1 Features of the disease

Colitis is an inflammation of the mucous layer of the large intestine, and enteritis is called inflammatory disease of the small intestine. This disease is very common. Millions of new cases of enterocolitis are diagnosed annually. In most cases, the disease lasts for years. Inflammation leads to mucosal atrophy. The latter becomes thinner, which disrupts the digestion process. Enterocolitis is found in adults and children. There are 2 clinical varieties of this pathology: acute and chronic. Acute enterocolitis is often combined with inflammation of the stomach. It can be caused by infectious and non-infectious factors.

Acute inflammation of the intestine, if not properly treated, can go into a chronic form. In this case, the symptoms occur periodically. In adults and children, enterocolitis is divided into the following species depending on the underlying cause:

1. Parasitic.
2. Toxic.
3. Alimensional.
4. Mechanical.
5. Infectious.

There are primary and secondary forms of enterocolitis. Primary develops as an independent disease. The most common causes are: malnutrition, intoxication, food poisoning. Secondary enterocolitis is formed on the background of another pathology of the gastrointestinal tract( pancreatitis, cholecystitis).

2 Causes of acute inflammation

Acute enterocolitis is affected only by the surface layers of the intestine. The main etiological factors are:

• acute poisoning with ethyl alcohol;
• poisoning by surrogates of alcohol;
• salmonellosis;
• dysentery;
• food poisoning;
• poisoning by pesticides;
• poisoning by various poisonous plants, mushrooms;
• effects on the intestines of toxic drugs;
• is an enterovirus infection.

Acute inflammation of the intestine develops rapidly. It is distinguished by a sudden and stormy beginning. It flows according to the type of acute intestinal infection. The causative agents of the disease can be various microorganisms( rotaviruses, enteroviruses, salmonella, Escherichia coli, Shigella).In some cases, inflammation of the bowel is due to an allergic reaction.

3 Causes of chronic inflammation

Chronic enterocolitis is more common than acute. This pathology of the intestine is a consequence of untreated acute enterocolitis. The most common causes of chronic inflammation of the intestine are:

• the presence of helminthiases( opisthorchiasis, ascariasis);
• protozoosis( amebiasis, trichomoniasis);
• improper power;
• alcohol abuse;
• frequent constipation;
• presence of other diseases of the intestine;
• autoimmune disorders;
• irritable bowel syndrome;
• the presence of gastritis.

Chronic enterocolitis is most often seen in adults, but it all begins in childhood. The main risk factor is malnutrition. Those people who do not eat food strictly at certain hours, abuse sharp dishes, smoked foods, coffee, carbonated drinks, eat dry, have a high risk of enterocolitis. Parasitic chronic enterocolitis develops with insufficiently thermally processed foods. Opisthorchias can occur when using stroganina or half-baked fish. Infection with amoebiasis is possible through water, dirty hands. Important role in the development of the disease has iatrogenic dysbiosis. Rarely the cause of inflammation of the intestine are congenital disorders.

4 Symptoms of acute enterocolitis

In the presence of acute enterocolitis, the symptoms are pronounced. The main signs of the disease are:

• bloating( flatulence);
• pain in the lower abdomen;
• stool disorder;
• nausea;
• vomiting;
• increased body temperature;
• rumbling and transfusion in the abdomen;
• pain in the muscles and joints;
• general weakness;
• headache;
• presence in the stool of pathological impurities.

The increase in temperature is due to intoxication of the body. For example, in acute dysentery fever can reach 40-41ºC.A typical sign of acute inflammation of the intestines is diarrhea. The nature of the chair depends on the underlying cause of the disease. With dysentery, the frequency of the stool can reach 20-30 times a day. In feces, mucus or impurities of blood are detected. The patient may be troubled by tenesmus, cramping pains in the lower abdomen. With enterocolitis on the background of salmonella, the stool can have a green tint. It resembles a swampy mud.

5 Symptoms of chronic enterocolitis

Symptoms of chronic inflammation are less pronounced. In the phase of remission, they may be completely absent. Patients may be disturbed by a moderately severe pain syndrome. During an exacerbation the following symptoms may appear:

• flatulence;
• dyspeptic disorders;
• weight loss;
• pain syndrome;
• stool disorder by type of diarrhea or constipation;
• decreased attention;
• rapid fatigue;
• weakness.

The most common symptom is pain. In most cases, it is felt near the navel. If the small intestine is more affected, the pain is stupid, aching. Pain with inflammation of the large intestine is more pronounced. It may appear several hours after eating, after exercise. Chronic inflammation is characterized by an unstable stool. Thus constipations are replaced by a diarrhea. If there is ulcerative bowel disease, diarrhea usually occurs. Such patients look exhausted. Weight can decrease.

