MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Enteritis

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Enteritis

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Definition Causes, incidence, and risk factors Symptoms Signs and tests	Treatment Expectations (prognosis) Complications Calling your health care provider Prevention

Illustrations

Salmonella typhi organism

Yersinia enterocolitica organism

Campylobacter jejuni organism

Clostridium difficile organism

Digestive system

Esophagus and stomach anatomy

Definition Return to top

Enteritis is an inflammation of the small intestine caused by a bacterial or viral infection. The inflammation frequently also involves the stomach (gastritis) and large intestine (colitis).

Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top

Enteritis is usually caused by eating or drinking substances contaminated with bacteria or viruses. The organism settles in the small intestine and causes inflammation and swelling that can cause abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea, fever, and dehydration.

The symptoms may begin soon after exposure, or there can be a delay of several days. Mild cases usually need no treatment. The diarrhea can cause rapid and extreme dehydration in babies.

Risk factors include recent family illness with intestinal symptoms, recent travel, or exposure to untreated or contaminated water. The incidence is 3 out of 10,000 people.

Types of enteritis include:

Symptoms Return to top

Diarrhea that is acute and severe
Vomiting (rare)
Loss of appetite
Abdominal pain

Signs and tests Return to top

A stool culture may grow the infecting organism. A stool sample may reveal specific toxins. An upper endoscopy is sometimes necessary to aid diagnosis.

Treatment Return to top

Symptoms usually resolve in 1 to 5 days without treatment.

Antidiarrheal medication may delay the elimination of the organism from the digestive tract, and therefore may not be recommended. Rehydration with electrolyte solutions may be necessary if dehydration from diarrhea occurs.

People with diarrhea (especially young children) who are unable to take oral fluids because of nausea may need medical attention and intravenous fluids.

People taking diuretics need to be cautious with diarrhea, and may need to stop taking the diuretic during the acute episode, as directed by the health care provider.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

The illness usually runs its course without treatment in a few days.

Complications Return to top

Dehydration
Prolonged diarrhea

Calling your health care provider Return to top

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if diarrhea does not resolve in 3 to 4 days or blood in stools is noted. Call your health care provider if symptoms of dehydration develop, or if other new symptoms develop.

Prevention Return to top

Always wash hands after using the toilet and before eating or preparing food or drink.
Avoid drinking from unknown sources, such as outside wells and streams, without boiling the water first.
Use only clean utensils for eating or handling foods, especially when handling eggs and poultry.
Cook food completely and properly.
Store food appropriately in coolers.

Update Date: 10/9/2003

Updated by: Christian Stone, M. D., Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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