Medicines for intestinal infections: a review of drugs. What medications are there for intestinal infections for adults and children?

Modern medicine offers a wide range medicines for the intestines. Tablets for the intestines have different specific effects: some are able to normalize intestinal microflora, others have an antibacterial effect, while others are used for prevention. Of all the abundance of medications, only a doctor will help a person choose a drug that is individually suitable for him, taking into account the health characteristics and condition of the patient.

Modern pharmacology offers a wide range of drugs for the treatment of intestinal diseases.

Indications for taking medications

Modern pharmacy cannot boast of producing completely safe medications that have no contraindications. Therefore, any medicine must be prescribed strictly according to a doctor's prescription. Assigned for internal reception specific dosage drug, taking into account the state and individual characteristics of human health. Self-medication is strictly prohibited.

Medicines for the intestines are presented in the following range:

  • antidiarrheals and laxatives;
  • antibacterial and anti-inflammatory;
  • restoring intestinal microflora;
  • antacids and enzymes;
  • antispasmodics and enterosorbents;
  • prophylactic agents.

Groups of drugs for intestinal treatment

Antibiotics

In case of intestinal infection, you will need to take antibiotics such as Alpha Normix or Neomycin.

To heal intestinal infection at elevated temperature body and other symptoms of infection, antibacterial drugs are used. It is worth remembering that an antibiotic treats an infection, not a virus. When choosing an antibiotic to get rid of an infection, you should take into account its indications for use and the doctor’s recommendations. Antibiotics aimed at getting rid of intestinal infections include:

  1. Effective Italian medicine "Alpha Normix" ( active substance- rifaximin). Used to treat gastrointestinal infections caused by pathogenic microorganisms and having sensitivity to the drug.
  2. Inexpensive domestic drug"Neomycin" is a broad-spectrum antibacterial and bactericidal medicine. Indicated for the treatment of infected ulcers duodenum and heartburn.

Anti-inflammatory

Drugs with anti-inflammatory effects can stop the inflammatory process in the early stages of the disease. Tablets called Mesacol are considered effective. It is anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agent, which is used for intestinal diseases. Prescribed when ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease. There are also analogues of the drug, identical in composition and action. These include: “Asakol”, “Pentasa”, “Samezil”.

Helping to normalize stool

Prokinetics, in addition to resolving bowel problems, also relieve bloating.

The inflammatory process in the intestines is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms, such as stool disorders and painful bowel movements; nausea and vomiting; feeling of discomfort in the stomach. In this case, it is necessary to take medicines(prokinetics) that improve intestinal motility. Prokinetic tablets include: “Brulium”, “Gastropom”. Brulium tablets are indicated for the treatment of adults and have an antiemetic effect, and also relieve bloating and pain.

Promote weight loss (cleansing and rinsing the intestines), get rid of prolonged constipation Laxatives will help. These include: laxative drops “Guttalax” and “Picolax”, laxative medicine in the form of tablets “Senadexin” (the active ingredient is the senna plant). Conversely, signs of diarrhea can be eliminated with antidiarrheal medications. Fixing medications - “Loperamide” and “Fthalazol”. These medications help when the colon is inflamed, as well as with diarrhea (they allow stool to be consolidated),

Prebiotics and probiotics

Taking any antibiotic is accompanied by the use of medications to restore the intestinal microflora. These include: probiotics and prebiotics. Probiotics repopulate the body with beneficial bacteria. Such medications include: “Linex”, “Bifidumbacterin”, “Yoghurt”. Pharmacies offer a wide range of probiotics based on live bifidobacteria (bacterial starters): “Vivo” starter, “Good food”.

Prebiotics promote the growth and reproduction of these beneficial bacteria, thereby helping to restore the damaged microflora. Prebiotics include: syrups “Lactuvit”, “Portulac” and others. The products are absolutely safe for human body, have virtually no contraindications. The only thing for people who have problems with high sugar in the blood, it is not recommended to use these medications due to the sugar content in them.


Antacids eliminate high acidity in the gastrointestinal tract.

Antacid (enveloping)

The action of antacid medications is aimed at getting rid of the problem - increased acidity stomach. Due to their enveloping properties, they are intended for the treatment of acid-related diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Medicines for the intestines are divided into those absorbed into the blood and non-absorbed. Examples of antacids absorbed into the blood: ordinary baking soda, Rennie. Non-absorbable antacids: Maalox, Almagel, Gastal.