6 Enterocolitis in children

Inflammation of the small and large intestine is possible in childhood. Often, this disease affects young children. They can develop a ulcerative-necrotic form of the disease. Any infection that penetrates the baby's gastrointestinal tract can cause inflammation. In children, immunity has not yet been fully formed. The state of the microflora of the intestines of babies differs from that of adults. The main causes of enterocolitis in young children are:

• non-compliance with the rules of child care;
• dysentery;
• rotavirus infection;
• enterovirus infection;
• intestinal form of influenza.

Predisposing factors are prematurity and hypotrophy. The most common symptoms are: single or multiple vomiting, abdominal pain, loose stools, anorexia, abdominal tenderness during palpation, and lowering of pressure. The ulcerative form of enterocolitis is most often found in children under 3 years old. When the first signs of illness appear, visit a pediatrician or a children's gastroenterologist.

7 Diagnostic measures

Treatment of enterocolitis is carried out only after examination of a sick person and diagnosis. There are many diseases with a similar clinical picture. Diagnostics assumes:

• revealing the main complaints of the patient by questioning;
• superficial and deep abdominal palpation;
• general and biochemical blood test;
• urine analysis;
• carrying out of endoscopic examination( EGS);
• colonoscopy;
• sigmoidoscopy;
• determination of body temperature, blood pressure, pulse;
• listening to the lungs and heart;
• carrying out a coprogram;
• bacteriological analysis of feces;
• study of feces on helminth eggs;
• X-ray examination;
• ultrasound of the abdominal cavity.

In the course of a colonoscopy, a change in the condition of the colonic mucosa can be detected. There may be redness and swelling of the mucosa, the presence of erosions or ulcers, signs of atrophy. To exclude malignant pathology, a tissue fragment can be taken for histological examination. To assess the condition of the posterior parts of the colon, a sigmoidoscopy is performed. To exclude intestinal obstruction and assess the folds of the intestine, contrast radiography is organized.

Inspection of the mucous membrane of the small intestine is difficult. It is possible to evaluate only the state of its initial department( 12 duodenal gut) by the GFDD.During the analysis of blood with enterocolitis, anemia and dysproteinemia are often detected. In the study of stool, a picture of a violation of the digestion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates is found. In feces can be found semi-digested food particles, fatty inclusions, mucus, blood.

8 Therapeutic tactics

When enterocolitis treatment depends on its shape and the main cause of the disease. Treatment of chronic enterocolitis in the absence of complications is carried out at home, but after a medical consultation. In acute infectious inflammation, antibiotics are prescribed. Before this, it is necessary to identify the main causative agent of infection. The drugs of choice are protected penicillins and cephalosporins. In the case of food intoxication or toxicinfection, gastric lavage may be required. In severe cases with severe dehydration, infusion therapy is performed against diarrhea.

If a sick person is disturbed by vomiting, antiemetic drugs are prescribed( "Metoclopramide").To eliminate pain, spasmolytics are used. If there is diarrhea not associated with acute intestinal infections, drugs such as Loperamide or Imodium may be used. In acute infections( dysentery, salmonellosis), they are not recommended, as this complicates the natural process of self-cleaning the intestine. When poisoning with chemicals, treatment may include the intake of enterosorbents.

Enterocolitis on the background of parasitic infections is treated medically. At detection of an amebiasis "Metronidazolum" or "Tinidazolum" is appointed or nominated. Treatment of ascariasis is carried out with the drug Vermox. Treatment of chronic enterocolitis necessarily involves compliance with diet and recovery of microflora( in the case of dysbiosis).During the period of remission table No. 2 is prescribed. It is required to eliminate foods that irritate the intestinal mucosa, eat at the same time, and give up alcohol.

In case of chronic inflammation of the intestine, enzyme preparations( Festal, Creon), probiotics, prebiotics, antimicrobial agents( Furazolidon, Enterofuril) can be prescribed.

To get rid of flatulence will help decoction based on chamomile. If necessary, physiotherapy is carried out.

9 Preventive measures

In order to prevent enterocolitis, the following rules must be observed:

• to lead an active and healthy lifestyle;
• use only fresh and natural products;
• limit the consumption of sharp, fried foods;
• observe the diet;
• to give up alcohol;
• timely treat diseases of the digestive tract( cholecystitis, hepatitis, gastritis);
• to exclude contact with harmful chemicals;
• observe the rules of personal hygiene.

In case of acute enterocolitis you need to consult a gastroenterologist. If the treatment regimen is not adhered to, the disease can lead to various complications( intestinal bleeding, peritoneal inflammation, intestinal perforation).