Enteritis - what is it? Causes, symptoms, treatment

Enteritis is an inflammatory disease of the human small intestine, in which dystrophic changes occur in the mucosa and the processes of absorption and digestion of food are disturbed.

Enteritis - what is it? Types of enteritis

Chronic enteritis is classified according to etiology, morphology, clinical and functional symptoms.

On etiology distinguish parasitic, alimentary, infectious, toxic, radiation, postoperative and medicinal enteritis. In addition, the disease manifests itself in congenital anomalies of the small intestine, insufficiency of the valve between the thick and small intestine, enzymopathy, secondary enteritis.

According to anatomical and morphological changes, enteritis without serious mucosal disorders, as well as with a moderate or subtotal degree of atrophy of epithelial cells and intestinal villi.

Clinically, the disease is mild, moderate or severe. With chronic enteritis, there may be a remission and an exacerbation phase. Since enteritis is a disease of inflammatory nature, it is necessary to begin treatment at the first signs of pathology in order to preserve intestinal health.

Functional disorders are characterized by a specific symptomatology - a violation of absorption of nutrients in the intestine, a change in the hydrolysis of food, enteric insufficiency and exudative enteropathy.

Causes of the disease

The reasons for the appearance of disorders in the small intestine may be several:

• Infectious pathogens, intestinal parasites that progress and multiply in the small intestine;
• Toxic substances (arsenic, lead and others);
• Self-treatment, long-term use of antibiotics and other medications;
• Untreated acute enteritis;
• Insufficient chewing food, improper nutrition (eating sharp and fatty foods, fast food, overeating, food allergies);
• Inadequate production of intestinal enzymes;
• The presence of concomitant diseases (pancreatitis, tuberculosis, cirrhosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, hepatitis).

Lack of proper treatment for chronic enteritis will contribute to dystrophic changes and inflammations in other parts of the digestive system (pancreas, gall bladder, stomach).

Clinical picture of enteritis

External manifestations of the disease include any violation of absorption and absorption of food. These include:

• Sharp and rapid weight loss (a person loses up to 20 kg);
• The appearance of insomnia, severe irritability;
• Decrease in labor activity;
• Skin problems (thinning, dryness, peeling), hair loss, thickening of the nail plate and brittleness;
• tachycardia;
• Muscle pain, weakness, paresis and cramps.

Because of the violation of absorption of vitamins, it is possible to develop concomitant diseases - hemorrhagia, neuropathy, myopathy, cheilitis, glossitis, subcutaneous hemorrhage.

Intestinal symptoms of enteritis

Enteritis in humans is characterized by a manifestation of abdominal tenderness in the navel, palpation increases pain. There is a syndrome 2-3 hours after eating. Pain can have a different character (blunt, bursting, cramping).

This is due to a violation of absorption of bile acids in the distal part of the small intestine. As a result, the acids enter the colon and provoke a violation of absorption and digestion processes (diarrhea, bloating, flatulence, rumbling in the abdomen). It is these signs that show enteritis.

What it is? If the ileocecal valve is broken (it divides the thin and thick parts of the intestine), hummus can enter the small intestine, which is why it is contaminated with harmful microorganisms.

Diagnosis of the disease

The primary diagnosis is based on a survey and a general examination of the patient, which includes palpation and percussion (tapping of the abdominal wall). The next stage is the conduct of the coprogram. In a macroscopic study, the smell, consistency and color are determined, and in microscopic research, the presence of fats, muscle fibers or starch in the analysis is determined.

To reveal infectious microorganisms and dysbacteriosis in the intestine, it is necessary to carry out a bacteriological study of feces for enteritis. What it is? With chronic enteritis in biochemical analysis of blood, you can find signs of insufficiency of absorption of nutrients in the small intestine (malabsorption syndrome).

Conducting an endoscopic examination of the small intestine causes many difficulties, since only a small part of it can be examined. During endoscopy, the biopsy specimen of the mucous membrane is taken, which is necessary for histological analysis. It is most often noted atrophy and dystrophy of epithelial cells and villi of the intestine.