Enzymes and enterosorbents

Enzymes are prescribed to people who have impaired intestinal absorption, motor activity Gastrointestinal tract. The action of enzymes can help reduce abdominal pain, eliminate flatulence and improve metabolic processes(processing and assimilation of food). Examples enzyme preparations, which treat the mucous membrane of the colon and improve the process of digestion of food: “Pancreatin”, “Mezim”, “Festal”, “Digestal” and their analogues.

Substances that absorb harmful toxins and remove them from the body are called enterosorbents. Enterosorbents have a good neutralizing effect on poisons and chemicals, act quickly and effectively. The most common sorbent in human practice is activated carbon tablets. Coal is used for poisoning, for cleaning and washing the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines. Enterosorbents such as Smecta powder and Enterosgel paste are quite common for cleaning the mucous membrane.


Antispasmodics are sometimes used for spasms and pain in the intestines.

Antispasmodics

Antispasmodic drugs relieve pain and spasms of internal organs. These are medications that treat functional gastrointestinal disorders, diseases of the genital organs and urinary tract. These include tablets with fairly popular names: “No-shpa”, “Drospa Forte”, “Spazmolgon”. For children early age"Plantex" powder, "Bobotik" and "Infacol" drops are used to relieve intestinal colic, bloating and constipation.

In summer, the problem of poisoning becomes more pressing than ever - the heat creates favorable conditions for the propagation of pathogens. What medications really help get out of an unpleasant condition with minimal consequences?

Basically, intestinal infection develops against the background of infection with viruses: they are responsible for 70% of cases of infectious diarrhea in children and almost 90% in adults.

The penetration of intestinal pathogens into the body is accompanied by the release of a large number of toxins, which cause characteristic symptoms. In this case, the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines becomes inflamed - gastroenteritis develops.

However, despite the sometimes painful manifestations of poisoning, its causative agents are doomed: all intestinal infections are self-limiting, that is, the bacteria or viruses that caused them die not because they are affected by drugs, but because this is how nature intended. In this regard, almost any intestinal infection is akin to ARVI - treat, don’t treat, but you will still recover no earlier than the pathogen reaches the end of its development. And, fortunately, his life is short-lived: within 1–7 days after the manifestation of the disease, as a rule, recovery occurs.

We are used to swallowing handfuls of pills with or without reason. In case of poisoning, including. But not all drugs that we consider irreplaceable and vital are really needed. Let's remember everyone by name.

1. Regulators of water and electrolyte balance

The drugs in this group head the short list of drugs that are really necessary for poisoning. These include combinations of dextrose, potassium and sodium chloride, sodium citrate (Regidron, Trihydron, Hydrovit).

Diarrhea and vomiting, the main companions of intestinal infection, contribute to fluid loss and disruption acid-base balance in the body. This is the main danger of poisoning, which, if the resulting deficiency is inadequately replenished, leads to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Therefore, treatment should primarily be aimed at fast recovery stocks.

The formula for success is simple: how much fluid you have lost through vomiting and diarrhea, so much should enter the body with drugs or, in extreme cases, with therapeutic mineral water(without gas, of course). In cases where it is not possible to take rehydrants orally, intravenous drip administration of liquid, i.e., a dropper, is necessary.

2. Antidiarrheal drugs

Soviet and post-Soviet medicine is often aimed at a fierce fight against the symptoms of diseases, often regardless of whether this fight is beneficial for the body. Temperature? Antipyretic, despite the fact that this reduces the production of interferon and the immune response. Diarrhea? Antidiarrheal, despite excretion from feces many toxins.

Modern tactics for managing patients with acute intestinal infections are aimed at a conscious approach to symptom relief:

  • If diarrhea is not accompanied by dehydration, it is much healthier to endure it than to stop it.
  • If the problem becomes threatening and fluid loss cannot be restored with the help of medications, you still cannot do without antidiarrheal drugs.

The classic antidiarrheal drug is loperamide, which slows down intestinal motility and increases the transit time of intestinal contents. Besides, antidiarrheal effect renders dioctahedral smectite.

3. Adsorbents

The need to take adsorbents for intestinal infections is not entirely clear. Theoretically, adsorbents ( activated carbon, pectin, dioctahedral smectite, etc.) bind toxins, preventing their attachment to intestinal membranes.

However, for the drugs to work, they must enter the body before the toxins attach to the mucous membrane, which is not always possible to achieve in practice. And even if adsorbents are introduced on time, they, alas, do not prevent dehydration of the body, although they reduce the frequency of stool.

