Acute Gastroenteritis What is Acute Gastroenteritis?

Acute Gastroenteritis is an extended and possibly fatal attack of stomach flu. It is an inflammation in the bowels caused mainly by an infection.

What causes Acute Gastroenteritis?

Bacterial infection Infection by parasites like giardia Accidental poisoning or exposure to toxins

What are the symptoms of Acute Gastroenteritis?

Diarrhea Vomiting Stomach pain

What are the different treatment options?

Treatment for Acute Gastroenteritis will vary based on the cause. But in all cases of the disease, doctors usually watch out for dehydration. Patients, specifically children are therefore advised to take sips of oral rehydration salt solution or pedialyte.

How can Acute Gastroenteritis be prevented?

Acute Gastroenteritis can be prevented through maintaining proper personal hygiene, clean environment and safe food preparation. Good hand washing at all times is recommended especially before food handling or after bathroom breaks. Proper cooking and preparation of food is also a must. Make sure your drinking water and food are clean and safe.

Objectives of the study The principal aim was to describe general practitioners management of patients with acute infectious gastroenteritis. As the GP is the main health provider and first point of contact for patients, we decided to examine in more detail the burden of disease presenting to GPs and the responses of GPs to the problem. As in other countries, information in Ierland regarding GP management of this essentially self-limiting illnes has been limited. From the population study we know that only a fraction of those with acute GE are reported through the statutory notification system or through laboratory-based surveillance systems. We also wished to ascertain the outcome of patients who visit their doctor with acute gastroenteritis and their subsequent management. In particular, we wanted to understand what prompts general practitioners to request stool samples and to notify public health. The specific objectives of the study were to:

Better understand the burden of acute gastroenteritis in general practice Describe GPs attitudes and practices relating to the clinical management of patients with acute gastroenteritis Describe GPs attitudes toward their role in providing advice to patients with acute gastroenteritis, particularly to those working in high-risk occupations Describe GPs views on the surveillance and notification of certain cases of acute gastroenteritis Describe GPs views on the role of public health in acute gastroenteritis.

Anatomy and Physiology of Acute Gastroenteritis

DIGESTIVE SYSTEMThe digestive system consists of two linked parts: the alimentary canal and the accessorydigestive organs. The alimentary canal is essentially a tube, some 9 meters (30 feet) long, thatextends from the mouth to anus, with its longest section- the intestines- packed into theabdominal cavity. The lining of the alimentary canal is continuous with the skin, so technicallyits cavity lies outside the body. The alimentary tube consist of linked organs that each playtheir own part in digestion: mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and largeintestine. The accessory digestive organs consist of the teeth and tongue in the mouth; and thesalivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas, which are all linked by ducts to the alimentarycanal.STOMACHIt is a J- shaped enlargement of the GI tract directly under the diaphragm in the epigastric,umbilical and left hypochondriac regions of the abdomen. When empty, it is about the size of alarge sausage; the mucosa lies in large folds, called RUGAE. Approximately 10 inches long butthe diameter depends on how much food it contains. When full, it can hold about 4 L ( 1galloon) of food. Parts of the stomach includescardiac regionwhich is defined as a position near the heart surrounds the cardioesophageal sphincter throughwhich food enters the stomach from the esophagus;funduswhich is the expanded part of the stomach lateral to the cardia region; bodyis the mid portion; and the pylorus a funnel shaped which is the terminal part of the stomach. The pylorus is continuous with thesmall intestine through the pyloric sphincter, or valve.With the gastric glands lined with severalsecreting cells the zymogenic (peptic) cells

secrete the principal gastric enzyme precursor, pepsinogen. The parietal (oxyntic) cells produce hydrochloric acid, involved in conversion of pepsinogen to the active enzyme pepsin, and intrinsic factor, involved in the absorption of Vitamin B12 for the red blood cell production. Mucous cells secrete mucus. Secretions of thezymogenic, parietal and mucus cells are collectively called the gastric juice. Enteroendocrinecells secrete stomach gastrin, a hormone that stimulates secretion of hydrochloric acid and pepsinogen, contracts the lower esophageal sphincter, mildly increases motility of the GI tract,and relaxes the pyloricsphincter. Most digestive activity occurs in the pyloric region of thestomach. After food has been processed in the stomach, it resembles heavy cream and is calledCHYME. The chyme enters the small intestine through the pyloric sphincter.