Gastroenteritis (Running Stomach/Diarrhea)
Key points
- Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (the pathway responsible for digestion that includes the mouth, esophagus (food pipe in the neck), stomach, and intestines).
- Gastroenteritis can be caused by viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections.
- The main symptoms of gastroenteritis are diarrhea (running stomach).
- Because gastroenteritis is so similar to common diarrhea and because so many cases do not require hospitalization, it is difficult to determine how many cases of gastroenteritis occur per year.
What Is Gastroenteritis?
Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (the pathway responsible for digestion that includes the mouth, esophagus (food pipe in the neck), stomach, and intestines). Gastroenteritis is also sometimes referred to as 'stomach flu', even though it is not related to influenza.
What Causes Gastroenteritis?
Gastroenteritis can be caused by viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections. Viral gastroenteritis is highly contagious and is responsible for the majority of outbreak in developed countries.
Common Routes of Infection Include:
* Food (especially sea food)
* Contaminated water
* Contact with an infected person
* Unwashed hands
* Dirty utensils
In undeveloped countries, gastroenteritis is more often spread through contaminated food or water.
What Are the Symptoms of Gastroenteritis?
The main symptoms of gastroenteritis are diarrhea (running stomach). When the colon (large intestine) becomes infected during gastroenteritis, it loses its ability to retain fluids which causes the person's feces to become watery.
Other symptoms include:
* Abdominal pain or cramping
* Nausea
* Vomiting
* Fever
* Poor feeding (In infants)
* Unintentional weight loss (may be a sign of dehydration)
* Excessive sweating
* Clammy skin
* Muscle pain or joint stiffness
* Incontinence (loss of stool control)
* Because of the symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea, people who suffer from gastroenteritis can become dehydrated (loss water) very quickly. It is very important to watch for signs of dehydration, which include:
* Extreme thirst
* Concentrated urine (darker in color)
* Dry skin, lips and tongue
* Sunken cheeks or eyes
* In infants dry diapers (for more than 4-6 hours)
How Common Is Gastroenteritis?
Because gastroenteritis is so similar to common diarrhea and because so many cases do not require hospitalization, it is difficult to determine how many cases of gastroenteritis occur per year. Worldwide, it is estimated that three to five billion cases of acute diarrhea (which can be caused by many other diseases besides gastroenteritis) occur per year. Gastroenteritis is estimated to cause about five to 10 million deaths per year worldwide.
Who Is at Risk for Gastroenteritis?
Written and revised by
Gerald Hurowitz, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.
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