4. Probiotics

The use of drugs containing beneficial bacteria is aimed at restoring intestinal microflora. Research shows that they can indeed normalize its composition. However, from the entire considerable assortment, a full-fledged evidence base have only products containing Lactobacillus casei GG (included in some dietary supplements, for example, Maxilak, Yogulakt) or Saccharomyces boulardii Saccharomyces boulardii (Enterol). Their administration helps reduce the intensity of diarrhea and improve the condition of patients.

5. Antibacterial

Drugs that exhibit an antibacterial effect only work in cases of bacterial infection. In case of poisoning caused by viruses, they are useless, and it is these pathogens that most often become the cause of the disease.

It is sometimes possible to distinguish between a viral and bacterial infection by clinical manifestations. So, the first is more often accompanied by headache, muscle pain, weakness and fatigue, and the second is characterized by the appearance of blood in the stool. But most often it is almost impossible to clearly differentiate the two types of poisoning.


However, even when infected with bacteria, it is advisable to take antibacterial agents is doubtful: after all, as we have already said, a few days after the manifestation of the disease, self-recovery occurs.

The exception is severe infections, accompanied high temperature, the appearance of blood in the stool, dehydration, but in similar situations The doctor must make the decision. By the way, in such cases hospitalization may be necessary.

Thus, from the long list of drugs that we consider almost a panacea for poisoning, we can limit ourselves to only two or three, or even just one drug - rehydrant. In this case, the treatment effect will be the same as when taking handfuls of tablets, but side effects definitely much less. Which path to prefer is up to you, because in the end your health is in your hands.

Marina Pozdeeva

Photo istockphoto.com

What pills will help against intestinal infections? Unfortunately, intestinal infection is not as simple as it seems at first glance. And it requires complex, that is, combined, treatment.

Perhaps one day one tablet will be enough to treat an intestinal infection. But now - alas!

This time has not yet come, so you will have to treat an intestinal infection with the good old complex set of drugs.

So different, and all contagious

What is an “intestinal infection”? This phrase hides several dozen different diseases caused by various pathogens.

Well, since they are all “infections”, one thing is immediately clear - they are all contagious. There is one more factor that unites all intestinal infections into one bundle - similar symptoms.

The list of symptoms of acute intestinal infections is as follows:

  • nausea;
  • vomit;
  • pain in the stomach;
  • diarrhea;
  • high temperature.

In children, the incidence of intestinal infections is twice as high as in adults, and the disease is more severe in childhood.

What foods can you eat if you have an intestinal infection? In the first two days of illness, it is better not to eat anything at all. It is only recommended to drink as much as possible.

On the third day, you can eat rice porridge cooked in water without adding oil. Will have a positive effect on the intestines dried berries blueberries and bird cherry.

Dairy products, raw fruits and vegetables to full recovery You can’t eat for an intestinal infection!

Emergency medications

How to treat this infection?

There are several stages:

  1. restoration of the body’s water-salt balance;
  2. cleansing the intestines of toxins and poisons;
  3. restoration of the population of normal microflora.

To prevent fatal dehydration, you need to take medications to restore the body’s water-salt balance:

  • Regidron;
  • Citroglucosolan;
  • Hemodez;
  • Albumin and other solutions.

At the first signs of an intestinal infection, it is very important to start taking medications like Regidron or Citroglucosolan.

These drugs will not only help restore lost fluid, but will also replenish the body's reserves of potassium and sodium salts, which are washed out of it along with water.

The solutions should be taken in a few sips, every 10 to 15 minutes, alternating with water.

If this cannot be done, then infusion therapy in the infectious diseases department - colloidal preparations Hemodez or Albumin are administered intravenously using a dropper.

To cope with the poisons and toxins that “uninvited guests” produce in huge quantities, you need to drink sorbents. The list of these drugs is quite extensive.

When prescribing sorbents, the doctor is guided by individual characteristics body, symptoms, age of the patient:

  • activated carbon;
  • Smecta;
  • Enterosgel;
  • Polypephane;
  • Carbolong et al.

All these drugs are harmless, therefore they are prescribed to both adults and children.

Probiotics in combination with prebiotics will perfectly cope with the task of “restoring damaged intestinal microflora.”

You can also drink them to prevent intestinal infections:

  • Linux;
  • Bifidumbacterin;
  • Bificol;
  • Lactobacterin;
  • Polybacterin and others.

These preparations contain live bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, which normalize intestinal activity, help strengthen the immune system, and improve metabolism.

Available in different forms, some in tablet form. They cannot be used together with antibiotics!

