs when personal hygiene and sanitary standards are not observed in the preparation and processing of products (for example, food is prepared in unsanitary conditions, personnel working with food do not wash their hands after using the toilet), as a result of which microbes that find themselves on dirty hands, transferred to food, water or household items. Further, when eating food or swallowing water, as well as licking contaminated household items, microbes enter the mouth of healthy people, from where they penetrate the intestines and cause infection.

The causative agents of intestinal infections can be found on various food products, provided that they have been stored for a long time in improper conditions or processed in unsanitary conditions, as a result of which infection can occur when eating almost any product, including heat-treated products. After all, the causative agents of intestinal infections are resistant to cold, therefore, they retain their pathogenic properties, even if the infected products were stored in the refrigerator.

The most common infection with intestinal infections occurs by the oral-fecal route, in particular when drinking dirty, unboiled water (drinking or accidentally swallowing water while swimming in reservoirs), milk and dairy products, eggs, cakes and meat. In second place in terms of the frequency of infection with intestinal infections is the household route, in which infection occurs during contact with bacteria-contaminated towels, toys, dishes and doorknobs. In the course of contact with household items, a person transfers pathogens of intestinal infections to his hands, and then, after a while, eating something or simply accidentally licking his hands, he introduces microbes into his mouth, from where they enter the intestines and lead to the development of the disease.

Thus, the main reason for the spread of intestinal infections is non-compliance with hygiene standards, such as washing hands before eating, before cooking, after going to the toilet, after contact with a sick person, as well as using shared dishes, towels and other household items. In addition, a huge role in the spread of intestinal infections belongs to long-term storage of products. After all, the longer the products are stored, the greater the risk of contracting an intestinal infection when they are consumed, since they can be contaminated with pathogenic microbes when touched with dirty hands. And the longer the products are stored, the higher the likelihood that someone will touch them with dirty hands and transfer pathogens of intestinal infections to them.

The most common microbes that cause intestinal infections enter the human body when consuming the following products:

• Staphylococcus aureus - enters the body through the use of bacteria-contaminated mayonnaise, custard and puddings;
• Bacillus cereus - various rice dishes;
• Vibrio cholerae - ingestion of unboiled water from open reservoirs and the use of any food products on which there were drops of seeded water;
• Pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli - ingestion of unboiled water from open water bodies and the use of any food products that have drops of contaminated water on them;
• Clostridia - being in a hospital;
• Salmonella - the use of poorly washed and thermally unprocessed poultry meat or eggs;
• Yersinia - the use of meat and milk contaminated with bacteria;
• Parahemolytic vibrio - eating raw or cooked seafood;
• Some strains of Escherichia coli, Shigella, Campylobacter - drinking contaminated unboiled water and eating any food prepared or stored in violation of sanitary standards.

As can be seen, most bacterial and protozoal infections are transmitted by eating food and water contaminated with microbes. This is a characteristic feature of bacterial intestinal infections.

As for viral intestinal infections, they are usually transmitted by household and airborne droplets. So, infection with viral intestinal infections in children most often occurs as follows. An adult who is a carrier or suffers from an intestinal infection in an asymptomatic form kisses the baby on the cheek. The child wipes the remnants of saliva with his hand, as a result of which infectious agents appear on his skin. After a while, the child will put his hand in his mouth, and an intestinal infection will occur. If children play in a team, for example, in a kindergarten or on the street with a group of friends, then the spread of viral intestinal infections occurs when the babies are in close contact with each other, in which the patient's saliva gets on the skin of healthy people, and from it already into the mouth and further into the intestines .

Thus, we can conclude that from the point of view of infection with bacterial and protozoal intestinal infections, the most dangerous is the use of water and products prepared with non-compliance with sanitary standards. And from the point of view of infection with viral intestinal infections, close contacts of people are dangerous, in which saliva is left on the skin (for example, when kissing, spitting, trying to bite children).

Susceptibility to intestinal infections is the same for all people of any age and gender, so anyone can get sick. However, children of the first year of life, the elderly (over 65 years of age), alcoholics, and those suffering from chronic diseases of the stomach and intestines are most easily infected.

Symptoms

The course and general symptoms of all intestinal infections

After entering the oral cavity, the causative agent of an intestinal infection, together with swallowed saliva, a sip of water or a lump of food, enters the stomach and intestines. In the stomach, the pathogen is not destroyed, because it is resistant to hydrochloric acid. Therefore, it calmly passes further into the intestines, where it begins to actively multiply, causing the development of an infectious disease.

While in the intestines, various pathogens of intestinal infections behave differently. Some microbes penetrate the cells of the intestinal epithelium, causing the development of a pathological inflammatory process in them with their destruction. Accordingly, the destruction of intestinal cells and the inflammatory process in them lead to the development of characteristic symptoms of infection. Penetration into the cells of the intestinal epithelium is characteristic of viruses, salmonella, campylobacter, shigella, yersinia, some varieties of pathogenic Escherichia coli and parahemolytic vibrio.

Other microbes actively multiply and populate the intestines, displacing representatives of the normal microflora from it, which simply die. In the process of life, such microbes release toxic substances (enterotoxins), which cause inflammation and cell death of the intestinal mucosa. Accordingly, under the influence of enterotoxins, symptoms of an intestinal infection develop. Microbes that cause symptoms of infections due to the release of enterotoxins include the vast majority of pathogenic Escherichia coli, Clostridium and Vibrio cholerae.

Third varieties of pathogenic microbes release toxic substances directly in food. And then these toxic substances enter the intestine already in finished form with food, causing the development of an infectious disease. Food-producing bacteria include Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus.

Regardless of the mechanism of pathogenic effects on the intestines, all pathogens of intestinal infections lead to an inflammatory process in enterocytes (cells of the intestinal mucosa) and digestive disorders. Therefore, all clinical manifestations of intestinal infections are caused and associated with indigestion and destruction of intestinal mucosal cells.

Due to indigestion, the main symptom of any intestinal infection, regardless of the type of pathogen, is diarrhea (diarrhea, loose stools). Moreover, diarrhea is always present with any intestinal infection, and therefore is the main symptom. Other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, weakness, etc. - may be absent or present in various cases, but, unlike diarrhea, they are not mandatory signs of an intestinal infection.

Generally, any intestinal infections are mainly manifested by the following two syndromes:
1. intestinal syndrome.
2. Infectious-toxic syndrome (syndrome of general intoxication).

Both intestinal and infectious-toxic syndromes are always present in any intestinal infection, but have varying degrees of severity.

Intestinal syndrome, depending on the severity of the infection and the type of pathogen microbe, can occur with a number of specific features. Given the peculiarities of clinical symptoms, at present, the intestinal syndrome in various intestinal infections is usually divided into several of the following types:

• gastritis syndrome;
• Gastroenteritis syndrome;
• enteric syndrome;
• Gastroenterocolitic syndrome;
• Enterocolitic syndrome;
• colitis syndrome.

Gastritis syndrome is manifested by severe pain in the stomach, the presence of constant nausea and repeated vomiting after eating or drinking. Diarrhea in gastritis syndrome is a single or, less commonly, 2 to 4 times within a relatively short period of time. Symptoms of gastritis syndrome usually develop with infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (food poisoning) or viruses.

Gastroenteritis syndrome manifested by abdominal pain in the stomach and around the navel, as well as vomiting and frequent, first mushy, and then watery stools. Fecal masses, depending on the type of pathogenic agent, can be colored in different colors: greenish (characteristic of salmonellosis), light brown (escherichiosis), etc. Mucus and undigested food debris may be present in the feces. Gastroenteritis syndrome usually develops with viral intestinal infections, salmonellosis, and diseases caused by pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli. A hallmark of viral intestinal infections is brown liquid foamy stools with a sharp unpleasant odor.

Enteric syndrome manifested by exceptionally frequent watery stools without nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain. The frequency of loose stools is determined by the severity of the infection and the type of microbe that causes the disease. Enteric syndrome usually develops with cholera.

Gastroenterocolitic syndrome manifested by vomiting, frequent loose stools and pain throughout the abdomen. The process of defecation is also painful, and bowel movements do not provide relief even for a short period of time. In the feces, there is often an admixture of blood and mucus. Sometimes only mucus is expelled from the bowel during a bowel movement. Gastroenterocolitic syndrome is characteristic of salmonellosis.

Enterocolitis Syndrome manifested by severe pain throughout the abdomen, frequent urge to defecate, during which either loose stools or a small amount of mucus are released. Episodes of loose stools and mucus usually alternate. Enterocolitic syndrome is characteristic of salmonellosis and dysentery.

colitis syndrome manifested by pain in the lower abdomen (often on the left), as well as painful frequent bowel movements, in which a small amount of liquid or mushy stool mixed with blood and mucus is released from the intestine. Often there are false urges to defecate. After each bowel movement, there is a short-term relief. The colitis syndrome is characteristic of dysentery.

Infectious-toxic syndrome manifested by an increase in body temperature above 37.5 o C, as well as general weakness, headaches, dizziness, body aches, lack of appetite and nausea. Infectious-toxic syndrome with any intestinal infection usually appears first, and lasts from several hours to several days. As a rule, intestinal syndrome appears after the complete disappearance or decrease in the severity of infectious-toxic.

Infectious-toxic syndrome, depending on the type of pathogen and the severity of the course of the infection, can manifest itself in different ways, that is, a person may have any individual or the entire set of characteristic symptoms. So, in some cases, this syndrome can manifest itself only with headaches, in others - with fever with dizziness, etc.

Thus, summarizing the above symptoms of intestinal infections, we can say that these diseases can manifest themselves with the following symptoms:

• Repeated loose stools (100% of cases);
• Rumbling and splashing in the abdomen (100% of cases);
• An increase in body temperature for various periods of time from several hours to several days (100% of cases);
• Loss of appetite (100% of cases);
• Nausea (100% of cases);
• Pain in various parts of the abdomen (100% of cases);
• Thirst due to dehydration (90% of cases);
• Admixture of blood in the feces (80% of cases);
• General weakness (70% of cases);
• Loss of body weight (60% of cases);
• Fecal masses are similar in appearance to rice water (60% of cases);
• Vomiting (20% of cases);
• Urinary retention (10% of cases).

In addition to these symptoms, intestinal infections always lead to the loss of water and salts (sodium, potassium, chlorine, etc.) from the body due to vomiting and diarrhea, as a result of which dehydration (dehydration) can develop. Dehydration is a very dangerous condition as it can be fatal in a short amount of time. Therefore, until the intestinal infection has passed, you should carefully monitor whether there are signs of dehydration, and if they appear, immediately call an ambulance and be hospitalized in the hospital. Signs of dehydration are the following symptoms:

• Persistent vomiting that does not allow you to drink liquids;
• Lack of urine for more than 6 hours;
• Urine dark yellow;
• dry tongue;
• Sunken eyes;
• Grayish skin tone;
• Diarrhea stopped, but abdominal pain appeared, or body temperature rose sharply, or vomiting intensified.

temperature in intestinal infections

With any intestinal infections, the body temperature almost always rises to various numbers for various periods of time. In some infections, the temperature rises only for a few hours, while in others it lasts for 2 to 4 days. Moreover, the body temperature is kept within the same values ​​from the moment of its increase and up to normalization. In other words, if at the beginning of the disease the temperature rose to 38 o C, then until its normalization, it should be kept within this value with slight fluctuations. If the body temperature rises sharply, this means that complications of an intestinal infection develop, which must be treated in a hospital (hospital).

An increase in body temperature in various intestinal infections is almost always the first sign of the disease. That is, the temperature rises even before the onset of diarrhea, abdominal pain and other signs of infection. In addition, quite often diarrhea appears after the normalization of body temperature, and in the future the disease proceeds already against the background of normal temperature, and not elevated.

In intestinal infections, elevated body temperature is a factor that increases body fluid loss, so it is recommended to knock it down by taking antipyretic drugs. This is necessary to reduce the loss of fluid, since at high temperatures the body is cooled due to the abundant evaporation of moisture. Doctors and scientists recommend taking antipyretics if the temperature reaches 37.5 o C and above.

Vomiting with intestinal infection

Vomiting does not always accompany intestinal infections. Sometimes it is absent, in some infections it can be single, and in others it can be multiple. During the entire period of the course of the infection, vomiting is not recommended to be stopped by various antiemetics (for example, Cerucal, etc.), since in this way the body removes toxic substances to the outside. When vomiting, you need to drink plenty of fluids to make up for the loss of fluid and salts. Moreover, if vomiting is strong, then you should drink in small sips, a small amount of water or saline solutions at a time, but often.

If vomiting intensifies, or because of vomiting, it is impossible to drink saline solutions, then you should immediately consult a doctor and be hospitalized in a hospital.

