Alternative Names
Infectious diarrhea – bacterial gastroenteritis; Acute gastroenteritis; Gastroenteritis – bacterial
Definition of Bacterial gastroenteritis
Bacterial gastroenteritis is inflammation of the stomach and intestines caused by bacteria.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Bacterial gastroenteritis can affect one person or a group of people who all ate the same contaminated food. It more commonly occurs after eating at picnics, school cafeterias, large social functions, or restaurants.
Symptoms
Each organism causes slightly different symptoms but all result in . Other symptoms include:
Treatment
You will usually recover from the most common types of bacterial gastroenteritis within a couple of days. The goal is to make you feel better and avoid .
Expectations (prognosis)
In most cases, symptoms improve with fluid and electrolyte replacement within a week. Rare cases of kidney failure or death related to bacterial gastroenteritis have been reported.
Review
Linda Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. – 1/20/2010