These are mandatory stages in the treatment of all intestinal infections without exception, but there are also others, not for all infections.

For the treatment of different types of infections

Antibiotic therapy in adult patients is carried out only for severe bacterial infections, such as dysentery, typhoid fever, cholera.

List of the most popular antibiotics for the treatment of CI:

  • Cephabol;
  • Claforan;
  • Ceftriaxone;
  • Levomecithin;
  • Gentamicin;
  • Doxycycline and others.

Antibiotics in tablets are prescribed only to children over 8 years of age and adults, and only after vomiting has subsided. For children younger age drugs are administered intramuscularly.

Contraindications for use: presence serious illnesses kidneys, liver; pregnancy. A doctor must prescribe antibiotics!

Often prescribed:

  • Helminthox;
  • Pyrantel;
  • Vermox;
  • Nemozol;
  • Dekaris and others.

Antiviral drugs can be prescribed for those types of intestinal infections that are caused by viruses:

  • Arbidol;
  • Ingavirin;
  • Cycloferon and others.

But, as practice shows, in the midst of an illness they are of little use, so it is better to take these drugs for prevention during epidemics stomach flu– this is what people call intestinal infections caused by viruses.

Symptom relievers

In some cases, for any type of pathogen, the following may also be prescribed:

  • antipyretics;
  • antiemetics;
  • antidiarrheals.

The latter drugs are prescribed strictly symptom-based.

Antipyretics are taken at a temperature of 38 degrees and above, which lasts a long time and does not go away on its own.

It is recommended not to lower the temperature below 38 degrees Celsius in either adults or children, so as not to interfere with the body itself fighting infection. An exception to this rule is the development of convulsive syndrome.

The most popular antipyretics:

  • Paracetamol;
  • Ibuprofen;
  • combination drugs.

Antiemetic drugs are prescribed for persistent vomiting that poses a risk of dehydration.

Antiemetics are prescribed, as a rule, for adults; children are recommended to take antihistamines.

List of antiemetic drugs:

  • Metoclopramide;
  • Aminazine;
  • Diprazine and other drugs.

If the urge to vomit is not so frequent and allows a few sips of water to be absorbed, then you should not take antiemetics, since vomiting and diarrhea are natural ways for the body to eject foreign toxins.

Antidiarrheals are prescribed when a person is literally can’t get up from the toilet, which also threatens dehydration.

If the diarrhea is not so debilitating, then these drugs are not prescribed for the same reason as antiemetics.

Antidiarrheal drugs are prescribed if the patient has problems with the heart.

Typically this is:

  • Somatostatin;
  • Indomethacin;
  • Trimebutine;
  • Enterofuril;
  • Sulgin;
  • Imodium;
  • Rifaximin;
  • Loperamide and others.

These drugs inhibit intestinal motility, due to which its work is partially restored. The number of bowel movements decreases, the pain in the abdominal area subsides.

The drugs are available in different forms, including tablets and capsules. Somatostatin is a hormonal drug.

Take care of your health, treat yourself competently! Incorrect diagnosis and treatment can lead to problems much worse than the usual stomach flu.

Entrust your health to a professional infectious disease doctor or gastroenterologist. Be healthy!

Few people are unfamiliar with the situation when indigestion begins. Most often this happens in the summer: in the heat, many go to the sea, river, lakes. And if you don’t follow the rules of hygiene, you can get a rotavirus intestinal infection. Dirty water easily gets into the mouth and ears, especially for children. But you can become a victim of an intestinal infection at home, because the quality of the products does not always correspond to the beautiful packaging or expiration date. Dairy products are often stored in violation of sanitary standards. In hot weather, you should not buy fish or meat unless you are sure that they were processed and kept according to standards.

Definition of intestinal infection

Acute intestinal infection is infectious disease organs of the digestive tract. There are at least 30 types of its pathogens. This is the most common disease along with respiratory viruses, and children are most often affected (about 55% of all cases). For almost a million of them, the intestinal infection ends fatal, according to data World Organization Healthcare. Main symptomsevere diarrhea, which leads to disruption of the body’s vital functions.

Pathogens

Viruses and bacteria are the main cause of intestinal infections, including in children. Once in the human body, they begin to actively produce poison - enterotoxin, which, having penetrated into digestive tract, causes poisoning. E. coli can be acquired through water, food and household items.

Intestinal diseases are caused by the following viruses and bacteria:

  • enterovirus;
  • rotavirus;
  • Staphylococcus aureus;
  • dysentery bacillus;
  • salmonella;
  • Vibrio cholera.