Complications

Any intestinal infection can lead to the development of the following complications:

• Dehydration (dehydration)- the most common complication of various intestinal infections, resulting from the loss of water and salts by the body along with diarrhea and vomit. Critical fluid loss for the body is 10% of the initial amount. If there is a critical loss of fluid and salts, then the person falls into a coma with a possible subsequent death. Signs of dehydration include not urinating for 6 hours, dry skin and tongue, rapid pulse, low blood pressure, and a greyish skin tone. Thirst is not always present with dehydration, so this symptom should not be used to judge whether there is dehydration or not. In order to prevent dehydration in intestinal infections, you should drink plenty of saline solutions (Regidron, Trisol, etc.) at the rate of one liter for three episodes of diarrhea or vomiting.
• Infectious-toxic shock. It develops at the very beginning of the disease against the background of high body temperature. Shock is provoked by a high concentration in the blood of toxic substances secreted by bacteria.
• Pneumonia . It is a fairly common complication of intestinal infections in children. As a rule, pneumonia develops against the background of moderate dehydration, when fluid losses are not completely replenished, but only partially.
• Acute kidney failure.

Intestinal infection in children

Children are more likely to suffer from intestinal infections than adults, because they have much more contact with peers and surrounding adults, as well as hygiene skills and an understanding of sanitary norms and rules are not sufficiently consolidated and instilled.

Intestinal infections in children generally proceed in the same way as in adults and are characterized by the same clinical manifestations. But in children, unlike adults, intestinal infections are more likely to be severe and dehydration develops faster. Therefore, when a child falls ill, it is imperative to give him to drink saline solutions to replenish fluid losses and carefully monitor his condition so as not to miss signs of dehydration, which should immediately hospitalize the baby in the hospital.

In addition, in children, intestinal infections are much more likely to be caused by viruses.

If an intestinal infection has developed in a child of the first year of life, then he should definitely be hospitalized, since critical dehydration in babies under 12 months old can occur very quickly and lead to tragic consequences, even death.

Children over one year old can be treated at home if they do not show signs of dehydration (no urine for 6 hours, dry tongue, sunken eyes, gray skin) and remain stable and do not worsen.
Otherwise, intestinal infections in children proceed and are treated in the same way as in adults.

Intestinal infection in adults

Intestinal infections in adults are recorded quite often, especially in the hot season, when food is often stored in violation of sanitary norms and rules. In addition, in the warm season, people go to nature, out of town, where they cook on their own or buy various dishes in a cafe, and this food is often contaminated with pathogenic microbes. Swimming in open water is also responsible for the high incidence of intestinal infections during the warm season, as microbially contaminated water is often accidentally ingested.

Adults, as a rule, successfully tolerate intestinal infections and recover without any consequences. Complications of infections in adults also develop relatively rarely, in no more than 10% of cases and, as a rule, against the background of a severe course of the disease.

Intestinal infections: how they are carried, what causes them. Symptoms. How to choose products, how to cook them correctly. What water to drink so as not to get infected - video

Rotavirus intestinal infection in children and adults

general characteristics

Rotavirus infection is sometimes incorrectly referred to as "rotavirus". This infection is also known as "summer flu" or "stomach flu".

Children are most often affected by rotavirus infection, because, firstly, they are more susceptible to diseases than adults, and secondly, they do not yet have immunity to this infection. Adults are much less likely to suffer from stomach flu, since, as a rule, almost everyone has been ill with an infection in childhood, and after once suffering from an illness, immunity is formed to it, and a person very rarely becomes infected again during the rest of his life.

Symptoms

The first symptom of the disease is an increase in body temperature to 38 - 39 o C, after which, after a few hours, cramping pains in the abdomen, general weakness and loss of appetite appear. Along with pain in the abdomen appears vomiting (often multiple) and diarrhea. The chair happens up to 10 - 15 times a day, and the feces are liquid, frothy, brown-yellow in color and with a very unpleasant, pungent odor. After 1 to 2 days, the stool becomes clayey and acquires a yellowish-gray color.

In addition to diarrhea and symptoms of general intoxication (headache, weakness, fever), rotavirus intestinal infection may present with sore throat, runny nose and conjunctivitis.

In general, rotavirus infection lasts from 3 to 8 days, after which recovery occurs.

Treatment

During the entire period of the disease, contact with others should be avoided, since a person is a source of infection. The main means of treating stomach flu in children and adults is fasting and drinking plenty of saline solutions. As for nutrition, you should eat as little as possible, giving preference to bagels, bread crumbs, etc. During the entire period of the disease with rotavirus intestinal infection It is strictly forbidden to eat the following products:
Enterol

E. coli - diseases, transmission routes, symptoms of intestinal infections and diseases of the genitourinary tract (in a woman, in a man, in a child), methods of treatment. Detection of the bacterium in a urine sample and in a vaginal swab

Intestinal infection - diagnosis and treatment tactics for a child and an adult, depending on the symptoms and test results

Intestinal infection is a dangerous disease that affects every person sooner or later. The presented ailment includes a large number of pathological processes that adversely affect the gastrointestinal tract. An ailment often occurs due to the presence of viruses, toxins and bacteria in the body. Symptoms of the disease vary greatly depending on the degree of its severity.

What contributes to the onset of the disease?

If the body is affected by viruses and bacteria, then this is fraught with the formation of diseases such as:

• escherichiosis;
• klebsiellosis;
• dysentery;
• salmonellosis;
• diarrhea;
• staphylococcal infection.

All presented pathological processes cause intestinal infections. In addition, the development of this disease is affected by non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene, the use of dirty fruits and vegetables, the replenishment of the body with water, which contains harmful microorganisms. They move from the esophagus through the stomach and into the intestines.

How does the disease manifest itself in adults?

There are cases when an intestinal infection in adults does not make itself felt for a certain time, so the patient is not even aware of this insidious disease. The most common symptoms of an intestinal infection include the following:

Intestinal infections in children occur for the same reason as in adults (damage by pathogens). They cause damage mainly to the digestive tract and are accompanied by a toxic reaction of the body.

Intestinal infection in children, like all other diseases of an infectious nature, occurs suddenly. Even in the first stages of the disease, children are visited by weakness, poor appetite, headache, fever. At first glance, all the signs presented point to ARI. But after some time, the child develops nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain of a cramping nature, diarrhea, chills.

Acute intestinal infection

Acute intestinal infections are a type of infectious acute pathologies that occur as a result of the influence of various pathogens. An acute intestinal infection manifests itself with fever and contributes to the development of further dehydration. Especially severe acute infection occurs in children and people of retirement age. The incubation period of pathology lasts from 5 hours to two days.

Very often, salmonellosis begins acutely after a short feeling of discomfort in the abdomen. During this period, the patient notes the following symptoms of an acute intestinal infection:

• weakness;
• feeling of nausea;
• vomit;
• fever (38-39 C);
• acute intestinal infections are accompanied by painful sensations in the abdomen, which are diffuse;
• diarrhea characterized by profuse, watery, greenish stools.

In case of detection of the presented symptoms of an acute intestinal infection in a patient, it is necessary to immediately hospitalize him. Very often this form of intestinal infection is diagnosed in infants. Therefore, if you find green diarrhea in a baby, a rise in temperature, then you need to immediately show it to a specialist.

Intestinal flu (rotavirus infection)

Intestinal infections of this form occur due to the presence of rotaviruses in the body. The process of irritation occurs through food, water and hands. Rotavirus infection begins to form after the bacteria have invaded the cells of the mucous membrane of the small intestine. As a result, its motor activity increases, which contributes to the feeling of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

The disease begins to manifest itself even before the viruses multiply in the required quantity to cause intestinal irritation. This is the incubation period, its duration is about 5 days.

Effective Therapy

Treatment of intestinal infection should involve an integrated approach. In addition to stopping harmful microbes, the patient needs to neutralize toxins and restore water balance.

Symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea introduce harmful substances from the body, so there is no need to restrain yourself. On the contrary, during this period it is even called. Treatment of an intestinal infection cannot do without bowel lavage. This procedure is performed with an enema. It is also necessary to treat the disease with the help of sorbents that neutralize the negative effects of toxins. The most effective are:

• Smecta;
• Polyphepan;
• Attapulgite.

During the period of intestinal infection, fasting is useful for patients. The reason is that food can cause the development of bacteria. Useful rice and oatmeal without added salt. They have a calming effect on the intestines.

It is indicated to treat intestinal infections with a solution of rehydron or behydron. These funds during the period of illness help to restore electrolyte balance. They are taken in a couple of sips every 10 minutes. The patient during the period of intestinal infection needs to consume more fluids. The best option would be dried fruit compote and various herbal teas.

As for antibiotics for intestinal infections, it is not recommended to use them immediately after the onset of the first symptoms. They have a negative impact on the intestinal microflora and the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Treatment of an intestinal infection with antibiotics can only be prescribed by the attending physician. It is allowed to treat the disease with such modern drugs as Linex and Lactobacterin.

It is also not recommended to treat an intestinal infection on your own during a period when the patient has severe and debilitating vomiting, as a result of which he cannot drink, a high temperature, and there are blood impurities in the feces.

Therapy of the disease in children

If an intestinal infection in a child is accompanied by severe diarrhea and vomiting, then it is necessary to take immediate measures and treat the ailment that has arisen. The most common mistake parents make when treating an intestinal infection is to stop unwanted symptoms of the disease. In the first hours, this is not recommended, since vomiting and diarrhea are a protective reaction of the body, as a result of which the body tries to eliminate toxins on its own.

If these manifestations are stopped during the treatment of intestinal infections in children, this will lead to even greater intoxication. In addition, if the parents know exactly what their baby ate and the rise in temperature, abdominal pain is caused by this, then for the effective treatment of an intestinal infection, vomiting or defecation should be provoked.

With such events, it is very important to constantly replenish the loss of fluid and mineral salts. Therefore, during the treatment of intestinal infections in children, parents should ensure that he takes plenty of fluids. To do this, you need to give him special solutions, powders that are sold in a pharmacy. It is forbidden to give the child juices and dairy products.

Nutrition

If the disease is mild, then for the treatment of intestinal infection, the diet involves only a decrease in the amount of food. If the disease is in a moderate form, then the food is reduced by 30-50%, and the number of meals should be 5-8 times a day.

Diet for intestinal infection in children under 4 months of age should exclude the use of fermented milk mixtures. In the acute form of the disease, the treatment of intestinal infection with the help of a diet in infants involves the use of mixtures enriched with protective factors: bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, dietary supplements.

During the treatment of an intestinal infection with a diet, adults are prohibited from consuming the following foods:

• whole milk;
• black bread;
• yogurts;
• fermented baked milk;
• cream;
• beets;
• legumes;
• citrus;
• meat and fish broths.

If the development of an intestinal infection in a young child is accompanied by a protein deficiency, then it is corrected from the 3rd day of the disease with mixtures that contain this element. When the exocrine secretory function of the pancreas is impaired and malabsorption syndrome is developed, therapeutic mixtures are an effective treatment for intestinal infection in young patients.

Prevention measures

Prevention of intestinal infections is a measure by which it is possible to protect your body from this disease. To do this, follow these simple rules:

• wash hands before eating;
• do not eat sweets with cream during hot weather;
• store meat and fish in the refrigerator;
• wash fruits, berries and vegetables thoroughly;
• consume only fresh meat and milk;
• drink boiled or mineral water.

Intestinal infection is a pathological process that can affect not only adults, but also children. You can eliminate this ailment if you strictly adhere to the treatment regimen drawn up by the doctor.

1 - Instructions for the medical use of the drug Macmirror ®

Acute intestinal infections (AII) are a large group of infectious diseases caused by various bacteria and viruses. They are united by a similar nature of manifestations in the form of a violation of the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and the presence of signs of intoxication.

The source of infection with intestinal infections is a sick person, a bacteriocarrier and animals. Infection occurs by the fecal-oral route.

Infection occurs by eating contaminated food; in close contact with a patient with an intestinal infection or a bacteriocarrier. Infection is promoted by non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene - dirty hands, the use of unwashed or thermally untreated foods, unboiled water from open reservoirs.

Common clinical manifestations in intestinal infections.

1. Damage to the gastrointestinal tract can manifest itself as:

1) gastritis, when the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed. It is manifested by pain and discomfort in the epigastric region, nausea, vomiting, or heartburn;

2) enteritis, when the small intestine is mainly involved in the pathological process. Enteritis can be manifested by diffuse pains in the abdomen, bloating and rumbling along the intestines, copious watery stools, almost without impurities of mucus or blood;

3) colitis, when various sections of the large intestine are affected, which can be manifested by cramping abdominal pain, especially often noted in the left iliac region, false urge to defecate, frequent, loose stools, in which there is a significant admixture of mucus and blood;

4) the isolated manifestation of only one syndrome is rare, usually with intestinal infections they are combined in the form of gastroetheritis, enterocolitis or gastroenterocolitis. If blood appears in the stool, then it is hemocolitis or enterohemo-colitis.

