Intestinal infection symptoms in children 8 years old. Types of intestinal infections in children, symptoms and treatment

Acute diarrhea (diarrhea) - infectious diseases characterized by damage to various parts of the gastrointestinal tract and the development of dehydration and intoxication of varying degrees of severity - are among the most widespread diseases of children all over the world. In our country, at least 500 thousand acute intestinal infections in children are recorded annually, and children in the first year of life are most often affected. The high incidence of children of this age is explained by the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the characteristics of the immune system of infants.

The main protective link of the gastrointestinal tract, which stands in the way of the penetration of pathogenic microbes, is the intestinal mucous barrier, one of the main components of which is secretory immunoglobulin A, the production of which is reduced in children under one year of age. This deficiency is partially compensated by breast milk, so bottle-fed children are more susceptible to gastrointestinal infections. In addition, in children, unlike adults, other protective systems of the gastrointestinal tract are weaker: they produce less hydrochloric acid in the stomach and less secretion of the pancreas and bile, which also prevent the introduction of pathogenic microbes.

Children, unlike adults, are more likely to experience severe forms of intestinal infections, since they become dehydrated more quickly as a result of water loss through vomiting and loose stools, and children’s cells, as is known, are 90% water and salts.

It should be noted that when any infectious pathology occurs, including intestinal infections, not only the number and pathogenicity of microbes that enter the baby’s gastrointestinal tract, but also the initial state of health of the child matters.

Risk factors for intestinal infections:

• artificial feeding;
• introduction of complementary foods that are not subject to heat treatment - there is a possibility of pathogens getting in with complementary foods;
• summer season - increased air temperature promotes the proliferation of pathogens in water, soil, and products;
• prematurity;
• immunodeficiency conditions in children;
• perinatal pathology of the central nervous system.

Pathogens

Intestinal infections are caused by various microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa), in our country these are mainly bacteria (dysentery bacillus, salmonella, Escherichia).
Other bacterial infections also occur. In young children, their causative agent can be opportunistic bacteria - microbes that are part of the normal microflora, but under certain conditions cause disease. In children of the first year of life, such conditions include immaturity of the immune system and frequent uncontrolled use of antibiotics.
Viruses can also be causative agents of intestinal infections; The most common among such infections is rotavirus, this is the so-called “stomach flu”, which is usually suffered in winter, but other viral infections also occur.

Routes of infection

The main route of infection with intestinal infections is fecal-oral, in which the pathogen enters the child’s mouth. This route of infection occurs through contaminated water, toys, pacifiers, food, and household items. So, by putting a fallen toy or pacifier in his mouth, a child can receive a portion of intestinal pathogens. But it should be remembered that an adult cannot “sterilize” the pacifier with his saliva, because in this way the mother contributes to the transfer of microflora from her mouth to the child’s mouth and gastrointestinal tract.

Salmonella, the most common causative agents of acute intestinal infections, widespread throughout the world due to industrial poultry farming, most often enters the gastrointestinal tract with poultry meat and eggs. During the evisceration of infected chickens, these bacteria contaminate the entire line where the poultry is processed. Salmonella is resistant to freezing and is killed only by heat treatment. But if you carry infected poultry meat from the store in the same bag, for example, with bread, then further infection will occur through the bread, and not through the cooked chicken. If there are small cracks in the eggs, salmonella can also enter them, so the eggs can also become a source of infection. Salmonella is also spread through milk.

The dysentery bacillus often enters the gastrointestinal tract with low-quality dairy products and water.

In summer, pathogens of intestinal infections are often found in bodies of water, especially stagnant ones. A child can become infected not only by drinking water, but also by inhaling it or swallowing splashes.

Any germs and viruses can enter the baby's mouth from parents or people who care for the child through the dirty hands of adults. If the period of introducing complementary foods occurs in the summer, then along with “fresh vitamins” parents can reward the child with pathogens of intestinal infections. This route is most likely when introducing self-prepared juices from insufficiently washed fruits and berries.

Infection can also occur through children’s contact with infected animals, if a child, after stroking an animal whose fur contained pathogens of intestinal infections, then puts his hands in his mouth or touches toys, and especially food, with unwashed hands.

The duration of the incubation period - the period from the entry of pathogenic bacteria or viruses into the body until the appearance of symptoms of the disease - depends on the number of microorganisms that have entered the child’s mouth: the more pathogens, the shorter this period. This time can range from several hours to seven days (usually it does not exceed 3 days).

Symptoms

Various microorganisms that cause intestinal infections affect one or another part of the gastrointestinal tract. For example, salmonella “choose” predominantly the small intestine. Depending on which parts of the gastrointestinal tract are affected, there are:
gastritis - damage to the stomach, manifested mainly by vomiting;
enteritis, colitis - damage to the small and large intestines, manifested by frequent bowel movements;
Lesions of several parts of the gastrointestinal tract are more common: enterocolitis, gastroenteritis.

What the mother will notice: since the baby cannot say that his stomach hurts, this symptom will manifest itself as anxiety, the baby often cries, it is difficult to calm him down, vomiting,
increased bowel movements, bloating, increased body temperature.

According to the nature of the stool, acute intestinal infections are:
1. Secretory (watery). Such diseases are manifested by loose, watery stools. Viruses and toxins produced by bacteria seem to make the cell “cry”, and epithelial cells - the cells lining the gastrointestinal tract - lose their ability to absorb water; This is how loose, watery stool appears.
2. Inflammatory (invasive). In this case, the microbe gets inside the cell, destroying it. In the stool you can see mucus, blood, greens, and pus, which indicates the destruction of intestinal epithelial cells. These are most often bacterial infections.

Their manifestations:

• temperature increase;
• refusal to eat, weight loss;
• lethargy, vomiting, abdominal pain;
• the severity of the disease is indicated by sunken eyes, sharpening of facial features, sunken fontanel, dry lips, convulsions;
• A serious symptom indicating the extreme severity of the disease is the absence of urine in a child for more than 6 hours.
  The severity of the disease is also determined by the frequency of stool, vomiting and the amount of fluid lost.
  In terms of duration, intestinal infections can be:
• acute (loose stools last no more than 2 weeks);
• protracted (loose stools - from 2 weeks to 2 months);
• chronic (the concept of chronic infection refers to dysentery to a greater extent;
• but since chronic dysentery is not registered now, because Since modern antibacterial drugs have appeared that can adequately fight this infection, chronic intestinal infections practically do not occur at present).

Diagnostics

For diagnosis, in addition to monitoring the dynamics (development) of clinical symptoms, the following is used:
Scatological analysis of stool, in which you can detect a pathogen (for example, protozoa), or identify inflammatory changes in the gastrointestinal tract, digestive disorders.
Bacteriological culture. The method is based on the fact that a particular pathogen grows on a special nutrient medium. It takes a long time (5-7 days) to obtain the result of such a study.
To assess the general condition of the child, general blood tests, urine tests, a biochemical blood test are also prescribed, and the acid-base state of the blood is assessed.
To recognize viral diseases, there are also newer diagnostic methods that more accurately identify the infectious agent, but they are quite expensive and are performed only in large research institutes.
Since the manifestations of different intestinal infections are similar, they are successfully treated without recognizing the pathogen.