These microbes multiply quickly and live for a long time in dirty water, on unwashed hands and food.

Symptoms of intestinal infections

When harmful microflora enters the mouth, it begins to spread rapidly throughout the organs gastric system. Incubation period pathogens of intestinal infection, as a rule, is short - from 5 hours to a day. When the toxins have spread, the clinical picture is initially very similar to diseases such as gastritis, enterocolitis, and appendicitis. The following signs appear:

  • loss of appetite;
  • weakness and lethargy;
  • pale skin;
  • body temperature rises;
  • nausea and vomiting;
  • cramping abdominal pain;
  • frequent diarrhea (in severe cases with blood and mucus);
  • chills;
  • constant desire to drink.

The most dangerous and serious consequences Intestinal infection for the body is dehydration. Due to vomiting and diarrhea, the patient's body eliminates nutrients and liquid, and are especially poorly tolerated by poisoning and other intestinal diseases small children and old people.

If the pathology occurs in a severe form, then the described symptoms become intensely colored and are added to:

  • frequent urge to urinate (sometimes false);
  • flatulence;
  • a yellow-gray coating appears on the tongue;
  • painful attacks in the intestines intensify.

How to help a patient?

An acute intestinal infection should never be treated independently, especially in children. If you have these symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor or call ambulance. But before that you should take the following measures:

  • we put the patient to bed, placing a container nearby for vomit;
  • if the sick person is chilling, then we cover him with a blanket and warm his feet with a heating pad;
  • select a separate set of dishes;
  • We protect from contact with family members and other people;
  • rinse the stomach with salted water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate (1.5–2 liters) to induce vomiting;
  • Give the patient only warm drink (boiled water, light tea without sugar, solution with Regidron or Atoxil).

How should you eat if you have intestinal diseases?

When the manifestations of the infection begin to subside, it is not recommended to eat food for the first two days; you can only drink liquids. In the future, the patient follows a strict diet until the body’s condition returns to normal.

What foods can be consumed during poisoning? Remember this list:

  • light chicken broths;
  • liquid porridge with water;
  • soups without frying;
  • pureed lean meat;
  • white bread crackers;
  • low-fat steamed fish;
  • omelettes;
  • baked apples without peel;
  • dry biscuits.

Spices and seasonings will have to be abandoned when treating an intestinal infection. IN prohibited list hit fermented milk products, canned food, radishes, green onions and peas, young corn on the cob, beans, garlic and alcoholic beverages.

What drugs can be treated?

All food poisoning is characterized by the appearance of a large amount of toxins in the gastrointestinal tract. They are spread by blood, and this can have a detrimental effect on others internal organs. Therefore, against unpleasant consequences, you should take sorbents. Pay attention to the following medications:

For effective treatment our readers advise hemorrhoids. This natural remedy, quickly eliminates pain and itching, promotes healing anal fissures and hemorrhoids. The drug contains only natural ingredients with maximum efficiency. The product has no contraindications, the effectiveness and safety of the drug has been proven clinical studies at the Research Institute of Proctology.

  • Activated carbon: it is taken at the rate of 1 tablet per 10 kilograms of the patient’s weight after the stomach has been washed. The next 6 days - 2 tablets every 6 hours. However, it should not be abused against disorders.
  • Smecta: an indispensable medicine against diarrhea, protects and coats the intestinal mucosa, relieves stomach pain.
  • Enterosgel: paste mixture, removes toxins and harmful bacteria, eliminates pain.
  • Polysorb: has a strong absorbent effect and is also prescribed against intoxication due to intestinal infections.

IN mandatory When treating an intestinal infection, probiotics are taken to fight pathogenic intestinal microflora. These medications include:

  • Lactobacterin;
  • Bifidumbacterin;
  • Linux;
  • Normoflorin-D;
  • Hilak-Forte;
  • Bificol.

Any of these medications normalizes the number of beneficial bacteria in the intestines and has antimicrobial effect in relation to salmonella, dysenteric Escherichia coli.

At severe pain You can take No-shpa or another analgesic, but this must be done after a visit to the doctor. Otherwise, taking pain medication will affect the correct diagnosis of a particular intestinal infection.

To stop diarrhea, antibiotics Loperamide or Levomycetin are prescribed three times a day. For pregnant women, the more gentle medicine Fthalazol is prescribed, and for children, the antibiotic Cefix helps suppress the proliferation of pathogenic microbes.