2. Intoxication is noted in the vast majority of all intestinal infections. When it rises body temperature, there is a headache, vomiting. The child becomes lethargic and refuses to eat.

3. Dehydration (exicosis) is the appearance of fluid deficiency in the vascular system, in the tissues of the body and is manifested by dry skin and mucous membranes, thirst, disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system, up to the development of shock conditions in severe forms of the disease.

4. Hepatosplenomegaly (enlargement of the liver and spleen).

5. A rash is not observed in all intestinal infections. Its appearance is characteristic of diseases such as staphylococcal infection, yersiniosis and enterovirus infection.

6. Exhaustion, anemia, hypovitaminosis develop in severe, long-term, complicated intestinal infections.

Dysentery

Dysentery is an infectious disease caused by bacteria belonging to the genus Shigella. It proceeds with a predominant lesion of the lower parts of the large intestine and signs of general toxicosis.

Dysentery is a typical representative of the group of intestinal infectious diseases. The source of infection can only be a person with dysentery, who begins to pose a danger to others on the 1st day of illness, since the pathogen is released into the environment at this time most intensively.

The main routes of infection are contact-household, water and alimentary.

The risk of contracting dysentery increases dramatically with crowding in residential areas, with poor sanitary and hygienic conditions.

Anyone can get dysentery, but more than half of the cases occur in children under 4 years of age. Immunity after suffering dysentery is formed very short, no more than 12 months. That is, there is a risk of recurrence.

The entrance gate of infection is the gastrointestinal tract, where the pathogen is introduced and multiplies.

Clinic. The incubation period is no more than 2–3 days after infection, if infection occurs by food, then this interval is reduced to hours, and with a contact-household route, the disease can develop even after 7 days.

Usually, the onset of the disease is acute, but sometimes a prodromal period is possible, which is manifested by malaise, chilliness, or headache.

The severity of dysentery is mild, moderate, severe and very severe.

In dysentery, the large intestine is most affected.

As a rule, at the beginning of the disease, quite severe pains in the abdomen appear, and then frequent, loose stools join. In addition, dysentery sometimes begins with general manifestations - the patient develops weakness, lethargy, headache, fever.

The most pronounced symptoms of the disease become 2-3 days of illness. With a mild form of dysentery, local manifestations prevail over the general ones.

The most pronounced signs of dysentery have a moderate form of the disease. An acute onset is characteristic - the body temperature rises to 38-39 degrees, which is accompanied by chills, the duration of which is about 2-3 days. Weakness appears, headache worries, appetite decreases. Disorder of the intestine joins in the next 2-3 hours from the onset of the disease, and manifests itself in the form of discomfort in the lower abdomen, rumbling, periodic, cramping pain in the lower abdomen, stool becomes more frequent from 10 to 20 times a day. At first, the stool retains a fecal character, then impurities of mucus and blood appear in it, the volume of feces begins to decrease, and they acquire the character of the so-called “rectal spitting”, in the form of mucus and blood. Frequent urge to defecate is characteristic. The skin turns pale, a thick brown coating appears on the tongue. On the part of the circulatory system, tachycardia, a drop in blood pressure are noted. One of the main signs of dysentery is spasm and pain on palpation of the sigmoid colon in the left iliac region.

Intoxication with a moderate form of dysentery lasts about 4-5 days. The stool takes on a formalized character, usually by the 8-10th day of illness, with a smooth course of dysentery, but the disease can be delayed up to 3-4 weeks.

The mild and severe forms differ from the moderate only in the severity of the symptoms.

The severe form of dysentery is characterized by more pronounced and prolonged intoxication and severe intestinal damage. The chair can become more frequent up to 35-40 times a day. The phenomena of hemocolitis are quite pronounced, when blood appears in the feces.

Gastroenterocolitic (damage to the entire gastrointestinal tract) and gastroenteric (damage to the stomach and small intestine) variant of dysentery is characterized by a short incubation period. The onset of the disease is sudden and stormy, in parallel, the phenomena of toxicosis and intestinal manifestations develop. Vomiting appears, stools are very frequent, profuse, watery, mixed with blood and mucus, diffuse pains in the abdomen are noted. In the future, the volume of feces decreases, there are false urges to defecate.

Of the complications, it should be noted the development of infectious-toxic shock, dehydration shock (hypovolemic), acute heart failure, toxic expansion of the colon, peritonitis, intestinal bleeding, intestinal perforation, dysbacteriosis, myocarditis, reactive polyarthritis.

Chronic dysentery. The duration of the disease is more than 3 months, which is due to the presence of one pathogen in the human body. General manifestations are mild. Disorders of the intestines are less pronounced, compared with the acute course, but significant disorders develop on the part of other organs and systems of the body in the form of anemia, hypovitaminosis, severe dysbacteriosis and dystrophic disorders.

yersiniosis

Yersiniosis is a group of acute infectious diseases, which are characterized by a variety of manifestations. When they affect the gastrointestinal tract, musculoskeletal system, liver and other organs, there are phenomena of general intoxication and a protracted course.

The causative agent of the disease belongs to the genus Yersinia.

Yersinia is able to exist for a long time in the environment - in the soil (up to 4 months) and in water (from a month or more).

Animals and birds are the main source of infection. The possibility of infection from humans remains highly questionable.

Most of the Yersinia falls on vegetables that are stored in cellars, vegetable stores and are highly perishable. The pathogen accumulates on vegetables and in the environment. Vegetables pose the greatest danger for infection at the end of winter and in spring.

Yersiniosis can affect people of any age, but most often, children aged 2-3 months and older people who have reduced immunity get sick. Also, children aged 4–9 years often get sick.

The incidence of yersiniosis has a distinct autumn-spring seasonality. The peak incidence occurs every 2-3 years. In countries with a cool climate, yersiniosis is more common.

Clinic. The incubation period is about 3-10 days. Initially, after the first signs of the disease, after a temporary improvement on the 13-15th day, about a third of patients again worsen.

Forms of yersiniosis can be: eczematous (skin lesions predominate), arthritic (the leading symptom is joint damage), icteric (involvement in the liver process), meningeal (with inflammation of the meninges) and mixed. In rare cases, yersinia sepsis develops.

These variants are characterized by common features in the form of an acute onset, the presence of intoxication (chills appear, body temperature rises to 38-40 ° C) and signs of damage to the gastrointestinal tract, which is manifested by nausea, vomiting, pain in the stomach and the appearance of liquefied stools. From the first days of the disease, patients are worried about muscle and joint pain, there is hyperemia of the sclera, conjunctiva and soft palate. Characterized by the appearance of a "crimson" tongue and a rash on the skin.

The duration of the disease, in most cases, does not exceed 1.5 months, and with a protracted course of yersineosis - 3 months.

food poisoning

Food poisoning is a collective concept that includes a diverse group of diseases, but combines their two common features.

1. The main route of spread is alimentary, when the pathogen enters the body with infected food. Most often food toxic infections are caused by streptococci, staphylococci, proteus, enterococci, salmonella.

2. The main reason for the development of food poisoning is not the microorganisms themselves, but the toxins they release.

Most often, pathogens enter food products during their preparation, storage, transportation and sale. Infected food often looks and smells almost the same as normal food.

Most pathogens are able to produce toxins not only in food, but also in the human body. With the destruction of pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract, additional portions of the toxin are released.

Clinic. Toxins released by pathogens cause inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines. The developed inflammatory process in the mucous membrane leads to increased intestinal motility, to impaired absorption and digestion of food, to the development of dysbacteriosis.

All these disorders are manifested by abdominal pain, nausea, frequent vomiting and diarrhea. At the beginning of the disease, the stool becomes more frequent up to 10-15 times a day, at first it looks like liquid feces, and then becomes watery, plentiful and fetid. All of these symptoms may appear as early as 2-4 hours after eating contaminated foods.

At the next stage of the disease, toxins secreted by microbes from the intestines begin to be absorbed into the blood, as a result of which almost all organs and systems of the body are affected. Such as the heart, central nervous system, liver, which is the filter of the whole organism, purifying the blood of any toxic substances. As a result, all manifestations of food poisoning develop: body temperature rises, the patient is shivering, tachycardia is noted, arterial hypotension appears, and there is a risk of seizures. Frequent vomiting and diarrhea lead to the development of severe dehydration.

Most patients, by the beginning of the second day from the onset of the disease, begin to notice relief, and the next 2–3 days only general weakness remains.

Extremely rarely, especially if timely treatment has not been started, toxic or hypovolemic (due to dehydration) shock develops, quite often leading to death.

salmonellosis

Salmonellosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria from the genus Salmonella, which has various manifestations. Most often, in the first place, the gastrointestinal tract is affected, which is expressed in the development of gastroenteritis and enterocolitis.

The causative agents include a large group of Salmonella. Most salmonella can cause disease in both humans and animals and birds. Bacteria are able to persist in the external environment for a long time. In meat and dairy products, salmonella not only persist, but also multiply, while the appearance and taste of the products do not change. When salted and smoked, salmonella does not die, and when frozen, the survival time of microbes in products even increases.

Domestic animals and birds are the main sources of infection, but humans can also be an additional source of infection. In animals, salmonellosis occurs as an acute disease. The most dangerous animals are bacteria carriers, without signs of disease.

Man, as a source of infection, poses the greatest danger to infants, who have increased sensitivity to all infectious diseases.

Infection with salmonellosis occurs in the alimentary way, when foods that are infected with a large number of salmonella are eaten. The reason for the abundant contamination of products is usually disturbed cooking, when infected products, especially meat, are in conditions suitable for the propagation of the pathogen. The highest incidence of salmonellosis is observed in the warm season.

Clinic. The incubation period after infection can range from 6 hours to 3 days (usually 12-24 hours). If the outbreak occurred in an organized community, this period is extended to 3-8 days.

Salmonellosis can occur in various forms, of the most common can be noted.

1. Gastrointestinal form, which affects mainly the intestines and stomach.

2. Generalized form, in which typhoid-like and septic variants are distinguished.

3. Bacteriocarrier, when there are no clinical manifestations of the disease.

The gastrointestinal form of salmonellosis is the most common.

The disease is characterized by an acute onset, the temperature, especially in severe forms) rises to 39 ° C and above, the patient is shivering, general weakness appears, headache, nausea, vomiting, pain in the epigastric and umbilical region is noted. Then comes diarrhea. The most pronounced symptoms of salmonellosis for 2-3 days.

In a mild form of the disease, the body temperature does not rise above 38 ° C, a single vomiting, the stool becomes liquid and watery, its multiplicity does not exceed 5 times / day, diarrhea persists for 1-3 days, fluid deficiency is not more than 3% of body weight.

The moderate form of salmonellosis is characterized by a rise in body temperature to 38–39 ° C, a febrile period up to 4 days, diarrhea up to a week, repeated vomiting, increased stools up to 10 times a day, tachycardia, lowering blood pressure, fluid deficiency up to 6% of body weight.

In severe form, the temperature may exceed 39 ° C, the febrile period lasts 5 or more days. Severe symptoms of intoxication, repeated vomiting continues for several days. The frequency of stools exceeds 10 times a day, the stool becomes plentiful, watery, fetid. An admixture of mucus may appear in the stool, diarrhea lasts more than a week. The liver and spleen increase, yellowness of the skin and sclera appears, cyanosis, tachycardia, and blood pressure decreases. Damage to the kidneys occurs, as a result of which urination decreases, protein, erythrocytes and cylinders are determined in urine tests, and renal failure may develop.

Typhoid form of salmonellosis. With this form, the onset of the disease is acute. Intestinal disorders, fever and symptoms of general intoxication appear. Within 1-2 days, intestinal dysfunction stops, and the temperature continues to remain high, the phenomena of general intoxication progressively increase, which is manifested by a febrile reaction lasting from 1 to 3 weeks, lethargy, and apathy. A blistering rash appears on the skin, bradycardia is noted, a decrease in blood pressure, bloating, an enlarged liver and spleen.

Septic form of salmonellosis. It is one of the most severe variants of the course of salmonellosis.

The onset of the disease is acute, in the first days it resembles a typhoid-like form. In the following days, the patient's condition worsens. The fever is permanent, septic foci are formed in various organs. The defeat of the musculoskeletal system is manifested by osteomyelitis, arthritis, the cardiovascular system - endocarditis, aortitis, the lymphatic system - tonsillitis, cervical purulent lymphadenitis, the central nervous system - meningitis (especially in children).

Escherichiosis

Escherichiosis is a group of infectious diseases caused by pathogenic Escherichia coli (Escherichia), occurring with symptoms of intoxication, fever, and is mainly affected by the gastrointestinal tract, less often, the urinary, biliary tract, and other organs can be involved in the process. Perhaps the development of sepsis, more often infants get sick.