Treatment

First of all, you should consult a doctor. The child will be helped by a local pediatrician or the doctor on duty at a clinic, hospital or children's medical center. Some parents try to cope with the disease on their own because they fear that the child will end up in an infectious diseases hospital. Firstly, hospitalization is currently recommended for severe diseases (stool up to 10-15 times a day, uncontrollable vomiting, severe dehydration), and discharge can be made when the child’s condition improves, that is, it is not necessary to wait for a negative bacteriological culture test, which is performed within 7 days. Secondly, only a doctor can correctly diagnose and prescribe the necessary treatment. In the case of home treatment, the child must be visited daily by a doctor or nurse from the clinic.

Since liquid and salts are lost with loose stools and vomiting, in order to restore the required amount of fluid in the body, oral rehydration is performed - fractional feeding of a sick child with special solutions. For this purpose, glucose-saline solutions are used (“Regidron”, “Citroglucosolan”). If it is not possible to give your child these solutions (for example, you and your baby are at the dacha and medical assistance will be provided only upon returning to the city), then you can prepare a solution at home with the following composition: 4 tablespoons of sugar, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of salt per 1 liter of boiled water. It should be noted that in factory-prepared solutions, baking soda is replaced with citrate salts, which are better absorbed by children. You need to start drinking with 1 teaspoon; young children need to drip the solution onto their lips even while sleeping. You should not give solutions from a bottle, as the baby, due to thirst, will grab the nipple, drinking too much of the solution, which can cause vomiting. In the future, the required volume is calculated by the doctor, taking into account the initial weight of the child, fluid loss through feces and vomiting. In cases of severe dehydration, fluid replacement is carried out using intravenous drips.

In cases of severe gastritis (frequent vomiting), if little time has passed since the onset of the disease, the ambulance team or hospital doctors can perform gastric lavage on the child.

From the first hours of the onset of intestinal dysfunction, it is advisable to use enterosorbents along with oral rehydration. Preferably, “Smecta” is a drug of natural origin that binds microbes, toxins and protects the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. For a small infant, one package of powder is enough for a day; The powder is given in three doses.

Antibacterial drugs are used in children only according to strict indications. The fact is that any antibacterial drugs change the intestinal microflora, because have a detrimental effect not only on pathogenic microbes, but also on normal, very important inhabitants of the intestines, and in cases of acute intestinal infections, the normal microflora (lacto- and bifidobacteria) is called upon more than ever to protect the intestinal surface from the penetration of pathogenic microbes. Parents should especially be warned against trying to treat their children themselves with such “old” antibacterial drugs as chloramphenicol and tetracycline drugs, because these antibiotics are not only detrimental to normal microflora, but also toxic.

Antibiotics are never used for watery diarrhea, with the exception of cholera.

Currently, only intestinal infections that occur with inflammatory changes in the intestines, in which mucus, greens, and blood can be seen in the stool, are treated with antibacterial drugs. But even with these diseases, mild forms in children over 2 years of age do not require the use of antibacterial drugs. However, there are infections for which antibiotics are always given. These are dysentery, amoebiasis (amebic dysentery), typhoid fever, cholera. For these diseases, antibacterial drugs are given regardless of their severity. Needless to say, only a doctor can distinguish one intestinal infection from another, since their manifestations are often very similar. In no case should an analogy be drawn with sick adult family members taking this or that drug, even as prescribed by a doctor. A child who develops diarrhea and vomiting after an adult should definitely consult a specialist, since many antibacterial drugs that have proven themselves for the treatment of intestinal infections in adults are not used in pediatric practice. For example, fluoroquinolones can affect growing cartilage and are therefore approved for use in children over 12 years of age.

Diet - since any intestinal infection does not affect the entire intestine, the unaffected areas are able to absorb nutrients. The main principle of feeding during illness is feeding according to appetite. When breastfeeding, you should adhere to the principles of feeding on demand, and with artificial feeding, offer the child at each feeding an amount of food that corresponds to his age, but if the child does not eat the entire mixture offered, then you should not try to force feed him. In this case, it is advisable to give food more often, in small portions. In the acute period of the disease, preference is given to fermented milk mixtures (“Agusha”, “Nan-fermented milk”), since many microbes do not like an acidic environment. During illness, new components should not be introduced into the diet. It is better to give dairy-free porridges, given that during the acute period of infection, secondary lactase deficiency occurs - a lack of the enzyme that digests milk, and it is less absorbed. During the period of diarrhea, the child is not given fresh fruits, juices, yolks, pastries and meat broths.

Usually, by the 5th day of treatment, they return to the original amount of food and diet. Dietary restrictions (do not introduce new foods into the diet, dairy-free cereals) remain in place for up to 2 weeks.

Symptomatic therapy is also used, including antipyretics when the temperature rises above 38°C. You can use physical cooling methods (the baby should not be wrapped; you can wipe it with a semi-alcohol solution, but do not rub it). Among medications, preference is given to drugs containing paracetamol and ibuprofen.

More attention should also be paid to care. You need to wash your baby regularly. Since stools become more frequent, to prevent diaper rash, you should treat the skin around the anus with De-panthenol and Drapolen ointment. During the acute period of illness, it is advisable to use cloth diapers rather than disposable ones, since it is very important to monitor urination, and this is not possible when using disposable diapers.

Prevention

No specific methods such as vaccinations have been developed to prevent intestinal infections. Prevention of these diseases lies in the obligatory observance of basic hygiene rules and control over the foods that the child eats. The more closely parents monitor what can get into their baby’s mouth, from food to toys, the less likely the child will be to develop an acute intestinal infection.

Acute intestinal infections(OCI) is a group of infectious diseases transmitted by the fecal-oral route. Usually accompanied by digestive disorders (vomiting, diarrhea) and deterioration of the general condition (increase, weakness, etc.). The most common and most unpleasant intestinal infections are dysentery, salmonellosis, escherichiosis (Escherichia coli) and rotavirus infection. Therefore, we will talk about them separately in the corresponding chapters. Here we will examine only general issues, what unites all intestinal infections.

Fecal-oral transmission mechanism. The causative agent of the infection is released into the external environment with the patient’s feces and can get into water with a poor sewage system, into food, onto surrounding objects, and through them into a person’s mouth. Most often the culprit is dirty hands. For the infection to get on your hands, you just need to hold the door handle that the patient touched after visiting the toilet.

It is easy to become infected by eating unwashed vegetables, sharing dishes with a sick person, drinking infected unboiled water, or having lunch in a canteen where sanitary standards were not followed during food preparation. Flies play a role in the transmission of infection.

