Gastrointestinal infection
Gastrointestinal infection
Gastrointestinal infection (pronunciation: gas-tro-in-tes-ti-nal in-fek-shun) is a type of infection that primarily affects the stomach and intestines. It is often caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites.
Etymology
The term "gastrointestinal" is derived from the Greek words "gaster" (stomach) and "enteron" (intestine). "Infection" comes from the Latin "infectio", meaning the act of infecting.
Causes
Gastrointestinal infections can be caused by a variety of organisms, including:
- Bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter
- Viruses such as norovirus and rotavirus
- Parasites such as Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium
Symptoms
Common symptoms of a gastrointestinal infection include:
Treatment
Treatment for gastrointestinal infections often involves:
- Rehydration therapy to replace lost fluids and electrolytes
- Antibiotics for bacterial infections
- Antiviral drugs for viral infections
- Antiparasitic drugs for parasitic infections
Prevention
Prevention strategies for gastrointestinal infections include:
- Regular hand washing
- Safe food handling and preparation
- Drinking safe water
- Vaccination against certain viruses such as rotavirus
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Gastrointestinal infection
- Wikipedia's article - Gastrointestinal infection
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