Escherichiosis, in its course, is in many ways reminiscent of dysentery, bacteria are able to invade and multiply in the intestinal cells.

The main route of distribution of Escherichia is fecal-oral. Human infection occurs by ingestion of contaminated food and water.

Clinic. Under the influence of Escherichia, an inflammatory process develops in the small intestine, which is expressed in signs of an intestinal infection, usually in children of the first year of life and newborns.

The main symptoms of the disease are severe abdominal pain, vomiting, watery stools without blood. The course of these diseases is particularly severe and lasts 2 weeks or more.

E. coli can be of several varieties, depending on this, the disease can manifest itself in various ways.

When affected by enteroinvasive E. coli, the upper sections of the large intestine are usually affected. Clinically, this is characterized by severe pain in the abdomen, profuse watery diarrhea. There may be blood in the stool.

Under the influence of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, cholera-like forms of intestinal infections develop in people of any age. Clinically, these forms are distinguished by the appearance of frequent, watery stools, which quickly lose their fecal character and the rapid development of dehydration.

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia are the cause of the development of diarrhea with an admixture of blood, which is called hemorrhagic colitis. In addition, the complete absence of fever, the addition of symptoms of kidney failure and a pronounced drop in the number of platelets in the blood are characteristic.

Intestinal infections caused by enteroadhesive Escherichia are much less common and in their course resemble moderate forms of dysentery.

With all varieties of escherichiosis, there is a development of signs of intoxication, in many respects similar to intoxication in other bacterial intestinal infections. The severity of intoxication determines the severity of the condition of the sick child.

Complications. The most common complication of escherichiosis, which can develop with an intestinal infection, is caused by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, is hemolytic-uremic syndrome, which can be recorded in 5–10% of patients. This syndrome is characterized by toxic destruction of red blood cells, resulting in anemia and acute renal failure (ARF). Signs of acute renal failure usually appear at the end of the first week after the onset of the earliest signs of intestinal disease.

Cholera

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection, the main feature of which is the defeat of the small intestine, which is accompanied by a violation of water-salt metabolism with varying degrees of dehydration of the body, which occurs due to massive loss of fluid with vomiting and copious watery stools. The disease is considered a particularly dangerous infection and can quickly spread among the population.

Vibrio cholerae causes cholera. There are two main ones - the classic one, which causes Asian cholera and El Tor.

The main way of infection with cholera is water, when they use unboiled water from open reservoirs.

After passing the stomach, the vibrio enters the small intestine, where it colonizes and multiplies on the surface of the intestinal epithelium. However, in sick people, vibrio can be found in any part of the gastrointestinal tract.

Having reached a certain concentration during reproduction, the vibrio causes disease.

With the development of the disease, there is a loss of a huge amount of fluid and salts of sodium, potassium, chlorides and bicarbonates. Vibrio cholerae affects people of all ages. The disease is most severe in people who abuse alcohol, who have had surgery to remove part of the stomach, and in young children.

Clinic. The incubation period for cholera can range from several hours to 5 days, but the average is 2-3 days. If a person took antibiotics for prophylactic purposes, but still fell ill, the incubation period can be extended to 9-10 days.

Cholera has a sudden onset. The most pronounced manifestation of cholera is diarrhea, which appears first. The stool characteristic of cholera looks like a watery, cloudy white liquid, with flakes floating in it. The stool is similar in appearance to rice water and has no odor. One of the first signs of cholera is muscle weakness and cramps in the calf muscles. In the future, profuse frequent vomiting joins the liquid watery stool.

With cholera, several degrees and stages of dehydration are distinguished.

I degree. With this degree, there is a loss of body weight in the range of 1-3%. Diarrhea and vomiting become more frequent from 2–3 to 5–6 times a day, and the duration of these disorders is 1–3 days. The state of health of patients usually suffers a little. The patient may feel a slight general weakness, thirst, dry mouth. The color of the skin and mucous membranes does not change, the pulse rate, blood pressure, urination remain within normal limits.

II degree of dehydration characterizes a body weight deficit in the range of 4–6%. The stool becomes more frequent up to 15–20 or more times a day, sometimes there is a slight pain in the epigastric region, diarrhea is accompanied by frequent vomiting. General and muscle weakness, dryness of the skin and mucous membranes become more pronounced, the tongue is dry and a white coating appears on it. There is a constant cyanosis of the lips and mucous membranes, hoarseness and roughness of the voice. In rare cases, there may be short-term convulsions of the masticatory muscles and muscles of the feet, hands and legs. In many patients, tachycardia is recorded, blood pressure decreases, and the volume of urine excreted decreases.

The body weight deficit at III degree of dehydration is already 7–9%. The chair can become more frequent up to 25–35 or more times a day, vomiting is repeated. This degree is characterized by a sharp general weakness, indomitable thirst. Cramps of the muscles of the limbs and abdomen become frequent and painful. The skin and mucous membranes are constantly cyanotic. The skin is cold to the touch. The patient's voice is hoarse, almost silent. Body temperature can drop to 35.5 °C. There is a sharp decrease in blood pressure, tachycardia, shortness of breath, patients almost completely stop urinating. Attention is drawn to the sharpening of facial features, sunken cheeks and eyes.

With IV degree of dehydration, there is a loss of more than 10% of body weight. Characterized by the rapid development of signs of cholera with very frequent diarrhea and vomiting. The condition of the patients is extremely serious. Signs of dehydration reach their maximum severity. Facial features are sharpened, widespread cyanosis of the skin and mucous membranes, the skin is cold to the touch and covered with sticky sweat. Around the eyes there is a pronounced cyanosis, "hands of a laundress", a suffering facial expression. Spasms of all muscle groups develop, they are often repeated and very painful. Body temperature drops below 35 ° C, the voice is completely absent. The work of the cardiovascular system is sharply disturbed: tachycardia, heart sounds are deaf, the pulse and blood pressure cease to be determined, breathing is rapid, shallow.

Viral intestinal infections

Intestinal infections caused by viruses are a group of various acute infectious diseases that are combined by signs of general intoxication and a predominant lesion of the stomach and small intestine (singly or in combination), i.e., most often manifested by gastroenteritis or enteritis. Other organs and systems of the body are also affected.

Most often, the gastrointestinal tract is affected by a rotavirus infection, followed by 2 types of intestinal adenoviruses in frequency.

Less commonly, gastrointestinal disturbances can be caused by enteroviruses and reoviruses.

Reproduction of rotaviruses occurs in the upper part of the small intestine.

Reoviruses are similar in structure to rotaviruses in many ways.

Reoviruses multiply in the mucous membrane of the small intestine and upper respiratory tract, so these parts of the body are affected first. Reoviruses can infect animals.

Adenoviruses mainly affect the respiratory tract, and only two types of adenoviruses cause diarrhea. In addition to the upper respiratory tract, adenoviruses also affect the small intestine.

Among enteroviruses that can cause diarrhea, Coxsackie viruses deserve attention.

All diarrhea-causing viruses are persistent in the environment. Enteroviruses are able to survive well in water. All viruses tolerate low temperatures well, even freezing.

Most of all, intestinal viruses affect children, but adults also get sick.

The source of infection with rotavirus infection is a sick person or a virus carrier. Most of the viruses the patient excretes with the stool. The main route of infection is the fecal-oral route, when infection occurs with food, through dirty hands. Another route of infection is airborne. The maximum rise in incidence occurs in the autumn-winter period.

The main difference between reovirus infection is that you can get infected not only from humans, but also from animals. This infection is usually contracted from virus carriers, since most often the disease is asymptomatic. The airborne route is the main way for the spread of infection. But the pathogen is able to be transmitted through water, food and through household contact.

Adenovirus infection is contracted from sick people, and sometimes from virus carriers. The main route of infection is airborne, transmission through dishes and common items is possible. The peak incidence is in the autumn-winter period.

The greatest danger when infected with an enterovirus infection is the virus carrier. The fecal-oral route of infection is the main one, although airborne droplets are also of no small importance. A combination of these infection mechanisms is possible.

Clinic. The incubation period for rotavirus infection ranges from 15 hours to 3-5 days, but does not exceed 7 days. In rare cases, it can be extended up to 9 days.

The vast majority of patients become ill with rotavirus infection during the first day. In half of the patients, the disease is mild. Gastroenteritis is the main manifestation of rotavirus infection. In addition to frequent loose stools, patients develop vomiting. But vomiting doesn't always happen.

Vomiting is not particularly frequent and lasts, on average, about a day. After the cessation of vomiting, the stool becomes frothy, watery and acquires a yellowish-greenish color. The chair does not happen more than 10-15 times a day. The duration of diarrhea is 3 to 5 days. Patients may experience abdominal pain. The intensity of the pain is moderate, it is felt in the upper abdomen or in the entire abdominal cavity. Pain is not always felt, usually there is discomfort in the abdomen.

Signs of intoxication are expressed moderately. Not everyone has a fever. If fever occurs, the temperature does not exceed 38 ° C. The duration of the febrile period is 1-3 days. The most common symptom is intoxication, which is manifested by weakness, loss of appetite. Possible short-term fainting. The phenomena of intoxication disappear earlier, before the normalization of the stool. Every second patient has pharyngitis, in the form of hyperemia of the posterior pharyngeal wall, a rare cough. Upper respiratory tract infections are more common with reovirus infection.

Adenovirus infection is characterized by prolonged intoxication and fever. In many patients, the temperature rises above 38 ° C and the febrile reaction lasts from 5 to 7 days. The defeat of the gastrointestinal tract is manifested by signs of gastroenteritis or enteritis. The stool becomes liquid, watery, its multiplicity is 5-7 times a day. In addition to diarrhea, in some cases vomiting is noted during the first 1-2 days. A typical symptom of an adenovirus infection is an enlarged lymph node. Sometimes the liver and spleen are enlarged (hepatosplenomegaly), conjunctivitis often develops.

A variety of enterovirus infection, in which the gastrointestinal tract is predominantly affected, in most cases is characterized by a mild course. Intoxication, as with all viral diarrhea, is combined with damage to the gastrointestinal tract in the form of moderate enteritis, which is manifested by liquid, watery stools up to 5-7 times a day. But with this infection, other organs and systems of the body are also involved in the pathological process: patients develop a rash, mainly on the limbs, the upper parts of the respiratory tract are affected, tonsillitis is characteristic, in which transparent vesicles (vesicles) appear in the throat, and everyone has an enlarged liver and spleen.

Treatment of intestinal infections

Diet of patients with intestinal infections. Patients with intestinal diseases are prescribed a sparing diet. Preference is given to products that slow down the motor activity of the intestines and contain a large amount of tannin, which is found in blueberries, bird cherry, strong tea, viscous products such as slimy soups, pureed cereals, cottage cheese, kefir and kissels. You can eat crackers, and steam dishes from lean meat and fish. It is forbidden to eat fried and fatty foods, raw vegetables and fruits.

Gastric lavage. This procedure is an indispensable component of the treatment of food poisoning. Gastric lavage is carried out at any time from the onset of the disease, due to the ability of infectious agents to persist for a long time in the cells of the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract.

Therapy aimed at reducing intoxication and replenishing fluid in the body.

Replenishment of fluid with mild or moderate dehydration in intestinal infections is sufficient to be carried out only by oral administration of appropriate solutions. Currently, solutions such as re-hydron, citroglucosolan are used.

Oral (through the mouth) fluid replacement (rehydration) for dehydration is carried out in two stages.

1. In primary rehydration, the main goal is to replenish the deficit of water and salts, which is present at the beginning of treatment. This procedure is carried out during the first 4-6 hours. The calculation of the required volume of fluid for the initial stage of rehydration depends on the degree of dehydration and weight.

Primary rehydration with a mild degree of dehydration is carried out for 4 hours, and with an average degree - 6 hours.

2. The second stage of rehydration is maintenance.

This stage replaces the ongoing loss of water and electrolytes that occurs with vomiting and diarrhea and provides additional fluid requirements. With maintenance rehydration, for every next 6 hours, such a volume of fluid is injected as the patient lost over the previous 6 hours. To determine this volume, losses with diarrhea, vomiting, and also with hyperthermia are counted - for each degree in excess of 37-10 ml / kg.

If there is shortness of breath - for every 20-30 breaths in excess of the age norm - 10 ml / kg.

The solution can be drunk from a cup in sips or tablespoons at the required interval.

In addition to special solutions for rehydration, you can partially use just drinking, mineral water, herbal infusions and tea.

The disease can be accompanied by severe intoxication with any degree of dehydration, therefore, immediate infusion, detoxification therapy (administration of therapeutic solutions intravenously) is required.

It is customary to start infusion therapy with the introduction of colloidal solutions - fresh frozen plasma, Albumin, Reo-polyglucin, Hemodez, etc.

To compensate for the deficiency of water and salts, glucose-salt solutions are used, glucose is used in the form of a 5-10% solution.

