Gastroenteritis
You have devoured your favorite shrimp salad at dinnertime. In a few hours you might be racked by stomach cramps and diarrhea. You will probably experience vomiting and low grade fever too. This is a classic case of gastroenteritis - a condition where the intestines are inflamed due to bacterial or viral infection. Gastroenteritis infection can also be caused due to food poisoning, food allergy, intestinal parasites, viral infection, medication or food consumed while you are traveling. Gastroenteritis can affect anyone but it is usually more severe in infants, the elderly and immunosuppressed people. Gastroenteritis in children can be serious if left unattended. It is the leading cause of death among children worldwide.
Viral and Bacterial Gastroenteritis
Viral gastroenteritis is caused by a viral infection that affects the stomach and intestines. In fact, viral gastroenteritis is one of the most common ailments in the U.S. A person can contract this viral gastroenteritis infection from contaminated food or drinking water. Within a few hours, the first symptoms are noticed. While viral gastroenteritis infections usually clear up without medicines within a few days, bacterial gastroenteritis needs to be treated. Rotavirus is the most common cause for viral gastroenteritis. It affects infants and young children and can surface as an outbreak during some seasons. Rotavirus can also affect other age groups. The Norwalk Virus is another cause of infectious gastroenteritis. It is common in school-going children. Viral gastroenteritis is usually treated with self care measures. Bacterial gastroenteritis infection can be caused by Salmonella, Escherichia coli (E coli), Campylobacter or Shigella. These bacteria can be found in poulty, eggs or meat. Once they enter the body, they multiply and produce toxins. After a few hours of eating, symptoms of bacterial gastroenteritis appear.A stool assay can help in identifying the specific agent for the gastroenteritis and aid treatment.
Treating Gastroenteritis
Usually the reaction to gastroenteritis infections hinges on your immune system’s ability to resist the infection. A person suffering from gastroenteritis will probably feel nauseous and experienced a bloated feeling. Abdominal cramps and mild to severe watery stools may be noticed for a couple of days. Severe cases of gastroenteritis can result in dehydration. Signs of dehydration to look out for are dry skin, excessive thirst and absense of urination for many hours. If a person suffering from gastroenteritis experiences severe abdominal pain or high fever or blood in the stools, consult a health professional at once. With little children, it is essential to give them clear fluids to replace lost fluids due to vomitting and diarrhea. Infants can be breast fed normally. Gastroenteritis can be very serious in infants. If you notice dry mouth, sunken eyes and irritability, consult a doctor immediately.
- Drink plenty of water and fluids to restore fluid and salt requirements of the body
- Avoid milk and dairy products
- Take adequate rest till symptoms persist
- Consume bland foods and avoid spicy foods, fried foods and alcohol
- Consume electrolyte solutions
- Avoid aspirin and ibuprofen as they irritate the gastrointestinal system
- Avoid sharing food and water and utensils with others for fear of spreading the infection
Urine based HIV test
This was approved in 1996 by FDA as a screening test for HIV. This test uses urine samples to detect HIV antibodies using ELISA method. This test is not considered as accurate as blood test in detecting HIV infection. Urine based test could give false positive result in one or two persons out of hundred. Therefore a positive ELISA screening test must be followed by a confirmatory western blot test or IFA or RIPA and then results confirmed.
CD4 test: The CD4 count in individuals not affected by HIV is normally above 500 cells per cubic milliliter of blood. In HIV infected people, CD4 count is less than 200 cells per milliliter of blood. These patients are referred to as immunosuppressed. HIV people do not run the risk for complications until CD4 cells are fewer than 200 cells per milliliter of blood. A declining number of CD4 count indicates teh advancement of the disease. A low CD4 cell count signals that the person is at risk for one of the many unusual infections that occur in individuals who are immunosuppressed. CD4 count is also indicative of the type of therapy the person should undergo to prevent 'opportunistic infections'.
Viral load: The viral load predicts whether or not the CD4 cells will decline in the coming months. Knowledge of the amount of viral load can be intrumental in predicting the development of the disease. Those persons with high viral loads are more likely to experience a decline in CD4 cells and progression of the disease than those with lower viral loads. The viral load is also a vital tool for monitoring the effectiveness of the new therapies and determining when the drug stops working. The greater the decline of viral load after beginning therapy, the longer it will remain suppressed. In general it can be said that a poor response to HIV therapy or treatment failure would include individuals who fail to experience a decline in viral load of approximately 100 fold in the first 8 weeks and have a viral load of greater than 500 copies per ml by week 12 or have levels greater than 50 -75 copies per ml by week 24.
Drug resistance testing: This test is being used in individuals who are experiencing poor response to HIV therapy or treatment failure. The US department of health and human services (DHHS) in their recent guidelines have suggested that 'resistance testing' can be considered in individuals who have never been on therapy particularly in the first months or even years of infection to determine if they might have acquired HIV that is resistant to drugs. DHHS even formally recommend such testing to be performed in individuals starting therapy for the first time.
Bronchiolitis
Bronchiolitis is a respiratory illness that usually affects young children. This viral infection is usually caused by RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). This viral infection affects the lower respiratory tract. Tiny airways to the lungs (bronchioles) get inflamed and make breathing difficult. Since the bronchioles of an infant and young child are narrow, they tend to get blocked easily. Bronchiolitis is highly contagious and spreads through coughing, sneezing of the infected person.
Premature infants or those suffering from congenital heart defects are at increased risk for developing Bronchiolitis. Children growing in crowded environment or in day-care facilities are at higher risk for contracting Bronchiolitis. Formula-fed infants are at higher risk for developing bronchiolitis. Typical symptoms of bronchiolitis include runny nose and cough. There might be wheezing and rapid heartbeat. Children suffering from bronchiolitis may be irritable and have poor appetite. The infected child may have mild fever and breathing problems. In some cases, the baby may develop a bluish tinge on the lips or fingers.
Chest x-ray and blood test can help in diagnosing bronchiolitis. A nasopharyngeal swab can reveal presence of RSV or any other virus. While mild cases of bronchiolitis can be managed with home care, severe cases need hospitalization. Bronchodilator drugs can help alleviate breathing difficulties. Suction of the infant's mouth and nose provides relief from stuffiness and breathing problems.
Bibliography / Reference
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