Locations Main Campus: Chesterfield, MO 63017   |   Locations
314-434-1500 314-434-1500   |   Contact Us

Multimedia Encyclopedia


 
E-mail Form
Email Results

 
 
Print-Friendly
Bookmarks
bookmarks-menu

Enteritis

 

Enteritis is inflammation of the small intestine.

Causes

Enteritis is most often caused by eating or drinking things that are contaminated with bacteria or viruses. The germs settle in the small intestine and cause inflammation and swelling.

Enteritis may also be caused by:

  • An autoimmune condition, such as Crohn disease
  • Certain drugs, including ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and cocaine
  • Damage from radiation therapy
  • Celiac disease

The inflammation can also involve the stomach ( gastritis ) and large intestine ( colitis ).

Risk factors include:

  • Recent stomach flu among household members
  • Recent travel
  • Exposure to unclean water

Types of enteritis include:

  • Bacterial gastroenteritis
  • Campylobacter enteritis
  • E coli enteritis
  • Food poisoning
  • Radiation enteritis
  • Salmonella enteritis
  • Shigella enteritis
  • Staph aureus food poisoning

Symptoms

 

The symptoms may begin hours to days after you become infected. Symptoms may include:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea - acute and severe
  • Loss of appetite
  • Vomiting
  • Blood in the stool

 

Exams and Tests

 

Tests may include:

  • A stool culture to look for the type of infection. However, this test may not always identify the bacteria causing the illness.
  • A colonoscopy and/or upper endoscopy to look at the small intestine and to take tissue samples if needed.
  • Imaging tests such as CT scan and MRI.

 

Treatment

 

Mild cases often do not need treatment.

Antidiarrheal medicine is sometimes used. However, it may not be recommended in some cases because it can slow the germ from leaving the digestive tract.

You may need rehydration with electrolyte solutions if your body does not have enough fluids.

You may need medical care and fluids through a vein ( intravenous fluids) if you have diarrhea and cannot keep fluids down. This is often the case with young children.

If you take diuretics (water pills) and develop diarrhea, you may need to stop taking the diuretics. However, do not stop taking any medicine without first talking to your health care provider.

You may need to take antibiotics.

People who have Crohn disease will often need to take anti-inflammatory medicines.

 

Outlook (Prognosis)

 

Symptoms most often go away without treatment in a few days in otherwise healthy people.

 

Possible Complications

 

Complications may include:

  • Dehydration
  • Long-term diarrhea

Note: In babies, the diarrhea can cause severe dehydration that comes on very quickly.

 

When to Contact a Medical Professional

 

Call your provider if:

  • You become dehydrated.
  • Diarrhea does not go away in 3 to 4 days.
  • You have a fever over 101°F (38.3°C).
  • You have blood in your stool.

 

Prevention

 

The following steps may help prevent enteritis:

  • Always wash your hands after using the toilet and before eating or preparing food or drinks. You may also clean your hands with a 60% alcohol-based product.
  • Boil water that comes from unknown sources, such as streams and outdoor wells, before drinking it.
  • Use only clean utensils for eating or handling foods, especially when handling eggs and poultry.
  • Cook food thoroughly.
  • Use coolers to store food that needs to stay chilled.

 

 

References

DuPont HL. Approach to the patient with suspected enteric infection. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine . 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 283.

Haines CF, Sears CL. Infectious enteritis and proctocolitis. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease . 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 110.

Lima AAM, Warren CA, Guerrant  RL. Bacterial inflammatory enteritides. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases . 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 101.

Semrad CE. Approach to the patient with diarrhea and malabsorption. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine . 25th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 140.

 
  • Salmonella typhi organism - illustration

    Salmonella typhi.

    Salmonella typhi organism

    illustration

  • Yersinia enterocolitica organism - illustration

    Yersinia enterocolitica

    Yersinia enterocolitica organism

    illustration

  • Campylobacter jejuni organism - illustration

    Campylobacter jejuni Campylobacter jejuni Campylobacter jejuni

    Campylobacter jejuni organism

    illustration

  • Clostridium difficile organism - illustration

    Clostridium difficile

    Clostridium difficile organism

    illustration

  • Digestive system - illustration

    The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.

    Digestive system

    illustration

  • Esophagus and stomach anatomy - illustration

    Food is swallowed and passes through the esophagus to the stomach, where the majority of digestion takes place.

    Esophagus and stomach anatomy

    illustration

    • Salmonella typhi organism - illustration

      Salmonella typhi.

      Salmonella typhi organism

      illustration

    • Yersinia enterocolitica organism - illustration

      Yersinia enterocolitica

      Yersinia enterocolitica organism

      illustration

    • Campylobacter jejuni organism - illustration

      Campylobacter jejuni Campylobacter jejuni Campylobacter jejuni

      Campylobacter jejuni organism

      illustration

    • Clostridium difficile organism - illustration

      Clostridium difficile

      Clostridium difficile organism

      illustration

    • Digestive system - illustration

      The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.

      Digestive system

      illustration

    • Esophagus and stomach anatomy - illustration

      Food is swallowed and passes through the esophagus to the stomach, where the majority of digestion takes place.

      Esophagus and stomach anatomy

      illustration

    Self Care

     

      Tests for Enteritis

       

         

        Review Date: 5/11/2016

        Reviewed By: Subodh K. Lal, MD, gastroenterologist with Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia, Austell, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

        The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

         
         
         

         

         

        A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.



        Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.