Saline solutions are used in the form of polyionic solutions, "Quartasoli", "Trisoli", potassium chloride solution (potassium chloride concentration in the solution cannot exceed 1%), 4% sodium bicarbonate solution.

During the first 6-7 hours, the patient needs to inject a volume of fluid approximately equal to the estimated fluid deficit, usually up to 50% of the fluid is injected intravenously, in severe conditions accompanied by frequent vomiting, part of the fluid injected intravenously reaches 70-80% of the volume.

Infusion therapy is necessarily carried out under the control of diuresis, i.e., the amount and speed of urine output is taken into account.

In case of potassium deficiency, a solution of potassium chloride diluted with glucose or saline is introduced. With acidosis (increased acidity of the blood), a 4% solution of sodium bicarbonate is injected.

Other directions of treatment of intestinal infections.

One of the main directions in the treatment of intestinal infections is therapy that helps to reduce the frequency of stool and its normalization.

For this purpose, indomethacin is prescribed for diarrhea.

During the first day, this drug is administered orally. In some cases, indomethacin may be prescribed the next day. In addition to reducing diarrhea, indomethacin is able to stop disorders of the heart.

To reduce the diarrheal syndrome, calcium preparations are sometimes used in combination with vitamin B2 (ergocalciferol). Calcium is prescribed in the form of intravenous injections of a 10% solution of calcium gluconate for 3 days.

Great importance in the treatment of diarrhea in patients with intestinal infections is attached to the use of drugs such as. These, first of all, include activated carbon, produced in tablets or in powder form.

Close in mechanism of action is a complex preparation of activated carbon KM, consisting of activated carbon, white clay, and sodium salt of carboxymethylcellulose. This drug has a higher activity. It is produced in the form of tablets taken orally.

A good effect is noted from the use of carbolong, which contains powder from activated stone charcoal.

One of the widely used sorbents is polyphepan. The drug is obtained by processing lignin, which is a hydrolysis product of the constituent substances of wood. It is taken orally, in the form of granules, which are well stirred in water before use.

The most effective sorbent is smecta, which has a pronounced enveloping effect. Smecta is able to protect the intestinal epithelium from damage. The release form of the drug is a powder packaged in bags. To use the contents of 1 sachet, dissolve in 100 ml of water and drink little by little over several hours. The drug has no contraindications, it can be prescribed to children of any age.

Another group of antidiarrheal drugs includes drugs that have an opioid effect. Representatives of this group are loperamide and trimebutine. The peculiarity of opiates is that they are able to inhibit intestinal peristalsis. They are usually given to older children and adults with diarrhea, in capsule form.

Trimebutin, used in tablets, has a positive effect on intestinal motility, normalizing the smooth muscles of the entire gastrointestinal tract.

Not so long ago, for the treatment of diarrhea, somatostatin began to be used, which has a normalizing effect on the processes of absorption and secretion in the intestine. Under the influence of this hormone, there is an increase in the rate of absorption of water and salts in the small intestine, a decrease in the frequency of stool and fecal mass. The drug solution is available in ampoules for subcutaneous administration.

With intestinal infections, dysbacteriosis almost always develops, or this condition is the result of the use of antibiotics. In the complex treatment of dysbacteriosis, agents that normalize the intestinal flora are used - bifidum-bacterin, coli-bacterin, bifikol, lineks, etc. (for more details, see rehabilitation).

Intestinal antiseptics. Previously, the following drugs of this group were used to treat intestinal infections - intesto-pan, intetrix and enterosedive.

Recently, ercefuril (nifuraxazide), which is a derivative of nitrofuran, has been used in the treatment of intestinal infections of diseases. This drug acts mainly in the intestinal lumen and is used to treat diarrhea caused by bacteria.

Quite often, from the drugs of this group, furazolidone is used. The most sensitive to furazolidone of the causative agents of intestinal infections are the bacteria of dysentery, typhoid fever, paratyphoid A and B. In addition, the resistance of bacteria to this drug develops slowly.

Antibiotics. Antibiotics are prescribed only for moderate and severe forms of intestinal infections.

In the treatment of intestinal infections from antibiotics, groups of penicillins, cephalosporins, monobactams, carbapenems, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, polymyxins, quinolone drugs, nitrofurans, sulfonamides can be used.

Cephalosporins are one of the largest class of antibiotics. They have a wide antibacterial spectrum of activity and low toxicity. The most commonly used for the treatment of intestinal infections are: cefotaxime (can be produced under the name klaforan, cefabol, etc.), routes of administration - intramuscularly or intravenously; ceftriaxone (also called longacef, rocefin, cefaxone, etc.), is also administered intravenously and intramuscularly.

There are three generations of quinolones. Registered in Russia are drugs belonging to the first and second generations. Fluoroquinolones have a broad antimicrobial spectrum of action. Widely used for intestinal infections: ciprofloxacin (also called cyprinol, ciprobay, ciprolet, etc.), ofloxacin (other names - zanocin, tarivid), norfloxacin (nolicin, normax), Lomoflox (lomefloxacin, maxakvin). All of these drugs are taken orally, or administered intravenously.

Of the tetracyclines, doxycycline (also called vibramycin, doxal, and tetradox) is commonly used and has a broad spectrum of activity. This drug can only be prescribed to children over 8 years of age, is contraindicated in pregnant and lactating women, patients suffering from severe liver disease and kidney failure. Available in the form of capsules for oral administration.

Aminoglycosides include drugs such as streptomycin, neomycin, kanamycin, netromycin, gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin.

Antibiotics of this group are capable of toxic effects on the kidneys, can lead to deafness. Mainly used in the treatment of adults. When prescribing to children, special care is taken, therefore, two methods of dosing drugs are used: traditional, when the drug is administered 2 times a day and a single administration of the entire dose. In the treatment of intestinal infections, the following are usually prescribed: gentamicin (garamycin), netromycin, amikacin (selemycin, farcycline). Mostly these drugs are administered intravenously or intramuscularly.

Treatment of cholera, as a particularly dangerous infection, has its own characteristics.

All patients with cholera must be hospitalized and isolated to prevent the spread of infection.

In addition to symptomatic treatment, which is aimed at eliminating fluid deficiency, both orally and intravenously, antibiotics are prescribed to patients with cholera, which helps to reduce the duration of diarrhea and water-salt loss. Inside, antibacterial drugs such as doxycycline, tetracycline, levomycetin succinate, erythromycin, ciprolet (ciprofloxacin) can be prescribed.

The average course of antibiotic treatment is 3 to 5 days.

Inside, antibiotics can be used only after elimination of dehydration and in the absence of vomiting, which can be achieved after 4-6 hours from the start of therapy. With severe dehydration, tetracycline and levomycetin are administered intravenously during the first hour of treatment, and then, the drugs begin to be given orally.

In the prevention of acute intestinal infections, there are three main areas that depend on the links of the epidemiological chain that determine the spread of infection. These include:

1) impact on the source of infection;

2) interruption of propagation paths;

3) reducing the body's susceptibility to infection. source of infection. Activities aimed at the full

and early detection and neutralization of the causative agent of intestinal infections are the main means in combating the spread of diseases. All children who suffer from intestinal dysfunctions, from the onset of the disease, are subject to bacteriological examination and isolation. Patients are usually isolated in specialized hospitals and, only occasionally, isolation at home is allowed, subject to the sanitary and epidemiological regime. It is forbidden to leave infected children in organized children's groups. Isolation is terminated after complete recovery and the presence of negative results of subsequent bacteriological control.

Children who have had dysentery are allowed to be discharged only after normalization of the stool, at normal temperature for three days and if there is a negative result of bacteriological examination, which is carried out not two days after stopping the course of antibiotics.

Patients with chronic dysentery should continue treatment in special sanatoriums (if this is not possible, they are discharged home) after relief of exacerbations, with normal stools and temperatures for 10 days, and also if there is a negative result of bacteriological examination, which is carried out 2 days after the abolition of antibacterial treatment.

Patients with dysentery in the stage of convalescence are under dispensary observation, which is carried out by the clinic for 1 month. Patients who have had protracted and chronic forms of the disease are observed up to 3 months.

Patients who have had coli infection are discharged from the hospital after clinical recovery and a negative bacteriological examination. Convalescents who have survived salmonellosis are discharged after clinical recovery and in the presence of a double negative result of bacteriological examination.

To identify the sources of infection, it is necessary to conduct a bacteriological study of feces from people who have been in contact with the patient. In cases of dysentery and salmonellosis, everyone around of any age is examined. If there were cases of coli infection and staphylococcal infection, all children of 1–2 years of age are examined, and mothers of newborns are also examined in maternity hospitals. If carriers are identified, they are isolated (at home or in a hospital) and subjected to prophylactic treatment.

In order to identify probable sources of infection, a bacteriological examination of all children who are again admitted to child care facilities, as well as children entering hospitals, is carried out. Adults who work in children's institutions, kitchens, and shops are also subject to preventive examinations. They are examined upon admission to work, and in the future - periodically during scheduled medical examinations. If carriers are identified, they are suspended from work.

Distribution routes. In the focus of infection, current, and then, after hospitalization or recovery of the patient, final disinfection is performed. Very important among preventive measures are the disinfection of toilets, pots in preschool and school institutions, the fight against flies, the improvement of children's institutions, properly organized water supply and maintenance of the sewerage system, strict control over the anti-epidemic regime, especially in food blocks, control over storage and food processing.

In preventing the spread of intestinal infections, great importance is attached to sanitary and educational work among the population, in particular among the parents of children. Prevention of salmonellosis, in addition to the above, additionally includes the implementation of activities by the veterinary service in the distribution network, especially with regard to the supervision of the storage and sale of meat products. In order to prevent the possibility of the spread of staphylococcal infection, persons with pustular skin diseases are suspended from caring for infants and from work in catering establishments. With intestinal infections of a viral nature, the main preventive measure is the isolation of sick children until they recover.

The possibility of increasing specific immunity with the help of active immunization is very limited. For several years, attempts were made to use active immunization with the Bezredka vaccine against dysentery, but due to low efficiency, it was no longer used. Considerable importance is attached to the use of bacteriophages for the prevention, which are used in children's schools (up to 10 years old) and preschool institutions that are disadvantaged in terms of high morbidity during the period when the highest seasonal rise in morbidity is observed. The most effective phage scheme is to conduct a prophylactic course among children and staff of institutions every 3 days.

Particular attention should be paid to improving non-specific protective mechanisms, creating conditions that ensure the possibility of harmonious physical and neuropsychic development of children, adequate feeding of infants, etc.

Rehabilitation

Diet therapy during convalescence in intestinal infections. Food should be mechanically and chemically gentle and contain a sufficient amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and vitamins. Quite reasonably, spicy, spicy dishes, smoked foods are excluded from the diet, and the use of coarse vegetable fiber is limited. If there is a violation of the absorption of carbohydrates, the so-called disaccharidase deficiency, then a diet is prescribed in which milk sugar, lactose, is excluded. It is better to give preference to lactose-free mixtures, such as NAN Lactose-Free. Porridges are best cooked on vegetable broths, the use of vegetable dishes made from zucchini, cauliflower, potatoes has a good effect. The appointment of cottage cheese dishes, three-day kefir is recommended. The appointment of clinical nutrition is widely used, which contains fermented milk lactobacterin, bifi-lact, anacid bifilakt. You can use the addition of biologically active additives (BAA), such as BAA-1L (with lysozyme), BAA-1B (with bifidumbacterin), BAA-2 (with lysozyme and bifidum-bacterin).

specific bacteriophages. They are prescribed within 5-7 days if the pathogen is re-isolated.

Probiotics. They are prescribed from 2 weeks to 2-3 months, subject to the abolition of antibacterial drugs, specific bacteriophages, lactoglobulins. When prescribing, it is imperative to monitor the indicators of intestinal microbiocenosis. In this case, it is rational to prescribe bifidumbacterin, lactobacterin, bifikol, colibacterin, bifilong, travis, bactisubtil, biosporin, nutrolin B, acipol, enterol 250, biobacton, bifiform, acylact.

Enzyme therapy. Indications for the appointment of enzyme therapy are pronounced symptoms of secondary fermentopathy. Therapy is prescribed in the form of both mono- and polyenzymes. Treatment is monitored by coprocytogram.

Of the enzymes, the following are most often prescribed:

Oraza - within 2-4 weeks, pancreatin - 4-6 weeks, mezim-forte - a course of up to 2 months, creon - within 2 weeks, festal, digestal, panzinorm forte - also a course of 2 to 4 weeks.

Phage therapy. With persistent isolation of pathogens of intestinal infections from feces in high concentrations, it is rational to prescribe specific bacteriophages. The following preparations are used: pyobacteriophage combined, pyoceaneus, bacteriophage polyvalent Klebsieleus purified, bacteriophage Klebsieleus pneumonia purified, staphylococcal bacteriophage, coliproteic bacteriophage, intesti-bacteriophage, dysentery bacteriophage with a pectin base, dysentery bacteriophage with an acid-resistant coating, polyvalent salmonella.

