After last week’s blog, we thought it was a great time to share what our doctors can do for gastroenteritis. Our experienced, trusted doctors wish to offer solutions after sharing heavy information on a digestive health issue. Today, let’s share how you can reduce your risk for developing gastroenteritis.

Gastroenteritis:

As we shared in our last article, gastroenteritis is a general term used for irritation and inflammation of the GI tract. Classic symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It is very common in any age group and both females and males.

The pain may range from mild to severe. This is where gastroenteritis can be serious. There may be an underlying health issue causing the inflammation or irritation. An underlying health issue must be acknowledged quickly to prevent long-term health effects.

More serious symptoms of gastroenteritis include cramps, body aches, weakness, fatigue, and blood-streaked stools. Harmful complications may appear if left untreated. Emergency medical attention must be sought out immediately if any of the following occur:

  • shallow, raspy breathing
  • delirium
  • unresponsiveness
  • seizure
  • rectal bleeding
  • lethargy

These serious symptoms are not meant to scare you off. These are only the severe symptoms that people should be aware of. If your child experiences any mild to severe symptoms, bring them to the hospital or emergency care.

Causes:

Let’s get into the causes of gastroenteritis. It is most often caused by a gastrointestinal viral infection. Many of the same symptoms can result from a handful of conditions including:

  • dysentery
  • indigestion
  • anthrax infection
  • alcohol intoxication
  • bacterial gastrointestinal infection
  • IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome
  • medication side effects
  • parasite infection
  • stress
  • toxic ingestion

Risk Factors for developing gastroenteritis:

There is a plethora of risk factors which increase developing gastroenteritis. Once a person comes in close contact with an individual that has viral gastroenteritis, they are at-risk. This is the case for just about anything viral.

Consuming foods that are raw or undercooked will present a risk factor. Eating excessively large meals or eating too fast will put a person at-risk for gastroenteritis as this is not a healthy habit for consuming foods. Of course, eating expired foods such as old leftovers can upset a stomach for a few days.

Be mindful of the foods you reach for. Many people do not question the water they drink. Ice cubes made from unfiltered water can upset a GI tract for hours to days.

For those with a compromised immune system, a multitude of health issues can occur. Gastroenteritis is no exception. Those with cancer, kidney disease, HIV/AIDS, and diabetes have a much higher risk for gastroenteritis.

Stress is a large factor. Many of us have experienced upset stomach or diarrhea when put under a great deal of stress. Avoiding stress can help improve overall health, and the same goes for anxiety.

Although a majority of Americans have grown used to washing hands more frequently than COVID-19 struck the world, it is always a healthy habit to wash your hands after using the restroom, touching pet feces, handling reptiles, or touching raw foods. If a person does not wash their hands after coming in contact with a person who has bacterial or viral gastroenteritis, they are definitely at-risk.

Join us next week as we share solutions for gastroenteritis. Remember, it is important to rule out the cause before developing a treatment plan. Treatment is the easier part with local gastroenterologists at Gastroenterology Consultants of Central Florida. Make an appointment today!

Also, have a safe New Year’s Eve!

Staff Writer