2007-01-09 23:23:13 · 7 answers · asked by Joanna M 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract (the pathway responsible for digestion that includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines). Gastroenteritis is also sometimes referred to as "stomach flu," even though it is not related to influenza.
Gastroenteritis can be caused by viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections. Viral gastroenteritis is highly contagious and is responsible for the majority of outbreaks in developed countries.
Common routes of infection include:
Food (especially seafood)
Contaminated water
Contact with an infected person
Unwashed hands
Dirty utensils
In less developed countries, gastroenteritis is more often spread through contaminated food or water;
2007-01-09 23:48:01 · answer #1 · answered by huggz 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
many things mentioned already can cause gastrointeritis, however, more serious diseases can cause it as well, such as hepatitis c-a double stranded rna virus that affects the liver. most people when infected are chronic. the liver, when damaged can cause an upset in other organs. hcv is not just found in the liver, it is found in all tissues and organs.
get an hcv test. do not rely on a standard liver panel test because with hcv the alt and ast levels are not always affected.
hcv treatment is not always sucessful (dependent on genotype)
ask your doctor about hcv! everyone can have at least one risk factor for the disease. 15% of those that have hcv have no clue as to how they ended up with the disease.
hcv can take up to a decade to do it's silent damage. one day you can be fine, the next you could be really ill!
print this out and have your doctor read it.
good luck!
2007-01-10 16:20:55 · answer #2 · answered by Stephanie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A germ entering the gastric area,
or bug in the belly.
Not forgetting Clostridium difficile.
2007-01-10 09:43:34 · answer #3 · answered by Perseus 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its a virus in ur guts!! just like getting a cold u cannot help it!! it can be passed on though!! so maybe someone has had it and they knew or sometimes ppl have the bug but have no symtoms?? its blinking painfull though my baby had it when she was a few months old!!
2007-01-10 07:29:25 · answer #4 · answered by sarah 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
unhealthy foods,foods that are very acidic and has lots of colesterol and fats
2007-01-10 07:54:55 · answer #5 · answered by Lionel M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
acid- acidic fluids backed up in you esophageal passages, certain foods
2007-01-10 07:44:04 · answer #6 · answered by simiarah 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
acidic juices, fried foods.
2007-01-10 07:32:08 · answer #7 · answered by Debt Free! 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