The duration of the course of treatment with bacteriophages, on average, is 1 month, but may be longer, depending on the results of bacteriological examination of feces.

Phytotherapy. The bactericidal purpose has the appointment of decoctions and infusions of herbs such as St. John's wort, calendula, eucalyptus, yarrow, cinquefoil, sage, lingonberry, plantain. To increase the secretory activity of the gastrointestinal tract, yarrow, wormwood, plantain, and cabbage juice are prescribed. In order to correct immunity, a decoction of nettle, plantain, succession, lemon balm is used. With an unstable, rapid stool, you can give rice broth, a decoction of bird cherry fruits.

Hypericum decoction.

Required: chopped St. John's wort - 1 tbsp. l. Preparation and application. Pour chopped herbs with 1 cup boiling water, cook for 10 minutes, strain.

Take 50 ml 4 times a day 30 minutes before meals (daily

This decoction has a good effect in diseases of the digestive system and during the period of recovery from intestinal infections.

Infusion of calendula.

Required: calendula flower baskets - 1 tbsp. l.

Preparation and application. Brew flower baskets with 1 glass of boiling water, leave for 40 minutes, wrap warmly, strain.

Take 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day for 0.5 hours before meals after an intestinal infection and with beriberi C.

A decoction of eucalyptus leaves.

Required: eucalyptus leaves - 2 tsp.

Preparation and application. Brew leaves with 1 cup of boiling water, bring to a boil, boil for 1-2 minutes, insist until cool, strain.

Take 1 tsp. 3 times a day after meals with unstable stools.

A decoction of yarrow herb.

Required: yarrow herb - 1 tbsp. l.

Preparation and application. Brew grass with 1 cup of boiling water, simmer for 15 minutes over low heat, leave for 1 hour, strain.

Take 1 tbsp. l. 3-4 times a day after meals. Potentilla decoction.

Required: crushed cinquefoil leaves - 1 tbsp. l.

Preparation and application. Pour a glass of boiling water over the crushed rhizomes of the plant with roots, boil for 15 minutes, strain.

Take 1 tbsp. l. 3-4 times a day 1-1.5 hours before meals for gastrointestinal diseases, and can also be used for rheumatism and gout.

Infusion of cinquefoil rhizomes.

Required: crushed rhizomes of Potentilla - 1 tbsp. l.

Preparation and application. Brew chopped rhizomes with 1 cup of boiling water, insist, wrapped warmly, 3 hours, strain.

Take 1 tbsp. l. as a choleretic agent after suffering gastritis and enteritis, when there is a reduced acidity of gastric juice.

Infusion of sage leaves.

Required: chopped sage leaves - 1 tbsp. l.

Preparation and application. Sage leaves pour a glass of boiling water, leave for 20 minutes, cool, strain. The infusion is good for 2-3 days. Store in a cool place.

Take 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day with unstable stool.

Infusion of lingonberry leaves.

Required: lingonberry leaves - 1 tbsp. l.

Preparation and application. Pour 100 ml of boiling water over lingonberry leaves for 2 hours, then strain.

Take 1-2 tbsp. l. 3-4 times a day before meals for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. It can also be used for diseases of the kidneys, liver, bedwetting, gout, rheumatism.

Infusion of cranberries.

Required: cowberry fruits - 200 g.

Preparation and application. Pour the fruits in a colander with boiling water, then insist in 400 ml of chilled boiled water for 6 hours.

Take 100 ml 4 times a day before meals for constipation, due to dysbacteriosis, gastritis, colitis.

Infusion of leafy lingonberry branches.

Required: chopped deciduous lingonberry sprigs - 1 tbsp. l.

Preparation and application. Brew raw materials with a glass of boiling water, leave for 30 minutes, strain.

Take 2 tbsp. l. 4-5 times a day to increase the body's resistance.

A decoction of lingonberry leaves.

Required: lingonberry leaves - 2-3 tbsp. l.

Preparation and application. Boil the leaves in 3 cups of water for 10 minutes, then leave for 1 hour and strain. Drink 200 ml 3 times a day before meals for gastritis, colitis. The decoction has a good effect on colds, coughs.

Infusion of plantain leaves.

Required: dried plantain leaves - 100 g.

Preparation and application.

Brew 500 ml of boiling water dried leaves, leave for 2 hours, strain.

Take 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day before meals with gastritis that developed after intestinal infections, when there is low acidity, hemorrhoids.

Infusion of psyllium seeds.

Required: psyllium seeds 25 g.

Preparation and application. Brew 200 ml of boiling water seeds, shake for a long time, strain.

Drink 1 tbsp. l. 3 times a day 15–20 minutes before meals for constipation caused by intestinal dysbacteriosis after intestinal infections.

Cabbage juice.

Preparation and application. Cabbage juice is obtained by squeezing fresh cabbage leaves. It has a pleasant smell and delicate taste. The patient should drink raw juice after taking a light meal, depending on age, from 200 ml to 1 liter per day. The intake of juice contributes to the disappearance of sensations such as sour belching and pain. The course of treatment is 4-5 weeks.

A decoction of the leaves of wormwood and sage.

Required: wormwood leaves - 2 tbsp. l., sage leaves - 2 tbsp. l.

Preparation and application. Mix in equal proportions the leaves of wormwood and sage. 2 tbsp. l. boil the mixture in 400 ml of water for 30 minutes, strain.

Take 1 tbsp. l. after 2-3 hours with lesions predominantly of the large intestine.

A decoction of nettle roots.

Required: crushed roots and rhizomes of wormwood - 1 tbsp. l.

Preparation and application. Boil raw materials in 200 ml of sugar syrup or honey for 15 minutes.

Take 1 tbsp. l. 5-6 times a day after suffering gastritis, colitis. Can be used for coughs, urolithiasis, furunculosis, rashes and acne.

Melissa herbal infusion.

Required: lemon balm herb - 1.5 tbsp. l.

Preparation and application. Brew 180 ml of boiling water grass, insist, wrapped warmly, 1 hour, strain.

Drink this dose 3-4 times a day for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract associated with constipation.

Melissa tincture.

Required: lemon balm herb - 1 tbsp. l.

Preparation and application. Pour 100 ml of alcohol or 1 glass of vodka grass, leave for 2 weeks in a dark place, strain.

Take 15 drops 3 times a day for gastrointestinal diseases and bloating.

Rice decoction for diarrhea.

Required: rice - 1 tea cup.

Preparation and application. Pour rice with 6-7 cups of water, put on low heat and boil. Cool the resulting broth, strain.

Give a child 1β cups, an adult a cup every two hours for diarrhea.

A decoction of bird cherry fruits.

Required: bird cherry fruits - 1 tbsp. l.

Preparation and application. Pour the fruits with a glass of boiling water, cook on low heat for 10 minutes, leave for 1-2 hours, strain.

Drink 1/2 cup 2-3 times a day as an astringent for diarrhea.

Vitamin therapy. Multivitamins and vitamin complexes such as junior lifepack +, nutrimax +, sveltform +, mystic, passilat, coopers can be used. The course of treatment is 1.5–2 months.

Immunomodulatory therapy. It is prescribed after severe invasive intestinal infections.

1. Methyluracil is available in tablets for oral administration 3-4 times a day after meals. The course of treatment is up to 1 month.

2. Sodium nucleinate is prescribed in drops 3-4 times a day for 2-3 weeks.

3. Lysozyme is produced in the form of a dry substance, it is prescribed 20-30 minutes before meals 3-4 times a day for 7-10 days.

4. Immunal (or echinacea tincture) is prescribed in drops 3 times a day for 1 month.

5. Cycloferon is available in tablets and in solutions for injection it is prescribed 1 time per day according to the scheme: 1-2-4-6-8th day of treatment.

Treatment of intestinal dysbiosis, which occurs as a complication of intestinal infections or antibiotic treatment.

Therapy of intestinal dysbacteriosis should be complex. A protective regime is organized, which includes the creation of a favorable psychological environment, the patient should be in the fresh air for a long time, sleep should be long, and the diet should correspond to the age of the child.

Diet. The diet of children who have developed intestinal dysbacteriosis should be complete in terms of calories and the content of the main food ingredients. Food should be taken at the same hours, it is desirable to adhere to the rhythm of digestion. Nutrition should be, if possible, varied, food can be saturated with vitamin complexes: junior lifepack +, mystic, passilate, sveltform +, chromvital +, etc.

It is desirable to include in the diet foods that stimulate the intestinal microflora. These products include products, which are used in the preparation of wheat, rice, corn, buckwheat, millet. From vegetables, cabbage, carrots, zucchini, pumpkin, tomatoes can be noted. In addition, it is desirable to use fresh fruits, meat and fish of low-fat varieties, dairy products, vegetable fats. The best food for young children is mother's milk, which contains all the necessary nutrients, as well as substances that support the microflora and immunoglobulins that protect the intestinal mucosa. If the mother does not have breast milk, then it is preferable to use adapted milk formulas with probiotic supplements for feeding (Nutrilak, prenutrilak, NAS 6-12 with bifidobacteria). For children older than a year, it is rational to prescribe kefir, yogurt, "Biolact", "Bifidok", "Narine". The treatment regimen for intestinal dysbacteriosis consists of 3 successive stages.

First stage. At this stage, the main task is to change the chemical processes in the intestine and eliminate the conditionally pathogenic flora. To suppress the vital activity of conditionally pathogenic microorganisms, it is advisable to prescribe bacteriophages. They are viruses of microbes and, unlike chemotherapeutic drugs, have a selective effect on specific types of bacteria, and they do not affect the normal microflora.

Staphylococcal bacteriophage is a sterile phagolysate filtrate that has the ability to destroy the corresponding species of staphylococci. May be given to children of any age. Available in solutions for oral administration, for therapeutic enemas and in the form of suppositories, for injection into the rectum. It is prescribed 2-3 times a day.

Coliproteus bacteriophage contains components that are active against the most common serological groups of pathogenic Escherichia and Proteus.

Klebsiella polyvalent bacteriophage and Klebsiella bacteriophage contain filtrates of phagolysates of Klebsiella pneumonia, ozena, rhinoscleroma and Klebsiella resistant to antibiotics.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophage (pyocyaneus) contains phagolysate, which is capable of destroying Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pyobacteriophage combined has in its composition components that are capable of destroying staphylococci, streptococci, Escherichia, Proteus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Coliproteus, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas bacteriophage, pyobacteriophage are prescribed to children in the same age dosage as staphylococcal bacteriophage.

The Intestibacteriophage contains phagolysates that destroy both pathogenic pathogens of intestinal infections, in the form of Shigella, Salmonella, pathogenic Escherichia, and opportunistic pathogens - Enterococci, Staphylococci, Proteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Children in the age dosage of intestibacteriophage are prescribed 3 times a day orally and 1 time in an enema. The drug is given 1 hour before meals. The initial course of treatment is 5-7 days.

To improve the cleansing of the intestines from pathogenic flora, the appointment of specific lactoglobulins is justified. The drug is a purified fraction of globulins, which are obtained from the colostrum of cows. The therapeutic effect of the drug is associated with the presence of specific antibodies to pathogenic Escherichia, to Proteus, Klebsiella and Staphylococcus aureus. The drug is prescribed orally 2-3 times a day for half an hour before meals. The duration of the course of treatment is 5 days.

A good effect is the use of a complex immunoglobulin preparation (CIP). The therapeutic effect is associated with the content of immunoglobulins in it of 3 main classes (1d O, 1d M, 1d A). This drug acts on both pathogenic and opportunistic flora. KIP can be prescribed to children, starting from the first month of life, 1-2 times a day, half an hour before meals. The course of treatment is 5 days.

Second phase. It consists in colonizing the intestines with normal microflora by prescribing live bacterial preparations (probiotics). This takes into account the age, the state of the intestinal microflora. The duration of treatment depends on the severity of dysbacteriosis and ranges from 1 to 3 months.

Probiotics are preparations containing live, dried bacteria that maintain or restore the normal composition of the intestinal microflora.

