A Study on Acute Gastroenteritis

A Study on Acute Gastroenteritis

Author Name : V. Sai Ram , R. Lohitha Chinnari , Dr. Ashok Kumar Reddy , Ch. Kusuma , D. Ravi Teja Bhavani Prasad , K. Revathi Sushma

ABSTRACT Gastroenteritis, also known as infectious diarrhea and gastro, is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract including the stomach andintestine[1].This typically lasts less than two weeks It is not related to influenza, even though in the U.S. it is sometimes called the "stomach flu"[2]. With gastroenteritis, your stomach and intestines are irritated and inflamed. The cause is typically a viral or bacterial infection. The most common cause of gastroenteritis is avirus. The main types are rotavirus and norovirus. There are more than 350 million cases of acute gastroenteritis in the United States annually and 48 million of these cases are caused by food borne bacteria. Traveler’s diarrhea affects more than half ofpeople traveling from developed countries to developing countries. In adult and pediatric patients, the prevalence of Clostridium difficile is increasing.[3] Contact precautions, public health education, and prudent use of antibiotics are necessary goals in decreasing the prevalence of Clostridium difficle. Preventing dehydration orproviding appropriate rehydration is the primary supportive treatment of acute gastroenteritis.