They occur both as isolated cases and as epidemic outbreaks. The development of epidemics is facilitated by violations of sanitary and hygienic standards (for example, poor-quality disinfection of wastewater and its release into drinking water or bathing areas). OKIs are ubiquitous and very easy to get infected with. Among patients with intestinal infections, 70% are children. Due to insufficient hardening and relative immaturity of the digestive system, children are highly susceptible to them. In addition, immunity to intestinal infections is usually not stable, and you can easily get sick again. They especially suffer from intestinal infections in infants: their illness is usually severe and sometimes ends in failure.

Factors contributing to the occurrence of ACI:

• Poor water supply.
• Poor sewage system.
• Poor sanitary and hygienic conditions.
• Failure to comply with basic hygiene rules (wash hands before eating, drink boiled water, etc.).
• Impaired food storage.
• Early termination in infants. Breast milk is not only sterile and cannot spoil, but also contains various immune factors that protect against infections, which are not found in any artificial formula.
• Weakening and exhaustion of the child, poor immunity, chronic diseases - everything that helps to reduce the body's defenses contributes to the occurrence of intestinal infections. Intestinal infections are:
• Bacterial (pathogens are bacteria).

Undoubtedly pathogenic (surely cause acute intestinal infections):

• dysentery or shigellosis (caused by Shigella);
• salmonellosis (caused by salmonella);
• Escherichiosis (caused by Escherichia coli);
• cholera (caused by Vibrio cholerae);
• typhoid fever.

Opportunistic (cause or do not cause acute intestinal infections, depending on the accompanying conditions):

• campylobacteriosis (pathogen - Campylobacter);
• staphylococcal infection (pathogen - staphylococcus);
• Proteus infection (causative agent - Proteus);
• Klebsiellosis (pathogen - Klebsiella), etc.

Giardiasis (causative agent - Giardia), etc.

The increase in bacterial intestinal infections (dysentery, salmonellosis, escherichiosis) is usually observed in the summer, and viral (rotavirus infection) in the winter.
In some cases (and even very often this happens), the causative agent of an intestinal infection cannot be determined. Then the patient is diagnosed with “acute intestinal infection of unknown etiology.”

Symptoms of intestinal infection in children

The incubation period for ACI ranges from several hours to several days. In the clinic, lesions of the digestive and central nervous systems, as well as signs of dehydration, prevail.

Vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. All intestinal infections affect the digestive organs. Symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders depend more on the specific organ in which the inflammatory process is taking place, rather than on what pathogen is causing the acute intestinal infection. Therefore, with OKI there will be one of the manifestations described below:

Gastritis is a pathological process at the level of the stomach. The main symptom of gastritis is vomiting. Usually vomiting is frequent, repeated, accompanied by nausea. Characteristic of acute intestinal infections caused by staphylococcus.

Enteritis. The small intestine is affected. The main symptom is frequent, copious, watery stools, accompanied by abdominal pain and flatulence. It may be foamy (typical of rotavirus infection), with an admixture of greens (typical of salmonellosis, etc.) and transparent mucus.

Colitis. Damage to the large intestine. Symptoms: scanty, loose stools with blood and cloudy mucus, cramping pain in the abdomen, frequent urge to defecate, there may be painful false urges - tenesmus (the patient wants to go, but nothing works out for him). Colitis is a typical symptom of dysentery.

Gastroenteritis. Combines signs of gastritis and enteritis: repeated vomiting and frequent, loose, profuse stools.

Enterocolitis. Combines signs of enteritis and colitis: frequent loose, foul-smelling stools mixed with greens, blood and mucus, an endless urge to defecate.

Gastroenterocolitis. The child has vomiting, diarrhea, and mucus with blood in the stool.
Central nervous system disorders. Bacteria produce toxins that poison the nervous system. Depending on the severity of the course, the following symptoms may occur in various combinations:

• High temperature up to 39 °C and above.
• Weakness, lethargy, headache, deterioration in health.
• Motor and mental restlessness, followed by depression up to loss of consciousness and coma. Confusion, delirium, hallucinations, sleep disturbances, and convulsions are possible.
• Change in skin color. May be:

Pallor;
- gray skin tone with blue discoloration of fingertips, lips and nasolabial triangle;
- marbled leather (the appearance of the leather resembles the pattern of marble).

• Hands and feet feel cold to the touch.
• Indomitable vomiting of central origin, associated with irritation of the vomiting center of the brain.
• Decreased or increased blood pressure, increased heart rate.
• Dyspnea.

Dehydration. The child loses a lot of fluid through loose stools and vomiting. In addition to water, diarrhea and vomiting leave the body with potassium and sodium salts, which are necessary for the functioning of the heart, muscles, nervous system and other organs. The more fluid the child has lost, the worse his condition. This is especially true for young children: dehydration occurs very quickly in them and sometimes ends with emergency measures in the intensive care unit of the hospital.

The first signs of dehydration:
- thirst;
- dry skin and mucous membranes, decreased skin elasticity;
- weakness, lethargy, drowsiness, refusal to eat;
- urination is rare, in small portions, urine is concentrated, dark;

If fluid loss continues:
- retraction of the eyeballs;
- retraction of the large fontanelle in infants;
- sharpening of facial features;
- loss of body weight;
- decreased blood pressure, cold extremities, decreased body temperature;
- further loss of fluid leads to the development of shock.

Of course, the sufferer intestinal infection of a child Not all of the above symptoms are found. The severity of clinical manifestations depends on the severity of the disease. There are mild, moderate and severe forms of OCI.

The severity of the disease is influenced by:

• The amount of pathogen that has entered the body (the more, the more severe the ACI).
• The type of pathogen and its aggressiveness (dysentery, salmonellosis, cholera, and escherichiosis are especially severe).
• Age of the child (the younger, the more severe the course of ACI).
• The initial state of health of the child (weakened or with good immunity).
• Adequacy of the treatment provided.

Attention! If a child experiences vomiting, diarrhea, increased body temperature and deterioration in general condition, it is necessary to immediately consult a doctor and not self-medicate. Remember that OCI not only causes significant damage to the child’s health, but also poses a serious threat to others.

Diagnosis of intestinal infection in children

1. Bacteriological cultures of feces and, in some cases, vomit. This is the leading diagnostic method. Determines which microbe causes an intestinal infection.

To analyze the child’s stool, a smear is taken from the anus (it is also called a “VD smear” or “intestinal group smear”). The resulting material is sown on special nutrient media. After a few days (usually 5-7 days), colonies of bacteria grow, which can be examined under a microscope and tested using various methods. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to detect the pathogen.

2. Blood tests to determine the increase in antibody titer to any pathogen. Determine the reaction of the immune system to a suspected infection. If there is an increase in antibodies to a specific pathogen, then we can say with confidence that the person is sick (or has been sick). This method is rarely used in practice.