The group of probiotics includes the following drugs:

1) bifidumbacterin dry - consists of a suspension of living bifidobacteria. One dose of the drug contains at least 10 units of live bifidobacteria;

2) bifidumbacterin forte - is a preparation that contains a dried microbial mass of live bifidobacteria and a sorbent - activated carbon. One dose of the drug contains at least 10 units of bifidobacteria;

3) lactobacterin dry - is a monocomponent preparation, which contains the microbial mass of live active lactobacilli;

4) dry colibacterin contains a dried microbial mass of live bacteria of Escherichia coli;

5) bifikol dry - the preparation contains cultures, co-grown, Escherichia coli and bifidobacteria;

6) bifilong - consists of their biomass of two varieties of bifidobacteria;

7) bifiform - is a combined preparation that contains bifidobacteria and enterococci. In addition, the drug has antagonistic activity against pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms;

8) in biobacton - contains a culture of acidophilus bacillus, which is characterized by high antimicrobial and acid-forming properties;

9) acipol - live acidophilic lactobacilli and heated kefir fungi. The drug is characterized by high acid-forming and antagonistic activity. Kefir fungi act as immunomodulators that stimulate the body's defenses;

10) acylact - is a complex preparation that contains 3 varieties of acidophilic lactobacilli. When taking this drug, the growth of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in the intestine is stimulated;

11) Linex - is a multicomponent drug that has the ability to inhibit the growth of opportunistic bacteria. In addition, it improves the absorption of monosaccharides and stabilizes the cells of the intestinal epithelium;

12) bactisubtil - is a drug that contains spores of specific bacteria. The vegetative forms of such bacteria secrete enzymes involved in the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, promote the synthesis of vitamins P and K, suppress the growth of Escherichia, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Proteus;

13) dry biosporin consists of live microbial cells of bacilli, which tend to inhibit the growth of pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria;

14) Nutrolin B is a combined preparation consisting of lactobacilli and PP vitamins;

15) Enterol 250 contains lyophilized yeast Saccharomyces boulardii. This drug restores the normal intestinal microflora and has a pronounced antidiarrheal effect. In addition, the drug inhibits the growth of pathogenic and opportunistic microorganisms;

16) travis contains two varieties of lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and one strain of streptococcus. The drug has an antagonistic effect on some pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria.

Third stage. The task of this stage is to increase the nonspecific protective reactions of the body, resulting in the formation of normal intestinal microflora. To stimulate the growth of microorganisms of the normal intestinal flora, preparations of various groups are used. This is achieved by prescribing calcium pathoge (stimulating the growth of bifidobacteria), pamba (promoting the growth of lactobacilli, normal rods and bifidobacteria), hilak forte, which helps restore normal intestinal microflora, lactulose, which enhances the growth of bifidobacteria.

Under the general name intestinal infection is meant a whole group of infectious diseases of a different nature of origin. The causative agents of these diseases affect the digestive system. The characteristic features of each of them are poisoning of the body and dehydration. The infection penetrates the intestines and it is there that the causative agents of the disease are localized and multiply.

This group of pathologies has been assigned the code A00-A09 by the International Classification of Diseases. It includes diseases such as cholera, tuberculous enteritis, salmonellosis, amoebiasis, shegellosis, bacterial poisoning, typhoid. According to WHO, about 2 million people worldwide die every year from various forms of intestinal infection. Most of them are children under the age of 5 years. The peak incidence occurs in the summer period of the year.

Types of pathogens and ways of infection

There are other forms of intestinal infection caused by bacteria, but the above are the most common. Bacterial gastric infection is provoked by microbes, which are opportunistic and purely pathogenic. The latter include the abdominal bacillus and vibrio cholerae. Their penetration into the human body always causes infectious poisoning.

Conditionally pathogenic are those microorganisms whose presence in a small amount is considered the norm, i.e., in such a concentration they do not harm a person. But if for some reason reproduction occurs and there are too many of them, then they cause a disease. Bacterial infection occurs by the fecal-oral or alimentary-household route. Often, infection occurs through the use of products contaminated with microbes and non-compliance with hygiene rules.

Gastrointestinal infections of viral etiology are divided into the following types:

• enterovirus;
• rotavirus
• coronavirus;
• norfolkvirus;
• reovirus.

A viral infection, penetrating the intestine, causes inflammation of its mucous membrane. A person who has had a viral intestinal infection remains contagious to others for one month after recovery. Viral infections of the stomach and intestines in most cases are transmitted by airborne droplets or household routes. So, infection can occur even through a kiss on the cheek of a child.

The simplest protozoan organisms are also the cause of the development of infectious diseases with damage to the intestines and stomach. These include giardiasis, amoebiasis, schistosomiasis, cryptosporidiosis. The protozoal form of intestinal infection is much less common than bacterial or viral. Usually, infection occurs through water if you swallow water while swimming in untested reservoirs.

Drinking unboiled water can also cause infection. Diseases caused by this pathogen are characterized by a long course. Infection with viral intestinal infections occurs through household and airborne droplets. Bacterial infections are transmitted by oral-fecal, household and airborne droplets.

The source is a sick person. Microbial excretion occurs from the onset of the disease to complete recovery. The greatest risk of catching gastrointestinal diseases is long-term storage of products. Intestinal infections are almost always enteric, that is, they enter the body through the mouth. Predisposing factors for infection are:

• ignoring the rules of personal hygiene;
• low acidity of the stomach;
• lack of access to clean water;
• living in unsatisfactory sanitary and hygienic conditions;
• intestinal dysbiosis.

The most common bacteria that cause intestinal diseases enter the human body as a result of the use of the following products:

• salmonella - poor heat treatment of meat and eggs;
• Staphylococcus aureus - mayonnaise and custards;
• cholera vibrio - contaminated water, including from open reservoirs;
• E. coli - the use of unboiled water or products washed with water from open water;
• parahemolytic vibrio - raw seafood.

Intestinal infections are caused by bacteria and viruses

Symptoms of an intestinal infection

An intestinal infection, regardless of which pathogen caused the disease, is accompanied by severe intoxication and damage to the digestive organs. However, each type of disease has its own characteristics. After the causative agent of an intestinal infection enters the oral cavity, it is swallowed together with saliva and penetrates into the stomach, and then into the intestines. But in the stomach, they are not destroyed by hydrochloric acid, so they pass into the intestines and actively multiply, causing the disease.

All types of the pathology under consideration are characterized by one common and main symptom - diarrhea and loose stools. Other signs of an intestinal infection such as nausea and vomiting, fever, abdominal cramps, weakness do not always appear after infection. But the disease is manifested by two types of syndromes: intestinal and intoxication. The severity of each of them varies depending on the type of pathogen.

The intestinal syndrome is characterized by the following classification:

• Colitis. Pain in the left lower abdomen, frequent urge to empty the bowels, stool contains an admixture of mucus and blood.
• gastritis. Intense pain in the stomach, nausea and vomiting after each meal, rare diarrhea.
• Enterocolitic. Severe abdominal pain, frequent bowel movements with mucus or loose stools.
• Gastroenteric. The pain is localized around the navel and in the stomach, vomiting appears and frequent mushy stools, which then become frothy with a pungent odor.
• Enteric. They are characterized by only one symptom - frequent watery stools.
• Gastroenterocolitic. Vomiting and intense pain all over the abdomen, painful bowel movements without relief, blood and mucus in the stool.

Intoxication syndrome is manifested by an increase in temperature above 37 degrees and general weakness. The patient complains of dizziness and headache, lack of appetite and nausea, aches are felt all over the body. Such an infectious-toxic syndrome can last from 2 hours to several days. Due to profuse vomiting and diarrhea, the patient develops dehydration.

If you do not take action, it can be fatal in a short period of time.

Diseases belonging to the category of intestinal infection

Symptoms of an intestinal infection vary depending on the type of disease. In addition, how long each of them lasts is also determined by the type of pathogen. According to the duration of the course, the infection can be acute and last less than 6 weeks, protracted - longer than 6 weeks, and chronic. The latter can last up to six months. Local manifestations of the disease also differ in which organ of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is most affected.

The incubation period of dysentery lasts up to 1 week. The disease has an acute onset with a sharp rise in temperature up to 40 degrees. Against the background of fever, convulsions and impaired consciousness are not excluded. Associated symptoms of dysentery are as follows:

• severe weakness and weakness;
• lack of appetite;
• muscle and headache;
• sharp pain in the left iliac part of the abdomen;
• spasms of the intestines;
• false urge to defecate;
• inflammation of the anal sphincter;
• multiple lesions of the intestine up to 20 times a day.

The feces are usually liquid with blood and mucus content. In severe cases of the disease, intestinal bleeding may develop. Salmonellosis begins with a rise in temperature to 39 degrees and the appearance of nausea with vomiting. In most cases, the disease has similar symptoms with gastritis and gastroenterocolitis. It is characterized by abundant and frequent stools.

In rare cases, there is a respiratory and typhoid type of salmonellosis. In the first case, the symptoms are supplemented by signs similar to those of a cold. Infection with Escherichia coli is referred to as escherichiosis. Its main symptoms are profuse and prolonged vomiting, bloating, loss of appetite and weakness. The stool is frequent and has a yellow tint.

One of the most common types of intestinal infection, especially in children, is rotavirus infection. In most cases, it has a course of the type of gastroenteritis or enteritis. The incubation period lasts from 1 to 3 days. Rotavirus has an acute onset, and the severity of symptoms becomes maximum by the end of the first day of illness

The infection is characterized by fever and general intoxication, nausea and vomiting, copious frothy and watery stools. Often rotavirus infection is accompanied by catarrhal symptoms, such as runny nose, sore throat, swelling and redness of the pharynx, cough. Usually the cure occurs within a week after the start of treatment.

No less common is staphylococcal intestinal infection. It can be primary and secondary. In the first case, the microbe enters the gastrointestinal tract through the mouth. The secondary type of the disease is characterized by the fact that the pathogen is introduced into the digestive tract by blood flow from other foci of infections.

The disease is accompanied by dehydration and toxicosis, frequent stools and vomiting. The stool is watery, greenish in color and may contain mucus. Often, the infection has a course similar to a cold: a runny nose, low fever and sore throat appear, then intestinal disorders join.

There are many diseases that fall into the category of "intestinal infection"

Medical treatment

Medicines intended for the treatment of intestinal infections are prescribed by a doctor on the basis of laboratory tests, through which the type of causative agent of the disease is detected. So, if the infection is viral in nature, then antiviral drugs are prescribed. If bacteria are the source of the disease, antibacterial tablets are prescribed to the patient.

Since in case of intestinal poisoning the symptoms of intoxication and stool disorders are the most pronounced, first of all, they must be eliminated. This is achieved by eliminating from the patient's body the pathogenic agent that caused the disease. It is also necessary to normalize the water-electrolyte balance in the intestines and remove toxic substances from the body. To achieve the latter, it is required to treat the patient with sorbents.

Treatment of an intestinal infection includes taking the following groups of drugs:

• antibiotics;
• antiviral agents;
• sorbents;
• diarrhea medicines;
• enzymes;
• painkillers.

For intestinal infections of bacterial origin, antimicrobial agents from the group of fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, amphenicolones or metronidazoles are prescribed. These can be Ofloxacin, Norfloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Levomethicin, Doxycycline. All types of intestinal infections are accompanied by the formation of toxic substances as a result of the activity of pathogenic microorganisms.

Therefore, it is necessary to take drugs to remove them from the digestive tract. For this, sorbents are prescribed, they absorb harmful substances and remove them from the intestines unchanged. The most popular drug in this group is activated charcoal. The recommended dose of the drug is 1 tablet per 10 kg of body weight. Also, with severe intoxication, Polysorb, Smecta or Enterosgel are prescribed.

To normalize the stool and eliminate diarrhea, special medications are prescribed. Their names are as follows: Trimebutin, Loperamide, Stopdiar, Ftalazol, Nifuroxazide. Taking these drugs will have a positive effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. They help reduce intestinal tone and peristalsis.

If, along with other symptoms, an intestinal infection is accompanied by severe pain, you can take painkillers. But this should be done only after the approval of the doctor, since taking them on their own before the doctor's examination can change the clinical picture, which will greatly complicate the diagnosis. Usually, Spasmaton, No-shpa or Benalgin is prescribed to alleviate the condition.

After eliminating the acute symptoms of an intestinal infection, it is recommended to take enzymatic preparations to normalize and speed up the digestive processes. As such, Mezim forte, Pancreatin or Micrasim are most often prescribed. It is also necessary to restore the intestinal microflora, for this, the intake of probiotics is provided. They are included in the complex treatment of intestinal infections in both adults and children.

In some cases of intestinal infection, the use of emergency funds may be required. The need for this arises when the patient has persistent diarrhea more than 8 times a day. The nature of the bowel movements also matters, watery and reminiscent of rice water is alarming. For these symptoms, it is recommended:

• put a dropper with glucose and isotonic sodium chloride solution;
• intramuscularly inject a lytic mixture;
• take steps to rehydrate;
• ensure the reception of adsorbents.

With food poisoning, gastric lavage and a cleansing enema are also performed. These procedures must be prescribed by the attending physician.

Intestinal infection requires complex treatment

Complications, prognosis and prevention

Any intestinal infection is fraught with the development of severe complications. The most common of these is dehydration. This is due to profuse vomiting and diarrhea, as a result of which water and salts are excreted from the body. For a person, the loss of 10% of the total volume of fluid is critical. This can result in coma and death. But such a prognosis is typical for a severe case of the course of the disease and the lack of treatment.

