Gastroenteritis Research Paper

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Introduction - What is gastroenteritis?
According to the Illustrated Medical Dictionary (2013: 246) Gastroenteritis is a condition of the stomach and intestines being inflamed, resulting in cases of diarrhoea.1 It is one of the main causes of death among infants and young children - second only to respiratory infections. Though gastroenteritis is common throughout South Africa, its urgency must not be overlooked, on the contrary; our efforts to control gastroenteritis must be all the more resolute considering its prevalence. But before we delve into possible solutions for gastroenteritis, we must first come to grips with what it is, how it affects the body, how it is treated and finally how it can be prevented.

Aetiology
There are many …show more content…

Rotaviruses are characteristically identified as particles encapsulated in a double-shell, and measuring approximately 70 nm in diameter. Different strains of parvovirus have also been found to cause diarrhoea in epidemics in many different parts of the world.2
Pathology
After finding its way into the body, the rotavirus typically infects the intestine's epithelial cells, resulting in atrophy and death of the intestinal villi. Although both the rotaviruses as well as the parvovirus can cause gastroenteritis, they differ in the sense that the parvovirus is not found in the epithelial cells of patients.2

Symptoms
Patients with viral gastroenteritis typically develop symptoms between 24 - 48 hours after the initial infection. Gastroenteritis involves the inflammation of the small intestine, its symptoms are somewhat similar to appendicitis the two may at times be confused with one another.3 However, pain caused by gastroenteritis is more generalized. According to the web article Viral Gastroenteritis (Pietrangelo A.), symptoms may then include the following:
Watery diarhoea
Vomiting and nausea
Chills & high fever
Headaches, muscle- and joint

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