GASTROENTERITIS RESOURCE CENTRE

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Gastroenteritis is a term used to refer to a self-limiting infection of the gastrointestinal tract, characterized by abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, and oftentimes fever. If the infection is food borne, it is referred to as "food poisoning".  The terms "stomach flu" or "gastric flu" are sometimes used when referring to gastroenteritis due to a viral infection.

What Causes Gastroenteritis?

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In more developed countries, gastroenteritis tends to be due to viral infections, whilst in less developed regions, bacterial infections account for a larger number of cases.  Symptoms of gastroenteritis due to viruses typically last 2 to 3 days, whilst symptoms due to bacterial infections can last over a week.

Gastroenteritis may also be due to parasite infections, and this generally occurs in those with lowered immunity, although  the parasite Giardia lamblia can cause gastrointestinal tract infections in healthy individuals.

VIRAL

Viral outbreaks can quickly spread through close contact, especially when hygiene practices and hand washing techniques are not very stringent.

• Rotavirus - responsible for the majority of gastroenteritis in children below the age of 2 years.
• Norwalk virus
• Other viruses

BACTERIAL

• Escherichia coli
• Salmonella - causes typhoid fever
• Aeromonas hydrophila
• Clostridium difficile
• Campylobacter jejuni
• Shigella spp
• Yersinia enterolitica
• Staphylococcal aureus
• Clostridium perfringens

PROTOZOAL

• Giardia lamblia
• Entamoeba histolytica