Inflammation of the bowel (enteritis) – causes, symptoms & therapy

Inflammation of the bowel (enteritis)

Intestinal inflammation (enteritis) is an inflammatory infectious disease of the intestine or small intestine. Intestinal inflammation is accompanied by the classic symptoms of gastroenteritis . Typical symptoms are nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

What is intestinal inflammation?

Different inflammatory processes in different parts of the intestine are divided into enteritis and colitis within the broad and more general term intestinal inflammation. Enteritis refers to intestinal inflammation in the small intestine, colitis refers to intestinal inflammation in the large intestine. If intestinal inflammation has already progressed to the extent that the stomach is involved, then the medical term gastroenteritis is accurate.

Therapeutically relevant and characteristic forms of chronic intestinal inflammation are ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease . As with many other diseases, intestinal inflammation can be characterized either by acute and sudden health restrictions or by chronic, recurring and long-lasting health restrictions that are typical of the disease. Intestinal inflammation is usually accompanied by typical symptoms such as diarrhoea, sometimes severe nausea and vomiting and can become life-threatening if left untreated.

causes

Very different causes lead to the specific signs of intestinal inflammation, both acute and chronic. Classic triggers of intestinal inflammation, which can also expand to gastroenteritis, include microbes. These often cause a temporary, acute form of intestinal inflammation. In this context, both disease-causing germs such as viruses, various strains of bacteria, parasites , fungi and allergenic substances come into question.Intestinal inflammation can also occur as a result of intoxication from the ingress of environmental or other man-made or natural toxins. Viruses known to cause intestinal inflammation include Coxsack , Rota , Adeno, and Norwalk , and even the typical influenza viruses .

Within the various pathogenic bacterial strains , the Salmonella , which are often contained in spoiled food, are primarily responsible for intestinal inflammation. In addition, the well-known E. coli bacteria are also classic triggers. Intestinal inflammation often occurs as a result of taking drugs from the antibiotic class , which lead to a change in the natural bacterial colonization in the intestine.

When to the doctor?

With the help of a bland diet, sufficient fluid intake and physical rest, intestinal inflammation often goes away on its own within a few days. A doctor should be consulted if the symptoms last longer, even worsen, or other symptoms such as fever, severe abdominal pain or bloody stools occur. Babies, young children and the elderly are particularly at risk of becoming dehydrated due to persistent diarrhea.

Signs of incipient dehydration, which must be treated immediately by a doctor, are persistent tiredness , apathy, confusion and circulatory disorders. Babies suffering from enteritis should be taken to the pediatrician immediately if they stop drinking or appear dizzy – even if they are in good general condition, an examination is recommended after one or two days of persistent diarrhea at the latest.

Intestinal inflammation, accompanied by severe nausea and repeated vomiting, can lead to dehydration, even in physically fit adults, which requires medical attention. If the enteritis occurs after a stay in the tropics, an infection with parasites such as amoebas or lamblia should be ruled out by examining the stool. Medical clarification is also advisable for immunocompromised patients or recurring intestinal inflammation associated with intestinal cramps and bloody or mucous stool.

symptoms and course

Typical symptoms of intestinal inflammation:

Intestinal inflammation (enteritis) can be recognized by clear symptoms. In almost all cases, diarrhea and nausea occur. Vomiting, abdominal pain, intestinal cramps and fever are also common symptoms and complaints. If the fluid loss increases during the course of the disease, this can lead to far-reaching symptoms. The person concerned becomes tired, listless, suffers from calf cramps and ultimately a circulatory shock. Failure to respond will result in the death of the person concerned.

Inflammation of the intestines can also lead to many other complaints. Those affected suffer from severe pain in the entire abdomen and may feel severe itching in the area of ​​the anus. In the worst case, anal fistulas develop and bloody discharge occurs. At this point at the latest, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible so that the disease takes a positive course for the person concerned.

Intestinal inflammation is usually positive after early diagnosis. In adults, the symptoms disappear completely after a few days without any health consequences. In children, on the other hand, complications can quickly arise. However, comprehensive treatment also leads to a positive course without health consequences. People who already suffer from a weakened immune system must expect severe complications. If you don’t react early, the disease can be fatal in the worst case. Early treatment is therefore advisable.

Diagnose

Intestinal inflammation (enteritis) can be recognized by clear symptoms. The diagnosis can therefore usually be made after a personal conversation with the patient and the determination of the exact clinical picture. Nevertheless, a physical examination is normally carried out, during which the doctor scans the patient’s abdomen. Blood pressure is also checked and a stool sample is taken. In the laboratory it can then be determined whether the pathogens typical of intestinal inflammation are in the stool.

In addition, the doctor performs a colonoscopy to detect any changes in the intestines. Inflammation can be clearly identified in this way and other intestinal diseases can be ruled out with certainty. Finally, the attending doctor takes a tissue sample, which is also sent to a laboratory and examined there. If the diagnosis has not already been established by the colonoscopy, the laboratory results bring certainty about the patient’s state of health after a few days. As a rule, the treatment of the complaints is then initiated immediately.

complications

Complications from intestinal inflammation primarily occur in babies and young children. The reason for this is their high proportion of body water. Since enteritis causes dehydration of the body, they are at increased risk of sequelae. The effects of intestinal inflammation are not long in coming. Even after a short period of pronounced diarrhea, circulatory problems and blood composition disorders appear. Typical signs of these complications are tiredness and an increasing loss of consciousness. In such cases, a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible.

If the enteritis lasts for a long time, both children and adult patients are at risk of collapsing and kidney impairments such as acute kidney weakness (renal insufficiency) . This consequence is triggered by persistent diarrhea and the associated lack of fluids. Also, because the patient’s blood thickens, it can lead to the formation of a blood clot (thrombus)come. This in turn creates the risk that the thrombus will be washed into other parts of the body and block important blood vessels there. One of the most dangerous complications of intestinal inflammation is blood poisoning (sepsis), which is accompanied by a severe fever. The triggering germs penetrate to different organs. Sometimes abscesses form there. Some pathogens cause an autoimmune reaction. As part of this, the immune system mistakenly attacks its own body cells. The heart, joints, eyes and skin are mainly affected.

treatment and therapy

The treatment of intestinal inflammation is determined by the specific nature of the disease and the symptoms. In principle, both the administration of effective and specially dosed medication and everyday measures during the illness play a crucial role in promoting the recovery process from intestinal inflammation. The latter measures relate to an increase in the intake of electrolyte-rich fluids orally through drinking. If this is not possible, patients are given an infusion rich in electrolytes and sugar.

At home, teas, soups and mineral water are suitable. A partial cessation of food intake and a therapeutically sensible diet of rusks, white bread and other light foods that are gentle on the stomach and intestines, as well as the administration of substances that stop the diarrhea . This can also be done with an appropriate temporary diet. In addition to these more or less well-known charcoal tablets, which are recognized as extremely effective in the therapy of intestinal inflammation, bananas, black tea and dark chocolate are also considered therapy-supporting.

prevention

In order to prevent intestinal inflammation, which can be life-threatening, especially for children and the elderly, the hygienic guidelines must be observed when preparing, storing and consuming the food. This is particularly important in those geographic regions where high outside temperatures are typical, which quickly lead to food spoilage.

Some foods should be avoided altogether in this context. To prevent intestinal inflammation, it is better to avoid foods such as ice cream, raw salads, undercooked fish and meat products and dishes containing eggs. It is also very important to heat the food sufficiently to kill the pathogens. This also applies to drinking water.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *