Gastroenteritis is a condition involving inflammation of the lining of the gut – in particular, of the stomach and intestines. It generally resolves without medication, but, in some cases, it can lead to complications.
Food poisoning is a major cause of gastroenteritis, resulting in a well-known set of unpleasant symptoms.
Gastroenteritis is usually caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites; when the source of such infection is contaminated food, it is called food poisoning. Gastroenteritis may also be referred to as “gastric flu” or “stomach flu.”
Fast facts on gastroenteritis and food poisoning
- Infection with bacteria, viruses, or parasites is the most common cause of gastroenteritis.
- Gastroenteritis symptoms include diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain.
- Gastroenteritis is usually self-limiting, and diagnostic tests are rarely required.
- Dehydration is the most deadly complication of food poisoning and gastroenteritis, especially in susceptible people like children and the elderly.
Treatment
Gastroenteritis and food poisoning usually resolve themselves without any medical intervention. Treatment is focused on reducing the symptoms and preventing complications, especially dehydration.
The main treatment and prevention strategy for food poisoning is to rest and replace lost fluids and electrolytes by:
- Drinking plenty of liquids (preferably with oral rehydration salts to replace lost electrolytes – see below)
- Ensuring fluid intake even if vomiting persists, by sipping small amounts of water or allowing ice cubes to melt in the mouth.
- Gradually starting to eat again. No specific restrictions are recommended, but blander foods might be easier to start with (cereal, rice, toast, and bananas are good examples).
The following may worsen symptoms during gastroenteritis episodes: fatty, sugary, or spicy foods, dairy products, caffeine, and alcohol.
Oral rehydration salts (ORS) are suggested for susceptible patients to avoid the hazardous and sometimes fatal effects of diarrheal dehydration (for example, infants and children, adults over 65 years of age, and people with weakened immunity).
According to a former director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, the use of ORS in developing countries has been “one of the great public health success stories of our time,” as it has reduced the number of deaths each year among children with acute diarrhea from 5 million to 1.3 million.
While the risk of death is lower in industrialized countries, rehydration is still crucial.
Dehydration causes the loss of salt, glucose, and minerals, which are replenished by sachets of oral rehydration salts available in pharmacies and health food stores.
The salts are dissolved in drinking water and do not require a doctor’s prescription.
It is important to get the right concentration, as too much sugar can make diarrhea worse, while too much salt can be extremely harmful, especially for children. A more dilute solution (for instance using more than 1 liter of water), is preferable to a more concentrated solution.
Store-bought products like Pedialyte and Gatorade also help restore electrolytes and increase hydration.
Drug treatments for gastroenteritis
Drugs are available to reduce the main symptoms of gastroenteritis (diarrhea and vomiting):
- Antidiarrheal medications such as loperamide (branded versions include Imodium and Imotil, among others) and bismuth subsalicylate (for example, Pepto-Bismol)
- Antiemetic (anti-vomiting) medications such as chlorpromazine and metoclopramide
Antidiarrheals are available OTC, while the antiemetics are available from doctors
Talk to a doctor before taking anti-diarrhea medication as some infections may get worse with anti-diarrhea medicines.
Probiotics and gastroenteritis
According to some newer research, probiotics (live “good” bacteria and yeasts) may also be helpful in treating gastroenteritis, according to some newer research. One study found that the use of probiotics in children hospitalized for acute gastroenteritis shortened their hospital stay by an average of 1.12 days. Trusted Source
Specifically, there is some evidence to support the use of the following strains of beneficial bacteria in the treatment of gastroenteritis in children, alongside the use of oral rehydration solutions without dietary restriction:
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG
- Saccharomyces boulardii
This is a new area of study, so there may be more research about using probiotics to treat gastroenteritis in the future.
Symptoms
Four well-known, classic symptoms are typical of gastroenteritis:
- Diarrhea (loose stools)
- Nausea (feeling sick or queasy)
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain (‘stomach cramps’)
These symptoms can occur in any combination; they generally have a sudden (acute) onset, but this, and symptom severity, can vary.
