Enterocolitis: signs and treatment in adults and children
What enterocolitis? It is an inflammation of the small or large intestine. Pathology develops quickly and sharply, but if you do not take timely measures for treatment, it can develop into a chronic form.
In acute course, only the intestinal mucosa becomes inflamed. Chronic enterocolitis causes damage to the deep layers, which leads to serious disruption of the gastrointestinal tract. Consider this disease in detail.
Classification of the disease
The disease is classified for developmental reasons:
- Bacterial. There is a specific type caused by various intestinal infections( shigellosis, salmonellosis, dysentery).And nonspecific - manifested after the destruction of the infection.
- Parasitic. Occurs after various parasites appear in the intestine.
- Mechanical. As a consequence of prolonged constipation.
- Toxic. It appears after damage to the mucous membrane of toxins - chemicals, poisons, drugs.
- Secondary. It develops as a result of complications of other diseases of the digestive organs.
- Alimensional. Due to prolonged malnutrition.
The main causes of the pathology
The main and most common causes of enterocolitis, as it was written above, include acute intestinal infectious diseases: viral diarrhea, salmonella, typhoid fever, dysentery.
The disease also develops against a background of prolonged malnutrition, various allergic reactions caused by prolonged intake of antibiotics and some other medications.
There are cases when enterocolitis occurred due to congenital chronic diseases: metabolic disorders, stomach diseases, problems with the immune system, dysbacteriosis and vitamin deficiency in the body.
Enterocolitis begins to develop after the infection causes damage to intestinal tissue cells, which leads to their exhaustion.
If intestinal flora begins to deteriorate, chronic enterocolitis develops. Flowing, it weakens the protective function of the intestinal mucosa, which makes it even more vulnerable to various bacteria. This is usually the course of enterocolitis in adults, the symptoms and treatment will be considered further.
Signs of the disease
Symptoms of enterocolitis are as follows. If the disease begins abruptly, then it is accompanied by:
- rumbling in the abdomen and bloating;
- with nausea and vomiting;
- pain in the abdominal cavity;
- in the language;
- diarrhea.
If the disease is infectious in nature, mucus may be present in the stool, rarely blood. Also, the body temperature may rise, symptoms will appear, similar to the symptoms of intoxication: muscle aches, general weakness, severe headaches.
The chronic form of the disease is not noticeable at first. But there are cases when the disease immediately acts on the body, and with the emergence of complications that are dangerous to human health and life.
Symptoms of chronic enterocolitis of the intestine:
- Sensitive pain in the abdominal region. Depends on the severity of the disease. More often stupid pains arise after dinner. If the large intestine is inflamed, the pain will be more severe. During exercise and after eating, the pain intensifies.
- Flatulence. It arises because of the intense formation of gases.
- Problems with defecation. Systematic diarrhea and constipation.
- Weight loss. It is observed in people suffering from inflammation of the small intestine.
Diagnostics
Acute enterocolitis is diagnosed after taking a patient's epidemiological history, with pronounced underlying symptoms - after the study of stool for the presence of bacteria.
Chronic form is determined after a survey, anamnesis, physical laboratory examination and instrumental diagnosis.
The most effective method for diagnosing colon disease is a colonoscopy. In the process of this examination, all erosions, mucosal destruction, ulcers, etc. are found. That is, inflamed parts of the large intestine.
Another method of diagnosing enterocolitis is X-ray examination. With its help, you can identify all changes in the lumen of the intestine, its defects, the nature of the structure.
Treatment of illness
Treatment of enterocolitis in adults begins with the transition to a tea-and-water diet. If necessary, the patient's stomach is washed. If there is severe vomiting and diarrhea( that is, the body loses a lot of fluid), rehydration therapy is prescribed. In a diet with enterocolitis, porridges cooked on water, a decoction of rice should prevail.
Infectious enterocolitis is treated with antibiotics and drugs based on sulfonamides. To prevent dysbacteriosis in the treatment of disease, a person should also drink medicines that normalize the intestinal flora.
Than to treat an enterocolitis if it carries a chronic form? First, all the factors that provoke it must be eliminated:
- Keep a clear diet.
- Stop taking medications that interfere with the bowel.
- Get rid of diseases and infections of the digestive system.
Once the cause has been eliminated, the digestive problems are treated, and then dysbacteriosis is prescribed. More details about preparations for the treatment of dysbacteriosis →
The diet prescribed by the doctor for enterocolitis should be strictly observed. Limited use of all products that cause intestinal dyspepsia.
Treatment of enterocolitis in the intestines in young children also begins with a balanced diet. The doctor ascribes treatment of enterocolitis with drugs that stimulate metabolic processes in the body. If the baby has severe pain, the doctor prescribes pain medication for him.
In principle, a child has enterocolitis treated the same way as an adult. A tea-water diet, low-fat meat broths, grated gruel and soups are prescribed. Excluded are all dishes that irritate the intestines.
Necrotizing enterocolitis in newborns is quite common. His treatment is different from other subspecies of the disease. Thus, parenteral nutrition is prescribed with the complete abolition of the usual diet and the intake of oral medications. Treatment is carried out under the strict supervision of a physician using serious therapeutic measures.
Diet
Enterocolitis necrotic( as well as its other form) is treated with strict adherence to a diet, which the doctors call Table №4.It is characterized by the following aspects:
- Easy food to prevent intestinal overload.
- Flora of the intestine must be quickly restored.
- The diet should be complete.
The patient should not consume dairy products, spicy seasonings. Also he should give up smoked, salted and fried. You need to take food a couple of times a day.
Complications
Allergic enterocolitis( or any other form of it) can cause serious complications. As a rule, they consist in the failure of the cellular nutrition of the human body.
In those parts of the intestine where inflammation has been observed for a long time, even cancer cells can develop. They very quickly divide, which leads to the development of the tumor. The result is an intestinal obstruction with further perforation.
Forecasts
Colitis and enterocolitis can be completely cured if the disease is detected in time and correct measures are taken to treat it. After that, there should be no consequences. Within 1-1.5 months the flora will be completely restored.
The course of the chronic form of the disease directly depends on the timeliness of its diagnosis, as well as on eliminating the causes of its occurrence and the correct sequence of measures to normalize the habitual way of life of a person.
Prevention
Prevention of bowel disease consists of measures that are taken to avoid factors leading to the occurrence of enterocolitis. These include:
- Rapid detection of intestinal problems and their elimination.
- Compliance with the right diet.
- Taking medications appropriate to the indications.
From our material you learned the symptoms of enterocolitis, how treatment is done in children and adults. Understood with types of enterocolitis, diets.
It should be noted that this disease can not be treated with folk remedies. This approach in most cases will lead to complications. This is especially true for staphylococcal and viral enterocolitis.
Especially dangerous is enterocolitis in newborns. Therefore, if you notice the symptoms described above yourself or your child, be sure to consult a doctor!
Author: Daria Tyutyunnik, doctor,
specially for Moizhivot.ru