X-ray examination allows detecting tumors, ulcers, changes in the structure of the folds of the small intestine. Before the study, a contrast agent is introduced into the body, allowing to reveal enteritis. What is this, the doctor will tell you. To differentiate the disease requires a comprehensive examination using modern diagnostic methods.

The symptomatology of the disease has much in common with the clinical manifestations of other gastrointestinal pathologies. Therefore, differential diagnosis of enteritis with gastritis, pancreatic problems and tumors is necessary.

Any disease of the small intestine requires careful examination, since many similar symptoms entail the production of an incorrect diagnosis and the appointment of an ineffective, in some cases even dangerous, treatment that can aggravate the condition of the small intestine.

Treatment of acute enteritis

Acute enteritis requires treatment in a hospital. Patients are prescribed a diet, a bed rest, a plentiful drink. Perhaps the appointment of hydration therapy. Treatment is aimed at general strengthening of the body and reducing the manifestation of unpleasant symptoms of the disease.

If enteritis is accompanied by a severe form of dysbiosis, it is necessary to take medications that are aimed at restoring the intestinal microflora. Elimination of diarrhea is due to the use of astringents. If there was a violation of protein metabolism, it is necessary to introduce polypeptide solutions into the body.

The average duration of treatment is 7-10 days. During this time, acute symptoms of the disease are cured, and health is strengthened. Enteritis, whose treatment lasts less, does not heal to the end and provokes repeated manifestations of unpleasant and painful symptoms.

If the disease has a toxic or infectious nature, the patient must be hospitalized.

Treatment of chronic enteritis

In chronic enteritis treatment is almost the same. Need the same diet and bed rest. If digestive enzymes are not produced, they are prescribed in the form of enzyme preparations (Festal, Pancreatin). It is also necessary to take medications that ensure the absorption and restoration of the cellular membranes of the intestinal epithelial cells.

Enteritis, treatment of which is carried out in accordance with the appointment of a doctor, quickly enough to stop bothering. However, the chronic form is characterized by frequent phases of exacerbations and remissions.

Concomitant dysbacteriosis should be treated with eubiotics and probiotics, which restore useful intestinal microflora. If the symptoms of enteritis occur against the background of the appearance of neoplasms in the small intestine (diverticula, polyps), then surgical removal is first necessary, and only then can the manifestations of the disease be stopped.

Diet with enteritis

When enteritis is prescribed diet number 4. It includes lean meat or fish, which can be boiled, baked or fried. It is necessary to prepare soups for meat, fish, vegetable or mushroom broths. Vegetables are recommended to be finely cut, in some cases, even cereals should be wiped through a sieve.

From dairy products preference is given to kefir and yogurt. Such drinks allow you to quickly restore the intestines, improve its work and inhabit useful microorganisms.

Vegetable products are best used after cooking. Vegetables need to boil, bake or fry, and from fruit you can cook compote, jelly or rub with sugar. It will be very useful tea with lemon, broths of dogrose, berries and bran.

Prevention of enteritis

Any disease is easier to prevent than treat. To measures that prevent intestinal enteritis, you can include:

• balanced diet;
• The use of only quality and fresh products;
• The absence of toxic substances in the food (you can not use berries and mushrooms of unknown origin);
• Observance of rules of personal hygiene;
• Careful processing of food products;
• Taking medications as prescribed by doctors;
• Timely visits to medical facilities for the detection of digestive tract diseases, as well as violations of endocrine and metabolic processes in the body.

With the observance of all preventive measures, it is possible to prevent the development of digestive diseases and disorders, and a healthy lifestyle will maintain your health at the highest level.

Enteritis in the puppy

In dogs, the disease manifested relatively recently, but its progression provokes a high mortality among puppies. An infection that affects the intestines of animals is not dangerous to humans, but it quickly develops in the body of young dogs and causes serious structural and functional disturbances.

Enteritis in the puppy manifests lethargy, fever, and when stroking the sides or pressing on the stomach area, the dog will buckle his back and press his tail, which indicates a painful syndrome. With such symptoms, you need to contact the veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.