3. Express diagnostics: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and other laboratory tests. They are used mainly in hospital settings, and even then not all of them.

4. Scatological analysis of feces. In it you can see the degree of digestion of food, blood, mucus and protozoa (amoeba and lamblia).

Principles of treatment of acute intestinal infection

First of all, you need to see a doctor.
Admitted to hospital:

• Children with severe acute intestinal infections. Small children and those with moderate disabilities.
• Infants.
• Weak children with any concomitant acute or chronic diseases.
• Children with typhoid fever and cholera.
• Children of food industry workers.
• Children from closed children's institutions (boarding schools, sanatoriums), from hostels and communal apartments.

Diet. Feeding a child with an intestinal infection definitely necessary. Food should be as gentle as possible. Formula-fed infants are prescribed lactase-free, low-lactase or soy formulas.

During the acute period, adult children are allowed to eat:

• Potato or other vegetable (pumpkin, zucchini, carrots) puree in water (vegetable oil can be added).
• White bread crackers, dry, unpalatable cookies.
• Vegetable soup (potatoes, onions, carrots, zucchini, pumpkin) with rice.
• : rice and buckwheat on water. Oatmeal-carrot broth.
• Boiled pureed meat.
• Fermented milk products (yogurt, kefir, yogurt, cottage cheese) are low-fat.
• Fruits and berries: apples (preferably baked or grated), pears, bananas, watermelon, blueberries, lemon.
• Fruit and fruit and vegetable juices, preferably freshly squeezed without sugar, diluted with water.

Liquid. When vomiting and diarrhea, especially frequent and abundant, the child must drink to avoid dehydration. Replenishing fluids in the body through the mouth is called oral rehydration.

The liquid is drunk slowly, and under no circumstances in one gulp. Drinking a large amount of liquid at once can lead to vomiting. The child is “drinked” in small sips: 1-2 sips at intervals of 5-15 minutes. After each vomiting, an infant needs to drink about 50 ml of liquid, and an older child needs 100-200 ml. If the child refuses to drink, liquid is dripped into his mouth from a pipette (this can be done during sleep). If there is significant loss of fluid, the drinking regimen is prescribed by the doctor individually.

To replenish fluid, special salt solutions (rehydron) are used, as well as mineral water without gases (Borjomi). In addition to saline solutions, your child can drink tea or water with lemon, chamomile decoction, cranberry juice, and highly diluted fruit juice. It is advisable not to add sugar to drinks or use it in minimal quantities.

If diarrhea and vomiting do not stop, symptoms of dehydration increase, and it is not possible to replenish lost fluid through the mouth, the child is given intravenous solutions (this is already in the hospital).

Medicines for intestinal infections

Antibacterial drugs (prescribed by a doctor).
CIP (complex immune preparation). Contains antibodies (immunoglobulins) to various pathogens of intestinal infections. Its action is based on increasing local immunity in the intestines.

Sorbents (or enterosorbents): enterosgel, activated carbon, polyphepam, entegnin, filtrum, etc.

Biological products: bactisubtil, linex, enterol, bificol, etc.

Enzymes: festal, mezim-forte, creon, panzinorm, etc., according to indications.

Other treatment depending on what symptoms the child still has (antipyretics, anticonvulsants, etc.).

Attention! It is not recommended to give medications for diarrhea, such as Imodium, to children with acute intestinal infections, and for dysentery - it is prohibited.

Prevention of intestinal infection

• The patient is isolated.
• The source of infection (the place where the patient with acute respiratory infection is located) must be disinfected. Children are provided with separate dishes and personal items. Treat the child's toilet and potty with bleach. When cleaning, don't forget to wipe down door handles and switches.
• Persons who have been in contact with the patient are checked for the presence of intestinal microbes (VD smear).
• After recovery, the child must undergo a repeated bacteriological examination of the feces in order to make sure that the pathogen is no longer there, since sometimes after an infection a carrier state remains (asymptomatic excretion of pathogens in the feces).
• Children admitted to medical institutions (hospitals, sanatoriums), as well as workers in the food industry and children's institutions are required to undergo examination for the presence of intestinal pathogens (smear on the VD).
• And, of course, do not forget about observing the rules of personal hygiene.

Healthy child from birth. When copying, an active link is required.

Source: influenza: symptoms, treatment in children and adults

Intestinal flu, the symptoms of which will be described below, is medically called “rotavirus infection.” The disease is caused, as the name implies, by rotavirus. It is transmitted from a sick person to others through saliva, feces and even urine, that is, you can become infected through unwashed hands, by drinking unboiled water or dairy products, by sharing toys or utensils with a sick child, or by airborne droplets. Those who clearly have a rotavirus infection are contagious (usually children), as well as those who have had subtle symptoms of an intestinal infection caused by this microbe (usually adults). The infectiousness of a patient with a latent or overt form of rotavirus remains for a day.

Obvious clinical symptoms usually occur in children. Children under 7 years of age are most susceptible to the disease. Adults usually experience a mild form of the disease - within a couple of days they experience loose stools and a red throat (they are contagious). Intestinal flu, the symptoms of which parents of young children need to know about treatment, begins acutely, with the appearance of vomiting and loose stools, and fever. The temperature drops poorly, often resulting in the child’s limbs becoming marbled. Against this background, babies may experience convulsions with breathing problems. There is repeated vomiting throughout the day, the child does not drink well, and is sick from eating and drinking. Very quickly, many people develop an acetonemic state. Diarrhea: stools are frequent, loose, may be brown or yellow, foamy in nature, with a foul odor. This way, the child can lose a lot of fluid, so it is important to drink it correctly and actively. Minor catarrhal symptoms are noted - reddened throat, sore throat, discharge of light mucus from the nose.

How is stomach flu diagnosed? Are the symptoms and treatment the same as for other intestinal infections?

If your child has symptoms that are very similar to those described above, do not be lazy, go to the pharmacy to buy the Rota test. Having carried it out with the child’s feces as written in the instructions, you will find out within a few minutes whether it is intestinal flu or a bacterial disease. Treatment depends on this: if antibiotics are not indicated for rotavirus infection, then a bacterial intestinal infection cannot be cured without them (rotavirus does not cause sepsis and does not enter the blood, but the bacterium, if not killed in time, can be fatal in itself). yourself). In addition, you will need to buy “Acetone Test” strips to determine the level of acetone in the urine.

1. The main thing in treatment is to provide the baby with a sufficient amount of fluid. You need to give him in the form of water, tea, compote not only his norm (for example, for a child weighing 11 kg it is a liter per day), but also the liquid that he loses with diarrhea and vomiting. You should drink in small doses, 5-10 ml (tea-dessert spoon), cool liquid (in case of severe nausea) or at room temperature. The best option is to feed the child with solutions “Regidron”, “Oralit”, “Humana”. You can prepare the solution yourself: dilute 6 tsp per 1 liter of water. sugar and 1 tsp. table salt.

