Enteritis

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Salmonella typhi organism

Yersinia enterocolitica organism

Campylobacter jejuni organism

Clostridium difficile organism

Digestive system

Esophagus and stomach anatomy

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Enteritis

Treatment:

Symptoms usually resolve in 1 - 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):

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

Complications:

Dehydration
Prolonged diarrhea

Calling your health care provider:

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

Review Date: 8/2/2005
Reviewed By: Courtney W. Houchen, M.D., Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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