Into group of intestinal infections includes a large number of diseases associated with infection by pathogens of different nature. The cause of inflammation occurring in the intestinal system can be:
- bacteria;
- viruses;
- pathogenic fungi;
- protozoa (amoeba, lamblia).
Infections caused by infections differ in symptomatology, severity of course and duration.
The main symptoms of acute intestinal infections
Consider what symptoms can occur with various intestinal infections.
Common symptoms of gastrointestinal infections:
1. Infectious-toxic syndrome, manifested in:
- increased temperature;
- weakness;
- sensation of aches in the body;
- nausea and vomiting.
2. Intestinal syndrome in the form of gastritis, colitis, enteritis, etc. Its manifestations are:
- stomach ache;
- frequent loose stools;
- sometimes with an admixture of mucus and blood.
Symptoms of bacterial intestinal infection
Bacterial bowel disease occurs when infected with pathogenic bacteria (cholera, dysentery, etc.), as well as when using products containing bacterial toxins ( botulism , staphylococcal food toxicosis, etc.) The following symptoms are typical for this type of gastrointestinal infections:
- watery, fetid diarrhea, but with some diseases, for example, with cholera, the odor may be absent;
- strong, often cramping, abdominal pain;
- nausea, vomiting is possible;
- dehydration of the body;
- a slight increase in temperature.
Diagnosis of the causative agent of the disease is based on the sowing of feces or the detection of feces of toxins in the sample.
Symptoms of an entero-viral infection
An infectious disease caused by rotaviruses is called "intestinal flu" in everyday life. Rotavirus intestinal infection is characterized by a combination of symptoms of intestinal and respiratory diseases:
- weakness, high fatigue;
- headache, dizziness
- nasal congestion, cough, perspiration in the throat;
- moderate pain and rumbling in the abdomen;
- a creamy or foamy yellow-green stool;
- as a rule, a significant increase in temperature.
In severe cases, heart failure may develop.
Diseases of viral etiology have a cyclic course:
- The incubation period lasts from a few hours to two days.
- An acute period lasting 3-7 days (in severe cases, there may be more).
- The recovery period lasts 3-5 days.
The number of diagnostic tools available includes:
- a general blood test to determine the level of leukocytosis and ESR;
- general urine analysis to detect changes in protein, leukocyte and erythrocyte content, as well as the presence of hyaline cylinders.
Symptoms of fungal intestinal infection
For intestinal infection caused by a fungus, the following symptoms are characteristic:
- bad breath ;
- dryness in the nasopharynx;
- inflammation of the gums;
- flatulence;
- stool disorder (diarrhea or constipation);
- putrefactive smell or mucous stool.
To establish the fact of excessive reproduction of the fungus in the intestine, you can by performing a simple test. In the morning on an empty stomach it is necessary to pour slightly warm water in a glass and to spit there. 15 minutes spent on monitoring the contents of the glass, will help determine the presence of fungi in the filaments, coming from the saliva. The fungal infection is also evidenced by the fact that the saliva completely leaves at the bottom of the dishes.
In any case, when symptoms of an acute intestinal infection appear, seek medical attention. Experienced specialist, suspecting a symptomatic infection, will appoint the necessary laboratory tests and appropriate therapy.