2. Sorbents: “Smecta”, “White Coal”, “Enterosgel” in an age-specific dosage, little by little throughout the day. For example, a 2 year old should take 1-1.5 sachets of Smecta per day, give it little by little, 5-10 ml every half hour, take a break from taking the sorbent when you need to take the medicine.

3. There is a proven practice of using Viferon suppositories in an age-specific dosage as an antiviral agent.

4. Antipyretic drugs in age-specific dosages. Do not forget about cooling methods such as undressing and wiping with cool water, and also that you should never wrap a child when he has a fever, otherwise he may end up with seizures. If you can’t cope with the fever, call an ambulance.

Intestinal flu: symptoms, treatment of complications

Kidney failure. It occurs due to insufficient intake of fluid into the body with large losses. It looks like a deterioration in the condition, a decrease in the amount of urine, which becomes darker. Treatment here should be carried out as soon as possible, before the kidneys die; it consists of intravenous fluid administration (drip).

Acetonemic state. It may be the culprit of persistent vomiting, due to which the child cannot drink. Symptoms: abdominal pain, vomiting, smell of acetone, “Acetone Test” test strips show that the indicator is more than one plus (normally it should not be there at all). Treatment: in the hospital. This includes drip administration of liquid, and feeding the child Borjomi without gas, semi-sweet teas, and rehydrating solutions. “Citrarginine” helps well in treating this condition, an ampoule of which must be dissolved in a glass of water and given throughout the day (you can add a spoonful of sugar there).

High temperature that does not go down. Treatment - in an infectious diseases hospital, call an ambulance and go to the hospital.

Convulsions due to high temperature with breathing problems. While one person calls an ambulance, the second must take the child out into the fresh air and push his lower jaw forward so that the tongue does not interfere with breathing. If there is also a very high temperature, the child should be simultaneously wiped with a semi-alcohol solution (water: alcohol = 1: 1). If the child has stopped breathing, perform mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration (usually this is rarely required).

To prevent all these terrible complications from occurring, it is best to try to treat this type of infection in a hospital. If it becomes easier for the baby, you will go home.

Source: stomach flu in children - everything parents need to know

“Intestinal infections in a child can only occur during the hot season,” many parents think. This point of view is only partially correct. Infections such as salmonellosis and dysentery occur in the summer. During the cold season, a child can also become infected with intestinal infections. For example, in winter the incidence of intestinal flu increases. Experts call this disease rotavirus infection.

The disease is very dangerous for the baby’s life, especially if his health is weakened. That is why, if a child develops symptoms of intestinal flu, you should immediately contact a pediatrician.

If the baby has not yet encountered rotavirus, then you can get vaccinated (vaccination begins at 1.5 months). The state does not provide the drug. It is recommended. In order for your baby to be vaccinated, you need to contact your pediatrician. The specialist will examine the young patient and tell him where he can purchase the vaccine.

What is rotavirus infection

Intestinal flu is an infectious disease that develops due to rotavirus entering the body. Humanity learned about this pathogen not too long ago. Rotavirus was first discovered in 1974. It is very resistant to adverse environmental influences. Intestinal flu occurs in all children who have not previously encountered this disease.

Rotavirus infection is classified as a “disease of dirty hands.” Most often, the disease is diagnosed in children from 6 months to 2 years of age who are just beginning to get acquainted with the world or who attend nurseries and kindergartens and do not properly observe the rules of personal hygiene. Intestinal flu can also be detected in older children. By the age of 5, almost all children suffer from this disease.

Following hygiene rules, boiling water, and thoroughly processing food before cooking cannot protect against rotavirus infection 100%, since the infection is very resistant to various influences and can enter the body in different ways. For example, the enteral route of infection (through the mouth) is not the only one. Pathogens can be transmitted by airborne droplets from a sick person or a carrier of infection.

Rotaviruses penetrate the intestines very easily. The protein shell of microorganisms is not destroyed by gastric juice, bile and other enzymes. The following processes occur in the child’s body after infection:

1. Rotaviruses penetrate the cells of the tissue lining the intestines;
2. Microorganisms multiply;
3. The inflammatory process in the intestines begins;
4. There is a disruption in the processes of digestion and absorption of nutrients into the blood.

The causative agents of intestinal flu in a child are excreted from the body in the feces. 1 g of feces contains a huge amount of them, about 10 trillion. To infect a healthy child, 10–100 microorganisms are enough.

The acute period of the disease can last from 3 to 7 days. With severe intestinal flu, symptoms of the disease can be observed for a longer period. After this, a recovery period will begin (4–5 days).

Why is intestinal flu dangerous?

Rotavirus infection is dangerous for a child because it leads to dehydration. It can occur several hours after the first symptoms of the disease appear. Due to vomiting and frequent diarrhea, the baby very quickly loses water and useful minerals (potassium salts, chlorine, sodium). The sick child's condition worsens greatly.

When dehydration occurs, the baby's nervous system is affected. He starts having convulsions. They may end in respiratory arrest. Dehydration also affects the lungs. The child may develop pneumonia (pneumonia). This is a typical complication of intestinal flu. Another danger of dehydration due to rotavirus infection is the loss of potassium, which leads to disruption of the cardiovascular system.

How does the disease manifest itself?

After rotavirus enters the body, symptoms do not appear immediately, but after 12 hours or a day. In some cases, the incubation period can last up to 5 days. This disease has an acute onset. A sick child develops the following main symptoms:

• a sharp increase in body temperature;
• frequent vomiting;
• repeated and watery stools (up to 15 times a day);
• redness in the throat;
• runny nose;
• decreased appetite;
• deterioration of health.

Subsequently, the symptoms of dehydration and intoxication are added to the above symptoms. The baby becomes lethargic, weak, and may cry without tears. The urine becomes dark, acquires a pungent odor, and the number of urinations decreases sharply. In such cases, the child’s life is in danger. The help of a doctor is necessary, because only he can determine whether it is possible to replenish lost fluid at home or whether it is necessary to immediately go to the hospital.

Experts identify several forms of intestinal flu in children:

With a mild form, the child’s condition does not deteriorate significantly. The baby complains of stomach discomfort. Body temperature rises slightly. The feces are mushy. Bowel movements occur 3–5 times a day.

With moderate severity, body temperature rises to 37.5–38.5 degrees. The child has a stomach ache, weakness, and symptoms typical of a cold. A characteristic sign of moderate intestinal flu is watery, yellowish stool up to 10 times a day.

A severe form of rotavirus infection is rarely diagnosed by pediatricians. The sick baby has very pronounced symptoms of intoxication. He is gloomy, lethargic, refuses to drink and eat. Body temperature can rise to 40 degrees. The baby is suffering from severe abdominal pain. He also experiences frequent watery, foamy stools (more than 10 times a day) and repeated vomiting. In severe cases of intestinal flu, urination is rare, and the skin becomes flabby.