The onset of symptoms after eating contaminated food can be within a few hours, but the incubation period can also be much longer, depending on the pathogen involved.
Vomiting usually happens earlier on in the disease, diarrhea usually lasts for a few days, but can be longer depending on the organism that is causing the symptoms.
In addition to the classic symptoms above, food poisoning and gastroenteritis can also bring about:
- Loss of appetite
- Fever or high temperature and chills
The type of gastrointestinal symptoms can reveal the type of illness – a viral infection causes diarrhea without blood or mucus, with watery diarrhea being the most common symptom.
Mucus and blood, on the other hand, are more common in bacterial diarrhea. Norovirus can induce severe vomiting, particularly in youngsters.
The loss of fluids caused by diarrhea and vomiting, which can lead to dehydration, is one of the hazards of food poisoning and gastroenteritis, especially in the very young, old, or otherwise susceptible. Dehydration, on the other hand, can be avoided.
If you feel lightheaded, have bloody diarrhea, fevers, are over 65, have several medical conditions, are pregnant, or if your symptoms do not improve in a few days, you should seek medical help.
Food poisoning or stomach flu?
Food poisoning and stomach flu have similar symptoms, but stomach flu is always caused by a virus, for example, the norovirus.
Timeline
The time taken for symptoms to appear depends on the bacteria or pathogen involved.
According to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
- Bacillus cereus: Found in meats, stews, and gravies, this bacteria causes symptoms in 10 to 16 hours and lasts for 24 to 48 hours.
- Campylobacter jejuni: Symptoms begin 2 to 5 days after exposure to undercooked poultry and continue 2 to 10 days
- E. coli O157:H7: Symptoms develop 1 to 8 days after exposure to undercooked beef, contaminated water, and other sources, and last 5 to 10 days.
Causes
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cites that, in spite of high standards in the U.S. food supply, about 48 million cases of foodborne illnesses occur annually because of contaminated food.
The FDA estimates that 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths result from food poisoning.
The organization has produced a complete list of the microorganisms responsible for these illnesses along with a description of the symptoms each of these infections typically produces.
In broad terms, there are three types of infectious agents that cause gastroenteritis:
- viruses
- bacteria
- parasites
The viruses that are most commonly implicated in gastroenteritis are:
- Rotavirus is more common in children and is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in children.
- Norovirus is more common in adults.
Common viral causes are astroviruses, usually affecting children and the elderly, and adenoviruses. Cytomegalovirus can cause gastroenteritis, especially in people with compromised immunity.
The bacteria that are most commonly implicated in gastroenteritis are:
- Salmonella
- Campylobacter
- Shigella
- Escherichia coli (especially serotype O157:H7)
- Clostridium difficile
A study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration found that from 2008 to 2012, 46 percent of E. coli cases came from beef, 18 percent of salmonella cases came from seeded vegetables, and 66 percent of campylobacter cases came from dairy products.
Diagnosis
Gastroenteritis is usually easy to diagnose from the symptoms alone with little need for confirmation from a doctor; symptoms reported by the patient are usually sufficient to inform a diagnosis.
In some cases, stool testing is necessary. For example, if diarrhea is accompanied by blood or is watery for more than a few days, doctors may want a sample to test for parasites or bacteria.
During an outbreak of, for example, rotavirus, specific tests may also be requested.
Prevention
Standard advice A trusted source to avoid food poisoning, including four key components:
- Cook: Allow enough time for the food to heat up to the correct temperature to destroy any bacteria that could cause gastroenteritis. A thermometer can be used to check cooked meat and make sure egg yolks are firm.
- Separate:Separate foods, particularly raw meat, to reduce cross-contamination.
- Chill: Storing food in the refrigerator reduces the growth of hazardous microorganisms.
- Clean: Keep utensils and worktops clean, and wash your hands frequently, especially before eating or touching your mouth, as well as after handling raw meat or eggs.