Gastroenteritis overview: Difference between revisions
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Gastroenteritis refers to [[inflammation]] of the [[gastrointestinal tract]], involving both the [[stomach]] and the [[small intestine]] and resulting in [[acute (medicine)|acute]] [[diarrhea]]. The inflammation is caused most often by [[infection]] with certain [[virus]]es, less often by [[bacteria]] or their [[toxin]]s, [[parasites]], or [[Adverse effect (medicine)|adverse reaction]] to something in the diet or medication. | Gastroenteritis refers to [[inflammation]] of the [[gastrointestinal tract]], involving both the [[stomach]] and the [[small intestine]] and resulting in [[acute (medicine)|acute]] [[diarrhea]]. The inflammation is caused most often by [[infection]] with certain [[virus]]es, less often by [[bacteria]] or their [[toxin]]s, [[parasites]], or [[Adverse effect (medicine)|adverse reaction]] to something in the diet or medication. | ||
===Risk Factors | ==Historical Perspective== | ||
Before the 20th century, the term "gastroenteritis" was not commonly used. What would now be diagnosed as gastroenteritis may have instead been diagnosed more specifically as [[typhoid fever]] or "cholera morbus," among others, or less specifically as "griping of the guts," "surfeit," "flux," "colic," "bowel complaint," or any one of a number of other archaic names for acute diarrhea. Historians, genealogists, and other researchers should keep in mind that gastroenteritis was not considered a discrete diagnosis until fairly recently. | |||
==Risk Factors== | |||
Risk factors are consumption of improperly prepared foods or contaminated water and travel or residence in areas of poor sanitation. | Risk factors are consumption of improperly prepared foods or contaminated water and travel or residence in areas of poor sanitation. | ||
Revision as of 20:06, 5 June 2013
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Gastroenteritis Microchapters |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Gastroenteritis refers to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, involving both the stomach and the small intestine and resulting in acute diarrhea. The inflammation is caused most often by infection with certain viruses, less often by bacteria or their toxins, parasites, or adverse reaction to something in the diet or medication.
Historical Perspective
Before the 20th century, the term "gastroenteritis" was not commonly used. What would now be diagnosed as gastroenteritis may have instead been diagnosed more specifically as typhoid fever or "cholera morbus," among others, or less specifically as "griping of the guts," "surfeit," "flux," "colic," "bowel complaint," or any one of a number of other archaic names for acute diarrhea. Historians, genealogists, and other researchers should keep in mind that gastroenteritis was not considered a discrete diagnosis until fairly recently.
Risk Factors
Risk factors are consumption of improperly prepared foods or contaminated water and travel or residence in areas of poor sanitation.