How to help your baby before the doctor arrives

Before the doctor arrives, it is necessary to give the child something to drink. Portions should be small. A large volume of liquid drunk by a child at once will provoke vomiting and also increase dehydration. It is recommended to solder children with saline solutions. They can be purchased at any pharmacy. They are sold in powder form, which must be diluted with boiled water.

If you can’t go to the pharmacy, then decoctions of rose hips, raisins, mineral waters, and dried fruit compote will do. If there is nothing at hand, then plain water should be given. You can solder according to the following scheme:

• 1 tsp is enough for infants. liquids every 5 minutes;
• For older children, you can increase the dose to 2–3 tbsp. l.

The temperature of the drinks should be the same as your body temperature. Thanks to this, the absorption of fluid from the stomach into the blood will be as fast as possible.

Treatment of intestinal flu in children can be carried out at home or in a hospital setting. If the pediatrician determines that the child is losing a huge amount of fluid due to diarrhea, then he will need to go to the hospital. At home, it will not be possible to restore the lost volume. The baby will receive help in the hospital. He will be replenished with the missing amount of fluid by administering drip solutions intravenously.

Hospitalization is necessary not only for dehydration, but also in the following cases:

• the child is not yet 1 year old;
• the baby has severe concomitant diseases;
• intestinal flu occurs with life-threatening symptoms (for example, convulsions, loss of consciousness).

How is intestinal flu diagnosed and treated?

Only a specialist can make an accurate diagnosis. The pediatrician takes into account the baby’s complaints and asks the parents what suspicious symptoms they noticed in their child. The epidemiological situation is also taken into account. As a rule, rotavirus infection is characterized by outbreaks with a large number of sick children.

When treating the disease, the doctor will not prescribe any antiviral drugs. Currently, there are no drugs that would have a negative effect on pathogens. The main treatment method is rehydration. It is recommended to give the child saline solutions.

Together with rehydration therapy, the doctor may prescribe drugs such as dioctahedral smectite, activated carbon, and attapulgite. These remedies help with intoxication. They remove toxins from the child’s body, which are waste products of pathogens.

With intestinal flu, the baby's body temperature is very high. It is very difficult to influence it with antipyretic drugs. The temperature can last up to 5 days. Despite this, doctors prescribe antipyretics to at least slightly alleviate the little patient’s condition. Pediatricians prescribe medications in the form of rectal suppositories or syrup. In parallel with antipyretic therapy, physical cooling methods can be used - applying a bandage soaked in cool water to the child’s forehead, wrapping the legs with a wet cloth. To increase heat transfer, it is recommended to undress the baby.

After recovery, the child will not have any other health problems due to the illness he suffered. The body will produce protective antibodies, thanks to which in the future there will be no symptoms of intestinal flu and treatment will not be needed. After two cases of rotavirus infection, the child will be almost completely protected from this disease.

How and what to feed a child

During treatment for rotavirus, the baby requires a strict diet. The following products are recommended:

• porridge (rice, buckwheat) cooked in water;
• lean meat (beef, chicken breast);
• apple compote;
• fish;
• vegetables (potatoes are best);
• fruits (bananas are preferable).

You need to give up dairy products for a while.

Parents should not limit their child's food intake too much. Fasting does not promote a speedy recovery. The child's condition will only worsen. The baby's immune defenses will be significantly weakened. However, a small reduction in nutrition is still needed. The amount of food a child eats per day is reduced by 15–20% in mild cases of the disease, by 20–30% in moderate cases, and by 30–50% in severe cases. If the condition improves after the first symptoms of intestinal flu appear in children and treatment, then the diet is brought to the usual volume, and then the range of foods consumed is gradually expanded.

If intestinal flu occurs in a small child who is breastfed, then parents need to adhere to the following feeding rules:

• feed more often, but in small portions;
• on the first day of therapy, reduce the amount of food consumed to 40%;
• on days 2–3, slightly increase the amount of food consumed and make the intervals between feedings longer;
• within 4–5 days, restore the usual amount of food;
• Feed the child only porridges prepared with vegetable broths or water (provided that the baby was introduced to complementary foods before illness).

There is no need to give up breastfeeding. It is possible only with the permission of a doctor to partially replace mother's milk with lactose-free or low-lactose mixtures (lactose, which is part of mother's milk, is poorly digested during rotavirus infection).

Intestinal infection is a dangerous disease that affects every person sooner or later. The presented disease includes a large number of pathological processes that negatively affect the gastrointestinal tract. The disease often occurs due to the presence of viruses, toxins and bacteria in the body. Signs of the disease vary significantly depending on its severity.

What contributes to the occurrence of the disease?

If the body is affected by viruses and bacteria, then this is fraught with the formation of diseases such as:

• Escherichiosis;
• klebsiellosis;
• dysentery;
• salmonellosis;
• diarrhea;
• staphylococcal infection.

All of the presented pathological processes cause intestinal infections. In addition, the development of this disease is influenced by failure to comply with personal hygiene rules, eating dirty fruits and vegetables, and replenishing the body with water that contains harmful microorganisms. They move from the esophagus through the stomach and into the intestines.

How does the disease manifest in adults?

There are cases when an intestinal infection in adults does not make itself felt for a certain time, so the patient does not even suspect about this insidious illness. The most common symptoms of an intestinal infection include the following:

Intestinal infections in children occur for the same reason as in adults (damage from pathogenic organisms). They primarily damage the digestive tract and are accompanied by a toxic reaction of the body.

Intestinal infection in children, like all other infectious diseases, occurs suddenly. Even in the first stages of the disease, children are visited by weakness, poor appetite, headache, and fever. At first glance, all the presented signs indicate an acute respiratory infection. But after some time, the child experiences nausea and vomiting, cramping abdominal pain, diarrhea, and chills.

Acute intestinal infection

Acute intestinal infections are a type of infectious acute pathologies that arise as a result of the influence of various pathogenic agents. Acute intestinal infection manifests itself as fever and contributes to the development of further dehydration. Acute infection is especially severe in children and people of retirement age. The incubation period of the pathology lasts from 5 hours to two days.

Very often, salmonellosis begins acutely after a short feeling of discomfort in the abdomen. During this period, the patient notes the following symptoms of acute intestinal infection:

• weakness;
• feeling of nausea;
• vomit;
• increased temperature (38-39 C);
• acute intestinal infections are accompanied by painful sensations in the abdominal area, which are diffuse in nature;
• diarrhea, which is characterized by copious, watery, greenish bowel movements.

If a patient exhibits these symptoms of an acute intestinal infection, he must be hospitalized immediately. This form of intestinal infection is very often diagnosed in infants. Therefore, if you find green diarrhea or a rise in temperature in your baby, you should immediately show him to a specialist.