To prevent intestinal infections and maintain function digestive organs The doctor may prescribe the following medications:

  • Pancreatin;
  • Mezim;
  • Micrasim.

Cautions when treating intestinal infections:

  • Do not try to stop diarrhea and vomiting on your own with medications such as Motilium or Imodium. They cannot be used on initial stage against illness.
  • Do not get carried away with various sorbents. For example, activated carbon in excess causes constipation, which is harmful in case of poisoning - do not interfere with the body’s fight against toxic substances.
  • Medicines with an enzyme composition will lubricate clinical picture and make it difficult to make a correct diagnosis.
  • The use of drugs like Almagel will not bring any benefit, since they are not used against intestinal infections.
  • Uncontrolled intake of various solutions with baking soda and potassium permanganate can aggravate the situation.

Features of intestinal diseases in children

Children, especially under two years of age, are most often exposed to intestinal infections, and any product can cause poisoning. Since their immunity is not yet strong, they become infected very quickly. By the way, immunity to such diseases is not developed, so there is always a risk of re-poisoning.

Promotes stomach infections:

  • poor drinking water;
  • lack of sanitary conditions;
  • violation of hygiene rules;
  • improper storage of products.

Bacterial intestinal infections (salmonellosis, dysentery) are more common in the summer, and viral ones (rotavirus and enterovirus) – in the winter. General symptoms diseases are the same as in adults. But since the fragile children's body, then the disease can occur in a more severe form:

  • temperature is about 39°C, but can rise higher;
  • headache and weakness;
  • loss of consciousness;
  • the appearance of seizures;
  • the skin changes color: from unhealthy gray to blue;
  • The vomiting almost never stops.

Children lose a lot of fluid through vomiting and diarrhea. At the same time, sodium and potassium salts, which the heart needs, are removed from the body, nervous system, muscles. Especially quick loss useful substances Children under three years of age are susceptible. Therefore, if there are signs of dehydration, seek medical help immediately: only emergency measures are able to correct the situation.

Remember the symptoms of dehydration:

  • strong thirst;
  • drying skin, loss of elasticity;
  • half-asleep state;
  • loss of appetite;
  • infrequent urination, urine becomes dark in color.

The child should be given drinks in small sips at intervals of 10 minutes. For this they use saline solutions with Regidron or mineral water without gas. You can also drink tea with lemon, chamomile or linden infusion, cranberry or red currant juice.

How to avoid stomach infections?

The following can help reduce the risk of infection: simple rules prevention:

  • Wash your hands and follow general rules hygiene (teach children to this).
  • Do not eat dirty vegetables and fruits.
  • Carry out sufficient heat treatment eggs, meat, fish.
  • Enrich the intestinal microflora with beneficial bacteria, thereby strengthening the immune system.
  • Stick to a healthy diet.

Before a trip to the sea, and especially in tropical country, stock up on medications to boost immunity and prevent intestinal infections, for example, Vetom 1.1. Choose the best remedy only a doctor can help.

Intestinal infectious diseases reduce a person’s immunity for a long time, and it takes time to fully restore all body functions. To make the fight against the disease easier, it is important to promptly seek help from a specialist who will prescribe necessary medications, and do not forget about prevention.

In total, more than 30 infectious diseases are known, primarily affecting gastrointestinal tract(Gastrointestinal tract). There is a group of almost conquered infectious diseases: cholera, typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever. Remains on high level number of poisonings food products which contain bacterial toxins.

Common intestinal infections:

  • Viral: rotavirus, adenovirus and other viral enteritis.
  • Bacterial: salmonellosis, dysentery, escherichiosis, yersiniosis, campylobacteriosis.
  • Protozoans: amoebic dysentery and appendicitis, giardiasis.

Viruses and bacteria enter external environment from a patient with bowel movements and vomit. In addition, the source of infection is healthy carriers that secrete pathogenic microbes. Infectious agents are transmitted through dirty hands, food, water, and are carried by insects and rodents. Acute intestinal infections are more common in the warm season, when there are no more temptations to drink boiled water or unpasteurized milk, try unwashed berries and fruits.

Important! Staphylococci, E. coli, amoebas and other opportunistic intestinal inhabitants can become more aggressive, for example, when uncontrolled use antibiotics.

Microbes cause diseases that occur as acute gastritis - with stomach pain and vomiting. Symptoms of gastroenteritis (vomiting, diarrhea), enteritis (frequent bowel movements), colitis (stool disorders and blood in the feces), enterocolitis, which is characterized by damage to all parts of the intestine, appear.