The following signs will indicate possible dehydration:

• no urination for more than 6 hours;
• dry tongue;
• dry skin;
• frequent pulse;
• lowering blood pressure;
• the skin takes on a grayish tint.

When assessing the degree of dehydration, you should not focus on the sign of thirst, since this symptom is not always present. Another form of complication of intestinal infection is toxic shock. This condition is provoked by the predominance of toxic substances in high concentrations in the blood. It can develop at the onset of the disease against the background of a rise in body temperature to high levels.

Often in children, intestinal infection is complicated by the development of pneumonia, which is the result of moderate dehydration, when the fluid lost by the body is not sufficiently replenished. Against the background of intoxication of the body, acute renal failure often occurs. Early diagnosis of the disease and adequate treatment contributes to the complete cure of the patient without the development of severe complications.

But it must be borne in mind that after suffering an intestinal infection, a person's immunity is weakened and susceptible to other viruses and infections. So it doesn't hurt to take extra precautions. In this regard, one should not overcool and expose oneself to various nervous shocks. Usually the acute period of the disease passes 3-4 days after the start of treatment.

But if no improvement is observed during this time, then you should re-seek medical help and be examined to identify more dangerous infections. Particular attention should be paid to the well-being of children under the age of one year. If they have severe diarrhea and vomit even from a sip of water, then you should immediately consult a doctor.

Washing fruit thoroughly with clean water will prevent intestinal infection.

Intestinal infection is considered a disease of dirty hands and therefore one of the main ways to prevent it is personal hygiene. In addition, to prevent it, doctors recommend a number of simple rules:

• frequent hand washing with soap, especially after going to the toilet and before eating;
• maintaining the cleanliness of cutlery and bathrooms;
• washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating;
• sufficient heat treatment of meat, milk and eggs;
• compliance with the rules and terms of storage of products.

If there is already a sick person in the family, the question arises what to do. To reduce the likelihood of infection, healthy family members need to: use individual cutlery, wear a bandage when in contact with the patient, clean with disinfectant solutions, disinfect dishes and things of the patient.

The environment is inhabited by millions of microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses. In the course of normal life, a person always comes into contact with pathogenic microflora. Microbiology has about 10 thousand different bacteria. When harmful microbes enter the human body, under the condition of weakened immunity, some infectious diseases and inflammatory processes may develop. Infections, viruses, bacteria sooner or later meet on the way of each person. Infectious diseases are the most frequent and widespread diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, both in childhood and in adults.

An intestinal infection is a disease that is characterized by the fact that harmful microbes settle in the intestines, which provoke a violation of the digestive processes. Infectious bowel diseases include: salmonellosis, cholera, dysentery, rotavirus, staphylococcal infection and others.

The Salmonella bacterium causes the development of a disease such as salmonellosis. Salmonella enter the small intestine, attach to its walls, causing severe intoxication. Salmonellosis develops rapidly, from 6 hours to 3 days after the bacterium enters the body. Salmonellosis is accompanied by a disorder of the functions of the nervous system, a violation of vascular tone. The disease is contagious. Salmonellosis is quite difficult to tolerate in childhood.

In addition to salmonellosis, bacteria of the genus Salmonella provoke a disease such as typhoid fever. The disease is characterized by intoxication, fever, skin rashes. The bacterium infects the lymphatic system of the small intestine.

Escherichiosis is an infectious disease caused by Escherichia coli. These bacteria are present in the body of every person and make up the normal intestinal microflora. However, as a result of the mutation, harmful strains of bacteria are produced that have a negative effect on the body. They can cause diarrhea, dysbacteriosis, and if they enter the abdominal cavity, they can provoke the development of peritonitis.

The stomach flu is caused by a rotavirus infection that is transmitted in a variety of ways. Infection leads to inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and small intestine, which provokes the development of diseases such as enteritis, gastritis. The toxic effect of viruses leads to disruption of the digestive processes, which is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea. Rotavirus infection is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, which is a protective reaction of the immune system to a pathogenic pathogen. This feature distinguishes intestinal flu from other viral diseases, diseases of the digestive tract. The infection will also provoke inflammation of the respiratory system.

Staphylococcal infections are caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Getting into the body through the skin, mucous membranes, airborne droplets, they begin to produce toxic substances, which causes serious harm to the body. However, staphylococcus bacteria are prone to mutation, so they become not susceptible to certain types of antibiotics, which greatly complicates treatment.

Dysentery is an infectious disease caused by the Shigella bacteria. They mainly affect the large intestine, causing irritation and intoxication. Poisonous waste products of bacteria are absorbed into the blood and have a negative effect on the digestive organs, as well as the cardiovascular, nervous systems.

Cholera is caused by Vibrio cholerae that affects the small intestine. The disease is very dangerous because it can cause dehydration and lead to death.

Enterovirus infection is caused by enteroviruses, which include several types of viruses. The disease is characterized by the fact that the virus, entering through the respiratory tract, settles on the mucous membranes and causes inflammation and diseases such as pharyngitis, tonsillitis. Then, with the blood, they are carried throughout the body, affecting the nerve and muscle tissues. Enteroviruses are capable of provoking the appearance of various pathologies: myalgia, encephalitis, serous meningitis, enteroviral diarrhea, and others.

Causes of infection in the intestines

Bacteria involved in the digestive process live in the human body, namely in the intestines. If foreign microorganisms enter, and the immune defense is weak, this leads to intestinal infections. The cause of infections in adults and children is contact with a carrier of the disease. The incubation period begins before the onset of initial symptoms of the disease and can last up to 14 days after cure. Therefore, violation of personal hygiene rules and other factors can increase the risk of contracting an infection through contact, even with apparently healthy people.

The infection has several ways of transmission:

• fecal-oral. Microorganisms are found in the feces and in case of insufficient hand hygiene after defecation, the hands of a person-carrier become the object of the spread of bacteria that remain on all surfaces, objects, products that he touches. Insects can also carry the infection;
• contact - household, when using objects, accessories, utensils, toilet facilities, products, etc., common with the carrier of the infection;
• food, water - the infection can get on food, water. As a result of improper or insufficient processing of products (not washed vegetables, berries, fruits, insufficient heat treatment of meat, dairy, fish products), as well as the ingress of running water from taps, reservoirs, can contribute to the penetration and reproduction of pathogenic bacteria. Salmonella is possible in meat, eggs, fish, dairy products, so it is not recommended to consume these products raw or poorly processed;
• airborne droplet. This type of distribution is typical for viruses. When sneezing, breathing, coughing, rotaviruses and other germs can be transmitted. Viruses enter the respiratory tract of a person, as well as on common objects;
• infections can be carried by wild and domestic animals, blood-sucking insects (lice, mosquitoes, fleas).

The following categories of people are most susceptible to intestinal infections:

• children under 3 years old - which is associated with an unstable immune system, the presence of vaccinations, which for a short period of time weaken the protective functions of the body, as well as neglect of the rules of personal hygiene. Due to their age, children cannot fully form the skills of processing hands and products;
• elderly people - due to physiological age-related changes in the elderly, immunity decreases, which increases the likelihood of various inflammatory and infectious diseases;
• people with bad habits. Alcohol and tobacco adversely affect all body systems, and also provokes suppression of the immune system.

Symptoms of an intestinal infection caused by various pathogens may differ from each other.

Intestinal infection: symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

In children and adults, the signs of the disease can manifest themselves in different forms and have different symptoms, but an acute intestinal infection is characterized by the presence of some common symptoms:

• pain in the lower abdomen, cramping in nature;
• pain during bowel movements;
• violation of the stool (watery, frothy discharge with a greenish or light brown color, there may be blood, mucus);
• diarrhea (up to 10-15 times a day);
• nausea, profuse vomiting, especially after eating or drinking;
• with some types of infection in the intestines, there is an increase in body temperature up to 38-39 degrees, chills, body aches;
• general malaise, weakness, dizziness;
• loss of appetite, sleep disturbance;
• some types of infection may be accompanied by the appearance of a cough, runny nose, and other symptoms that occur with respiratory viral diseases (which is typical for rotavirus infection).

In infants and older toddlers, the symptoms are similar. In young children with infectious diseases, dryness, signs of dehydration appear, as a result of which the fontanel sinks, and a sharp weight loss occurs. Children become lethargic, overly capricious. Children carry the infection most severely, the disease has a rapid pace of development.

If signs of an intestinal infection are detected, the patient is subject to immediate hospitalization in a medical institution.

Diagnostics

When establishing a diagnosis, physicians need to exclude other pathologies that have similar symptoms. It is necessary to conduct a comprehensive study, namely:

• Bacteriological examination of feces, vomit, washings from the stomach. Also, the remains of food or water, which could cause infection, are taken for research.
• A serological blood test, for this purpose, blood serum is used to determine the causative agent of an intestinal infection.
• Sigmoidoscopy is a procedure in which a special device is used to examine the mucous membrane of the rectum.
• Colonoscopy - used to evaluate the surface layer of the intestine.
• PCR analyzes of biological materials to determine the type of infection.

Treatment

When determining the causative agent of an intestinal infection, the doctor will draw up a clear scheme of how to treat the disease. Patients must be isolated from others, for the period of treatment they are recommended bed rest.

First, the patient needs to eliminate toxins and their negative impact on the body. For this purpose, sorbents are used, such as Smecta, Enterosgel, Polyphepan, activated carbon. Medical treatment includes:

1. Appointment of an antibiotic to fight the virus and other pathogenic microorganisms (Levomecitin, Ciprofloxacin).
2. To prevent diarrhea, you can use drugs such as Filtrum, Laktofiltrum, Baktisuptil.
3. Appointment of antiseptic intestinal preparations to prevent the spread of pathogenic microflora (Enterol, Enterofuril, Intetrix).
4. To restore the water-salt balance and prevent dehydration, Regidron and Behydron solutions are used.
5. In order to improve digestive processes and restore metabolism, enzymes are used - Creon, Mezim, Pancreatin, Ermital).
6. To restore the normal intestinal microflora, you need to use the probiotics Linex, Bifidumbacterin, Acepol.
7. Antiemetic drugs help reduce the frequency of vomiting and alleviate the condition (Cerukal, Motilium).
8. To eliminate the accompanying symptoms, antipyretics (Paracetamol, Nurofen), painkillers (No-shpa) can be used.
9. Immunomodulators to increase immunity and body defenses.

At the first sign of intestinal infections, do not self-medicate. It is not recommended to take medications to eliminate diarrhea (Loperamide, Immodium). Delayed fecal masses can provoke the accumulation of pathogenic organisms in the intestine. It is also contraindicated to take pain medications, because the exclusion of one of the symptoms will complicate the correct diagnosis. It is also not recommended to take phytopreparations, homeopathy, non-drug preparations without making a diagnosis, establishing the causative agent of the infection and recommendations of the attending physician.

Diet for intestinal infections

In addition to complex drug therapy, patients are prescribed a special diet. In the acute period, fasting is recommended for patients in order to exclude further reproduction of bacteria, reduce factors that can cause intestinal irritation.

Then it is allowed to take such products: light chicken broth, cereals without adding oil, steamed vegetables, dried bread. To prevent dehydration, the patient is advised to drink plenty of fluids. For this, boiled water (water with the addition of salt), unsaturated dried fruit compotes, herbal teas, rosehip decoctions, jelly are suitable.

With an intestinal infection, it is forbidden to use:

• spicy, fried, smoked, fatty, salty foods;
• dairy products - yogurt, fermented baked milk, milk, cream;
• fruits, berries, raw vegetables;
• carbonated drinks;
• baking, baking, confectionery;
• semi-finished products;
• pickles, marinades, spices.

When treating the disease, you must follow all the recommendations of the doctor. An intestinal infection can cause serious complications such as dehydration, toxic shock, kidney failure, pneumonia, and even death.

Prevention:

To prevent intestinal infections in adults and children, you need to follow some rules:

1. Observe the rules of personal hygiene: wash hands before eating, after each visit to the toilet, after visiting public places.
2. Keep dishes, household utensils, work surfaces, bathrooms clean.
3. Carefully process the food you eat, wash vegetables, berries, fruits, conduct the correct heat treatment of meat, milk, eggs, fish.
4. Monitor the quality of products, observe the terms and rules of storage in the refrigerator, do not use products with signs of decay, fermentation for cooking. You should also not buy products of dubious origin that do not have sanitary certificates.
5. Avoid long-term storage of perishable products, as well as products that have been at room temperature for a long time.
6. Do not drink raw tap water, but use boiled or distilled water.
7. Swim only in bodies of water that comply with sanitary and hygienic standards, avoid getting water in your mouth, take a shower after swimming in a body of water, and do not eat food without treating your hands.