Intestinal flu (rotavirus infection)

Intestinal infections of this form occur due to the presence of rotaviruses in the body. The irritation process occurs through food, water and hands. Rotavirus infection begins to form after bacteria have invaded the cells of the mucous membrane of the small intestine. As a result, his motor activity increases, which contributes to feelings of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

The disease begins to manifest itself even before the viruses multiply in the required quantity to cause intestinal irritation. This is the incubation period, its duration is about 5 days.

Effective therapy

Treatment of intestinal infection should involve an integrated approach. In addition to stopping harmful microbes, the patient needs to neutralize toxins and restore water balance.

Symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea release harmful substances from the body, so there is no need to restrain yourself. On the contrary, during this period they even call her. Treatment of intestinal infection cannot be done without intestinal lavage. This procedure is performed using an enema. It is also necessary to treat the disease with the help of sorbents that neutralize the negative effects of toxins. The most effective are:

• Smecta;
• Polyphepan;
• Attapulgite.

During the period of intestinal infection, patients benefit from fasting. The reason is that food can cause bacteria to develop. Rice and oatmeal porridge without adding salt are healthy. They have a calming effect on the intestines.

It is indicated to treat intestinal infections with a solution of rehydron or behydron. These medications help restore electrolyte balance during illness. They are taken in a couple of sips every 10 minutes. During an intestinal infection, the patient needs to drink more fluids. The best option would be dried fruit compote and various herbal teas.

As for antibiotics for intestinal infections, it is not recommended to use them immediately after the onset of the first symptoms. They have a negative impact on the intestinal microflora and the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Treatment of intestinal infection with antibiotics can only be prescribed by the attending physician. It is allowed to treat the disease with such modern drugs as Linex and Lactobacterin.

It is also not recommended to treat an intestinal infection on your own during a period when the patient has severe and debilitating vomiting, as a result of which he cannot drink, has a high fever, and there are blood impurities in the feces.

Treatment of the disease in children

If an intestinal infection in a child is accompanied by severe diarrhea and vomiting, then it is necessary to immediately take action and treat the resulting illness. The most common mistake parents make when treating an intestinal infection is to stop the unwanted symptoms of the disease. It is not recommended to do this in the first hours, since vomiting and diarrhea are a protective reaction of the body, as a result of which the body tries to eliminate toxins on its own.

If these manifestations are stopped during the treatment of intestinal infections in children, this will lead to even greater intoxication. In addition, if parents know exactly what their baby has eaten and the rise in temperature and abdominal pain are caused by this, then in order to effectively treat an intestinal infection, vomiting or bowel movements should be provoked.

During such events, it is very important to constantly replenish the loss of fluid and mineral salts. Therefore, when treating intestinal infections in children, parents should ensure that they take plenty of fluids. To do this, you need to give him special solutions, powders that are sold in pharmacies. It is forbidden to give your child juices and dairy products.

Nutrition

If the disease is mild, then to treat an intestinal infection, the diet involves only reducing the amount of food. If the disease is in a moderate form, then nutrition is reduced by 30-50%, and the number of meals should be 5-8 times a day.

The diet for intestinal infections in children under 4 months should exclude the use of fermented milk mixtures. In case of acute illness, treatment of intestinal infection with a diet in infants involves the use of mixtures enriched with protective factors: bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, and dietary supplements.

When treating an intestinal infection with diet, adults are prohibited from consuming the following foods:

• whole milk;
• black bread;
• yoghurts;
• fermented baked milk;
• cream;
• beets;
• legumes;
• citrus;
• meat and fish broths.

If the development of an intestinal infection in a young child is accompanied by the occurrence of protein deficiency, then it is corrected from the 3rd day of the disease with mixtures that contain this element. When the exocrine function of the pancreas is impaired and malabsorption syndrome is developed, medicinal mixtures are an effective treatment for intestinal infections in young patients.

Prevention measures

Prevention of intestinal infections are measures that help protect your body from this disease. To do this you need to follow these simple rules:

• wash your hands before eating;
• do not eat sweets with cream during hot weather;
• store meat and fish in the refrigerator;
• wash fruits, berries and vegetables thoroughly;
• consume only fresh meat and milk;
• drink boiled or mineral water.

Intestinal infection is a pathological process that can affect not only adults, but also children. This disease can be eliminated if you strictly adhere to the treatment regimen drawn up by your doctor.

1 - Instructions for medical use of the drug Macmiror ®

Intestinal infections are quite widespread, especially among children. Failure to comply with basic hygiene standards leads to serious consequences. A viral infection, entering the body, begins its destructive effect. A weakened body is repeatedly affected by infectious agents. And the most tragic consequences are possible: from chronic diseases to death.

What causes intestinal infections

The disease is transmitted by viruses, less commonly by bacteria. Viral intestinal infection is dangerous and belongs to acute infectious diseases. It affects the stomach or small intestine, possibly both. Diseases occur: enteritis or gastroenteritis.

The disease is caused by:

1. Rotaviruses, which are divided into several forms. For humans, the most common type of infection is group A viruses, which live in the cells of the upper small intestine. These are the most common viruses.
2. Reoviruses have a similar structure. Their place of residence is the small intestine and upper respiratory tract, which leads to respiratory diseases.
3. Adenoviruses are more often associated with the development of respiratory diseases, but some of the varieties can cause diarrhea.
4. Enteroviruses cause various disorders associated with diseases of the intestinal system.

Rotaviruses have a fairly short incubation period, lasting from 1 to 3 days. The disease is severe, especially in children. Adenoviruses infect tissues of the lymphatic system and can negatively affect the mucous membranes of the eyes.

Rotavirus usually does not cause serious harm to the body and does not lead to complications, but adenovirus causes the rapid development of otitis media, sinusitis, tonsillitis, and acute pneumonia. Chronic intestinal diseases worsen and treatment becomes difficult.

Enteric viral infection in any form causes irreparable harm to human health. If the disease occurs in an acute form, treatment in a hospital is necessary.

How is intestinal infection transmitted?

Rotavirus passes to a healthy person from a sick person. Viruses are shed in stool. Hence, infection occurs through the fecal-oral route (by contact, through food, dirty hands). Airborne transmission is also possible. The disease is more often observed in the off-season. And children suffer the most from the infection.

Reovirus infection spreads from virus carriers. Moreover, animals can be carriers. Routes of penetration: airborne droplets and household contact. The asymptomatic course of the disease allows for easy infection.

The source of the adenovirus is a sick person, or less often, its carrier. The airborne route of infection is the main one here. Dishes and personal items may well be a source of infection.

Enterovirus enters the body of a healthy person through a virus carrier. The fecal-oral route is the method of spread of the disease; the virus reaches a healthy person through the air. Transmission of infection through various sources is possible.

Immunity becomes weakened after penetration of a gastrointestinal infection virus. It becomes unstable and a person can get sick more than once.

Viruses can remain in the external environment for a long time. They are not affected by many chemical agents. They are able to survive at low temperatures. In the environment, viruses have the form of crystals in which life processes cannot be traced. And only when they enter the body do they begin to manifest themselves.