Not all strains of E. coli are causative agents of the disease, only enteropathogenic ones that produce toxins. Infection occurs through food that has been exposed to bacteria released by sick people. As a result of toxin poisoning, the body loses large number liquids. Death can occur due to severe dehydration or as a result of complications. Treatment of complicated forms is carried out in a hospital, where the patient is prescribed injections and drips.

Bacterium Helicobacter pylori amazes different departments stomach. Eating contaminated food can make a person sick acute gastritis. Almost 2/3 of the population is carriers of H. pylori, but not everyone exhibits symptoms of the disease. necessary as soon as possible. According to one scientific theory, bacteria cause peptic ulcer stomach. If a person frequently takes antibiotics, this increases the risk of developing aggressive strains of H. pylori.

How to act at the first symptoms of an intestinal infection?

The incubation time of the pathogen is 6–12 hours, in some cases it takes up to 2 days. Toxins released by pathogens cause inflammation in the intestines with fever. Some infections are characterized by a predominance of nausea and repeated vomiting, while others are characterized by persistent diarrhea and abdominal cramps. The stool may contain mucus, greens, and streaks of blood.

Summoned bacterial infection or intestinal amoeba, the same as for other causes acute inflammation vermiform appendix of the rectum. Abdominal pain occurs above or below the navel, nausea, and vomiting. The disease is dangerous due to perforation of the walls, after which the intestinal contents enter the abdominal cavity. This can lead to peritonitis, bleeding, and sepsis.

You need to call a doctor at home. Before the specialist arrives, you need to do the following:

  1. Put a sick child to bed, preferably in a separate room.
  2. It is advisable for the patient to drink 1 liter of water and induce vomiting to wash the stomach.
  3. If the patient is shivering, cover him with a blanket or blanket.
  4. Offer warm tea and give Regidron solution to drink to restore fluid loss.

No-shpa tablets help with spasms and pain. Immediately before arrival, doctors do not give antispasmodic and painkillers. They influence the manifestations of the disease, which are very important for correct setting diagnosis and treatment prescription.

With vomiting and diarrhea, a lot of fluid is lost, which leads to dehydration. This condition is especially dangerous for children. If you do nothing and do not treat the patient, the functions of the intestines and the entire gastrointestinal tract are disrupted. Please note that in pregnant women, intestinal infections and dehydration have a negative impact on work cardiovascular system and kidneys.

It is relatively easy to cope with gastrointestinal diseases caused by staphylococcus, E. coli, and viruses. Vibrio cholera, typhoid bacilli, and salmonella pose a great danger. If the patient is not provided with timely medical care, then death is possible.

Drugs for the treatment of intestinal infections

Therapy should be comprehensive, including the fight against pathogens and released toxins, and replenishment of fluid losses. Specialists, when it comes to how long to treat an infectious disease, are guided by the nature of the pathogen and the properties of the medications used.

Antibacterial agents

Antibiotics are used to destroy harmful bacteria: penicillins, azalides, cephalosporins. If Azithromycin is prescribed, the course of therapy cannot be shorter than 3 days. Levomycetin should be taken for at least 8 days, Ampicillin - from 5 to 14 days. Take medications from this group only as prescribed by a doctor.

Antidiarrheal medications

Metabolic products, toxins of bacteria and viruses, along with vomit and stool, are eliminated from the body. Antidiarrheals such as Loperamide artificially suppress this process. Therefore, in some cases, fighting diarrhea is harmful. On the contrary, you should rinse the intestines and remove toxins with an enema. Only included complex treatment acute diarrhea of infectious origin are used chewable tablets Diara based on Loperamide.

Rehydrating salt solutions

Dehydration or dehydration is accompanied by inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. Oral rehydration products will help replenish lost water and electrolytes. Patients need to follow a diet, drink medications that restore normal microflora intestines.

How to take Regidron salt remedy for diarrhea:

  • Dissolve the contents of 1 sachet of powder in 1 liter of freshly boiled and cooled water.
  • Drink 50–100 ml of this liquid every 5 minutes.
  • Daily dose: for mild diarrhea - 50 ml, for moderate severity- up to 100 ml per 1 kg of patient body weight.

Analogues of Regidron in composition are rehydrating preparations for children and adults Hydrovit and Hydrovit forte (for oral administration). Such fluids quickly replace the water lost by the body and minerals, can be used at home on early stages diseases. Much more solutions are produced for infusions and intravenous injections containing electrolytes and dextrose.

