Acute gastroenteritis, also called infectious diarrhea, causes watery diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal cramping. Symptoms last for up to 10 days and usually resolve without treatment, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Transmission occurs by contact with an infected person or ingesting food or water contaminated by a virus, bacteria or parasites, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Weakend Immune System
Acute gastroenteritis occurs in all age groups throughout the world, but people with weakened or immature immune systems have more severe symptoms, according to MayoClinic.com. The immune system matures at approximately age 6 and becomes less effective later in life, so infants, young children and the elderly tend to become sicker than other individuals. Patients with immune deficiency disease such as HIV or AIDS may also suffer more severe symptoms.
Person-to-Person Contact
Transmission can occur by contact with an infected person or something the person has touched, according to the CDC. People in densely populated conditions, including cruise ships, day care centers, nursing homes and crowded households are at highest risk. Organisms can be transmitted by direct contact or by touching objects such as handrails, elevator buttons or shared utensils, notes CDC. Prevention measures include frequent hand-washing; cleaning common surfaces; avoiding direct contact with an ill person, if possible; and keeping hands away from the mouth can help to prevent spreading of the disease.
Contaminated Food or Water
Food or water contaminated with a virus, bacteria or parasite can cause acute gastroenteritis in people who ingest it, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Food contamination may occur during production, preparation or storage. Contaminated water may come from a faulty storage system, a person or animal defecating in a pond or swimming pool or an untreated water source. Prevention measures include hand-washing during food preparation; proper cleaning of cooking utensils and surfaces; thorough cooking of foods; storing foods at proper temperatures; and returning dairy and mayonnaise-based foods to the refrigerator promptly, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. High-risk foods include raw seafood, undercooked meat and eggs, unwashed raw fruits and vegetables, unpasteurized juices, and food left out of the refrigerator for more than a few minutes. Travelers should drink bottled water, avoid raw or uncooked foods and consider taking a vaccine for rotavirus, a common source of gastroenteritis, recommends MayoClinic.com.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Viral Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu)
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Viral Gastroenteritis
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Bacterial Gastroenteritis
- Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Gastroenteritis
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Vessel Sanitation Program
