Gastroenteritis

Inflammation of the stomach and the intestines. Can cause nausea and vomiting and/or diarrhea. Gastroenteritis has numerous causes

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Inflammation of the mucous membrane of both stomach and intestine. SYN: enterogastritis. [gastro- + G. enteron, intestine, + -itis, inflammation]

- acute infectious nonbacterial g. SYN: epidemic nonbacterial g..

- endemic nonbacterial infantile g. an endemic viral g. of young children (6 mos–12 yrs) that is especially widespread during winter, caused by strains of rotavirus (family Reoviridae); the incubation period is 2–4 days, with symptoms lasting 3–5 days, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. SYN: infantile g..

- eosinophilic g. g. with abdominal pain, malabsorption, often obstructive symptoms, associated with peripheral eosinophilia and areas of eosinophilic infiltration of the stomach, small intestine and/or colon with eosinophiles. May be an allergic etiology and responds to elimination diet in some patients; corticosteroid therapy is also effective. SYN: eosinophilic gastritis.

- epidemic nonbacterial g. an epidemic, highly communicable but rather mild disease of sudden onset, caused by the epidemic g. virus (especially Norwalk agent), with an incubation period of 16–48 hours and a duration of 1–2 days, which affects all age groups; infection is associated with some fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache, one or another of which may be predominant. SYN: acute infectious nonbacterial g..

- infantile g. SYN: endemic nonbacterial infantile g..

- viral g. endemic nonbacterial infantile g., epidemic nonbacterial g..

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gas·tro·en·ter·i·tis -.ent-ə-'rīt-əs n, pl -en·ter·it·i·des -'rit-ə-.dēz inflammation of the lining membrane of the stomach and the intestines

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n.

inflammation of the stomach and intestine. It is usually due to acute infection by viruses or bacteria or to food-poisoning toxins and causes vomiting and diarrhoea. The illness usually lasts 3-5 days. Fluid loss is sometimes severe, especially in infants, and intravenous fluid replacement may be necessary.

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gas·tro·en·ter·i·tis (gas″tro-en″tər-iґtis) [gastro- + enteritis] inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines, characterized by anorexia, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weakness. Causes include food poisoning (see bacterial g.); viral infections (see viral g.); consumption of irritating food or drink; and sometimes psychological factors such as anger, stress, or fear. Called also enterogastritis.