Intestinal sorbents

Drugs of this group bind and are removed from the gastrointestinal tract pathogenic bacteria and various toxic substances. The products Enterosgel, Polysorb MP, Smecta, in addition to the sorption effect, create a film on the surface of the inner wall of the intestine that prevents the attachment of microbes. The release form, methods of administration and dosage of the drugs differ. The dose is usually calculated taking into account the body weight and age of the patient.

Intestinal antiseptics

The drug Sangviritrin is taken for salmonellosis, dysentery, foodborne diseases. This is the remedy plant origin has wide range antimicrobial activity. Available in the form of tablets that dissolve in the intestines. Treatment of bacterial diarrhea with Enterofuril lasts no more than 7 days. There are two forms of release: capsules and oral suspension.

Probiotics

Drugs in this group restore normal microflora disturbed as a result of the inflammatory process in the gastrointestinal tract. Almost all intestinal infections cause it. They take dietary supplements that contain cultures of beneficial bacteria: Narine, Vitabs Bio, Normoflorin. The drugs Sporobacterin and Probifor have an antidiarrheal effect, normalize intestinal microflora, and are immunomodulators.

Salmonella

Salmonella produces endotoxin, which causes a condition called " food poisoning. Clinical manifestations very varied, as are the complications of the disease. may differ between children and adults. Usually hospitalized with salmonellosis infants and older people.

The target of bacteria is mucous membrane small intestine. The disease is accompanied by fever, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, loose stools. If treatment is started on time, salmonellosis goes away within 10 days.

  • antibiotics;
  • rehydration solutions;
  • intestinal sorbents for removing toxins;
  • probiotics to restore the balance of intestinal microflora;
  • diet and vitamin therapy.

Possible complications of salmonellosis: infectious shock, acute renal failure. Most often, dysbacteriosis occurs against the background of inadequate therapy.

Viral enteritis

Viruses are no less likely than bacteria to cause intestinal inflammation. Enteritis of viral origin is more familiar to many under the name “ stomach flu" The mode of transmission of the pathogen is fecal-oral. One of the main features viral infection is highly contagious (infectious). Therefore, epidemic outbreaks of infectious enteritis often occur.

The most common pathogens of the disease:

  • rotavirus (almost half of all cases of viral enteritis);
  • intestinal adenovirus;
  • coronavirus;
  • enterovirus;
  • astrovirus;
  • norovirus.

Rotavirus infection in adults may be asymptomatic or accompanied by vomiting, flatulence and watery diarrhea. The incubation period of the pathogen is short - from 1 to 3 days. Uncomplicated rotavirus intestinal infection resolves within 5–8 days.

The disease in children can be recognized by the classic triad of symptoms: fever, vomiting and watery diarrhea. Cough occurs more often in infants. Symptoms intensify over the course of a week, then gradually disappear. The danger for babies is prolonged diarrhea, the development of dehydration and malabsorption syndrome.

Note:

  • To prevent the disease, infants are given the Rototec vaccine orally.
  • In case of complications, children are treated in hospital for intoxication and dehydration.
  • There is no specific treatment for viral enteritis.
  • The risk of transmission of infection persists from 8 to 10 days.

It is necessary from the very beginning to give the patient a sufficient amount of liquid in small portions, saline solutions Hydrovit or Regidron. For babies, rehydrating agents are added to the expressed milk. breast milk or mixture for artificial feeding. A solution of ½ tsp can serve as a replacement for Regidron and Hydrovit. table salt, ½ tsp. baking soda, 4 tbsp. l. sugar in 1 liter of boiled water (chilled).

Symptomatic treatment of rotavirus infection:

  • drugs Smecta, Polysorb MP, Activated Carbon to reduce intoxication;
  • antipyretic syrups/tablets Ibuprofen or Paracetamol;
  • No-shpa tablets for abdominal cramps;
  • antiemetic drugs.

Important! Viral diseases not treated with antibiotics. Antimicrobial drug Enterofuril is prescribed to prevent bacterial superinfection.

Intestinal sorbents are taken to speed up excretion from the body toxic substances. Polysorb MP powder must be mixed with water and only taken orally in this form. This intestinal sorbent can be taken by pregnant women and young children. The dosage is determined depending on the patient’s body weight. Accurate adherence to recommendations helps to cope faster inflammatory process in the intestines and speed up recovery.

In addition to taking medications, it is imperative to replenish fluid losses due to dehydration and restore the gastrointestinal microflora.

Anton palaznikov

Gastroenterologist, therapist

Work experience more than 7 years.

Professional skills: diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and biliary system.