Acute Gastroenteritis

New norovirus strain could cause severe gastro epidemic

(Medical Xpress)—UNSW researchers have discovered a new strain of norovirus that they warn could cause a severe epidemic of acute gastroenteritis in Australia this winter.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Jan 15, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Norovirus outbreaks in nursing homes associated with increase in hospitalizations, risk of death

In a study that included more than 300 Medicare-certified nursing homes, rates of hospitalization and death were substantially increased during outbreaks of norovirus gastroenteritis vs. non-outbreak periods, according to ...

Health created Oct 18, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Malaysia: Norovirus discovered in lettuce

University Teknologi MARA researchers conducted a study on Norovirus (NoV) in lettuces. The virus causes outbreaks of Gastroenteritis among children below age 5 in Malaysia.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Sep 13, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Investigators trace of role reusable grocery bag in norovirus outbreak

Oregon investigators recently mapped the trail of an outbreak of a nasty stomach bug among participants in a girls' soccer tournament to a reusable open top grocery bag stored in a hotel bathroom. Their findings, which illustrate ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created May 09, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

RI Hospital finds dehydration scales not accurate for determining dehydration levels in children

A physician team from Rhode Island Hospital led a study to evaluate the accuracy of the commonly used dehydration scales as they apply to children in a low-income country. Based on their experience in Rwanda, ...

Health created Nov 08, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Rotavirus vaccine greatly reduced gastroenteritis hospitalizations in children

Vaccination against rotavirus, a major cause of severe acute gastroenteritis in children, dramatically decreased hospitalization rates for the infection among infants in three U.S. counties, according to a new study published ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Jun 24, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Intestinal cell defense mechanism against bacteria

Salmonella is widely prevalent in the animal kingdom. The reason we do not suffer from severe intestinal infections very often is due to our body's defence system, which manages to digest invading bacteria. ...

Medical research created May 27, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0


Gastroenteritis (also known as gastric flu, stomach flu, gastro and stomach virus, although unrelated to influenza) is marked by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract involving both the stomach and small intestine resulting in diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.

The majority of cases in children globally are caused by rotavirus, while in adults norovirus is more common, at least in the United States. Less common causes include bacteria or their toxins, and parasites. Transmission may occur due to improperly prepared foods, contaminated water or close contact with those who are infectious.

The foundation of management is adequate hydration. For mild or moderate cases this can typically be achieved via oral rehydration solution. For more severe cases intravenous fluids may be needed. Gastroenteritis primarily affects children and those in the developing world.

This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

Latest Spotlight News

If you can remember it, you can remember it wrong

(Medical Xpress)—Native peoples in regions where cameras are uncommon sometimes react with caution when their picture is taken. The fear that something must have been stolen from them to create the photo ...

B vitamins could delay dementia

(Medical Xpress)—Despite spending billions of dollars on research and development, drug companies have been unable to come up with effective treatments for dementia and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Now, A. ...

Insight into the dazzling impact of insulin in cells

Australian scientists have charted the path of insulin action in cells in precise detail like never before. This provides a comprehensive blueprint for understanding what goes wrong in diabetes.

New sleeping pill poised to hit US markets

An experimental sleeping pill from US drug company Merck is effective at helping people fall and stay asleep, according to reviewers at the US Food and Drug Administration, which could soon approve the new drug.

Reducing caloric intake delays nerve cell loss

Activating an enzyme known to play a role in the anti-aging benefits of calorie restriction delays the loss of brain cells and preserves cognitive function in mice, according to a study published in the May ...

Antidepressant reduces stress-induced heart condition

A drug commonly used to treat depression and anxiety may improve a stress-related heart condition in people with stable coronary heart disease, according to researchers at Duke Medicine.

Drugs found to both prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease in mice

Researchers at USC have found that a class of pharmaceuticals can both prevent and treat Alzheimer's Disease in mice.

Enrichment therapy effective among children with autism, study finds

Children with autism showed significant improvement after six months of simple sensory exercises at home using everyday items such as scents, spoons and sponges, according to UC Irvine neurobiologists.

Study finds vitamin C can kill drug-resistant TB (w/ video)

In a striking, unexpected discovery, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have determined that vitamin C kills drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) bacteria in laboratory culture. The finding ...

Common food supplement fights degenerative brain disorders

Widely available in pharmacies and health stores, phosphatidylserine is a natural food supplement produced from beef, oysters, and soy. Proven to improve cognition and slow memory loss, it's a popular treatment for older ...