How does the infection enter the intestines?

The structure of the digestive tract is known to everyone from school. It is formed by the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, intestines, consisting of several sections, which ends in the large intestine.

The enzyme lysozyme, which is produced in the oral cavity, protects against the penetration of foreign agents.. The next barrier is hydrochloric acid, which is formed in the stomach and is part of the gastric juice. Acid causes the death of most microorganisms, but not all.

The third barrier is the villi of the small intestine. They perform digestive, protective and transport roles. The intestinal mucosa contains immunoglobulin, on which immunity depends. If pathogenic microbes pass all obstacles, then disease cannot be avoided.

The intestines are inhabited by microflora, among which there are those necessary for proper functioning.(obligate). It plays an important role in the digestive process and in protecting the intestines from foreign agents.

Additional microflora also “live” in the intestines, including opportunistic microflora. Additional microflora produces enzymes for digesting food, and the opportunistic component is not so useful and can cause intestinal syndrome. The remaining microorganisms belong to a viral intestinal infection, which is dangerous and contributes to the development of the disease.

Infection of the intestinal system by viruses: symptoms

Symptoms for different age groups are practically the same. Children and older people usually get sick more often and more severely. In addition, they can become infected again, which cannot be said about adults with strong immunity. When infected with different viruses, the symptoms of the disease will be different.

With rotavirus infection the following is observed:

• temperature up to +40 C;
• nausea and vomiting, relief after vomiting;
• intermittent and prolonged white or yellow diarrhea, possibly mucus;
• symptoms of respiratory diseases;
• lack of appetite;
• indifference to everything, desire to sleep, headaches;
• dehydration due to vomiting or diarrhea.

The combination of acute gastroenteritis and upper respiratory tract diseases indicates the presence of rotavirus infection. If the intoxication is severe, the sclera of the eyes and skin may turn yellow. With slight pressure on the stomach, a rumbling sound is heard.

If adenoviruses are present in the body, it is difficult to distinguish them from rotavirus infection, since many of the signs are the same:

• high temperature that lasts for a long time,
  serious intoxication of the body;
• stool watery and profuse;
• vomiting that goes away after 2-3 days;
• lymph nodes increase in size;
• the mucous membranes in the oral cavity become inflamed;
• conjunctivitis is observed.

The main signs by which the disease can be recognized are the presence of inflammatory processes and severe intoxication. This suggests that a viral intestinal infection is caused by an adenovirus.

Enterovirus manifests itself somewhat differently:

• high temperature is also present;
• there is pain in muscles and joints, even cramps;
• inflammation of the nasopharynx;
• pain in the heart area;
• fear of light and tearfulness, possible conjunctivitis;
• vomiting and diarrhea.

There are distinctive signs, but the general symptoms are the same. Therefore, it is important to make a timely diagnosis and begin treatment.

It is necessary to determine the type of infection and adjust the course of treatment based on the tests that are needed for laboratory tests. If treatment is started late, complications are possible and treatment will be lengthy.

Signs of acute intestinal infection and its complications

Typically, an acute form of intestinal infection occurs in children. Besides the disease develops quickly. The same symptoms are observed, but their manifestation is more serious:

1. A more severe course of the disease itself.
2. Dehydration occurs in a short period of time.
3. The intestines are damaged by the virus.

Lack of salt and fluid in the body leads to complications and fatal consequences.

Complications that may occur:

• Dehydration or dehydration, when there is not enough water and salts in the body. At the same time, weight decreases, thirst is observed, mucous membranes dry out, and the skin becomes less elastic. Possible heart palpitations.
• Rapid dehydration, which leads to loss of pressure, shock and death.
• Infectious-toxic shock is accompanied by high temperature and an increased number of bacteria in the blood, which can result in the death of the patient.
• Pneumonia.
• Acute renal failure.

Call your doctor immediately if you experience the following symptoms: fever with frequent bowel movements (with blood) and vomiting, abdominal pain in the form of cramps, weakness and constant thirst.

What measures should not be taken for this disease?

If you experience abdominal pain and loose stools, you should not take the following measures:

1. Take painkillers, as this will complicate the diagnosis.
2. Take astringents. In this case, bacteria will accumulate in the intestines, having no way out of the body.
3. Give enemas with hot water.
4. Place a heating pad on the abdominal area, which will intensify inflammation processes.
5. Use homeopathic or folk remedies: this will simply prolong the time for diagnosis and initiation of treatment.

The outcome of the disease can be favorable and have serious consequences. In children, in 25% of cases, gastrointestinal pathology occurs: changes in the functions of the pancreas, problems in the biliary tract, intestinal dysbiosis.

Treatment Basics

Here we will talk about the general principles of treatment. Only a doctor can determine how to treat correctly. The main thing is to take the following measures in time:

1. Combating fluid loss in the body (dehydration).
2. Carrying out and relieving symptoms of detoxification (poisoning).
3. Restoration of enzyme metabolism.

A viral infection with intestinal syndrome is always accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting. On the one hand, it is painful, but on the other hand, it helps the body partially get rid of viruses. But at the same time dehydration occurs, which cannot be allowed. Therefore, you should drink plenty of fluids, and take the drug rehydron to balance water and salts. It contains the necessary elements to maintain salt balance. The drug citroglucosolan has a similar effect.

For infectious intestinal diseases, sorbents are indispensable. They remove harmful substances from the body by absorbing them. Smecta, neosmectin, polyphepan and others help well. You can also use activated carbon, but it has a rather weak effect. Sorbents are taken an hour and a half before meals.

Enzymes help normalize digestive processes. They restore the intestinal mucous membranes, which are most often damaged. Enzymes are usually taken before meals. The most famous medications in this series are Mezim, Creon, Festal, Pancitrate and others.

Diet is important for infectious intestinal diseases. It helps in the restoration of organs and their normal functioning, which have undergone serious tests: inflammatory processes. Gastroenterologists prescribe special diet No. 4. It is suitable for all age categories.

Sometimes medications are prescribed to restore beneficial microflora in the intestines. This is necessary to normalize its operation. To relieve severe symptoms, antispasmodics and fever-reducing medications are used.

Prevention: how to avoid illness

You can avoid such an unpleasant disease if you follow nonspecific prevention of viral intestinal infections:

1. The basics are personal hygiene.
2. Using boiled water.
3. Vegetables and fruits should be thoroughly washed under running water, and children should be washed with boiled water.
4. Food must be thermally processed.
5. Store perishable foods for a short period of time.
6. Remove garbage (especially food waste) as often as possible.
7. Keep your home and restroom clean.

The rules are simple, but following them guarantees the safety and health of the intestines.

Usually we don’t think about hygiene; for most, it is a familiar procedure that is performed as needed. It is not necessary to always remember about prevention, you just need to make these rules a habit. Then the intestinal viral infection will bypass you.