Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Endoscopy

Gastrointestinal Infection and Viral Gastroenteritis

Gastrointestinal infections are viral, bacterial or parasitic infections that cause gastroenteritis, an irritation of the gastrointestinal tract including both the stomach and the small intestine. Symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Lack of hydration is the main danger of gastrointestinal infections, so rehydration is significant, yet most gastrointestinal infections are self- constrained and resolve within a couple of days. Viral gastroenteritis is an intestinal infection marked by watery diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, nausea or vomiting, and sometimes fever. The most common way to develop viral gastroenteritis — often called stomach flu — is through contact with an infected individual or by ingesting contaminated food or water. If you're otherwise healthy, you'll likely recover without complications. Yet, for babies, older adults and people with compromised immune systems, viral gastroenteritis can be deadly.