What are the symptoms of enteritis?

Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
Updated on January 20, 2025
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Enteritis is divided into acute enteritis and chronic enteritis. Acute enteritis is mainly caused by bacterial invasion of the gastrointestinal tract due to unhygienic food, leading to acute inflammation. The main symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, etc. If it is chronic enteritis, the main symptoms are only abdominal pain and diarrhea, with white mucus visible in the stool. Acute enteritis has a short course and a sudden onset. Chronic enteritis has a long history, a gradual onset, and recurrent attacks. The treatment of acute enteritis mainly involves anti-inflammatory measures, rehydration, and symptomatic treatment. Generally, the disease can be cured after two to three days of treatment. Treatment for chronic colitis primarily involves oral probiotics to regulate the intestinal flora. The treatment period is relatively long and the condition is prone to recurrence.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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What are the symptoms of enteritis?

Enteritis is mostly caused by bacterial or viral infections, with typical symptoms being abdominal pain and diarrhea. The bacterial or viral infection causes congestion and edema of the mucous membrane in the intestines, leading to a reduced function in digesting and absorbing food. If the bacteria or virus is particularly virulent, it can damage the intestinal mucosa and cause bloody stools. Enteritis is a common characteristic of many diseases, such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and infectious diarrhea. Clinically, the treatment mainly involves the use of antibiotics and medications to stabilize the intestines and stop diarrhea. Prolonged diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which requires timely rehydration. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Wang Zhen Quan
Colorectal Surgery Department
1min 12sec home-news-image

What to eat for enteritis?

For patients with enteritis, it is good to eat foods that help improve nutritional status and the intestinal environment. Generally, a high-protein, high-calorie diet is recommended. Additionally, foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and trace elements should be provided, especially those containing vitamin C, vitamin B, and rich in iron, to replenish energy. The food should be easy to digest, soft in texture, low in residue, and non-irritating. Low-residue foods can reduce intestinal motility, alleviating diarrhea, and include foods like eggs, fine noodles, and soft rice porridge. For staple foods and legumes: our main foods generally consist of refined grains such as rice porridge and noodles, avoiding coarse grains and appropriately including soy products like soy milk and tofu. For choices of meat, eggs, and dairy: lean meats, chicken, fish, etc., are generally recommended. For vegetables and fruits: vegetables, fruit juices should be chosen, and it is advisable to avoid foods high in fiber.

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Written by Wang Zhen Quan
Colorectal Surgery Department
1min 53sec home-news-image

What should I do about acute enteritis?

What should be done if one suffers from acute gastroenteritis? In general treatment, the first step is to eliminate the cause, discarding some unclean food that led to the illness; Secondly, rest appropriately according to the condition, with bed rest for severe cases; Thirdly, patients with severe vomiting and diarrhea should temporarily fast, and gradually introduce some light, easy-to-digest foods as the condition improves; Fourthly, it is advocated to use oral rehydration and salt supplementation to replenish the body fluids lost due to vomiting and diarrhea. Fifthly, keep the abdomen moderately warm; record the frequency and characteristics of the stool; accurately record the amount of urine, paying attention to these aspects. In terms of medication treatment: This includes controlling intra- and extra-intestinal infections and medications that protect the gastric mucosa, as well as treatments involving microecological preparations. The third aspect is to correct dehydration and electrolyte imbalance: during the initial stages of diarrhea, at home, one can use some rice soup, or add a bit of sugar and salt, alternating with plain water and sugar to prevent dehydration. For mild or moderate dehydration, if the patient does not have vomiting or abdominal distension, oral rehydration solutions may be sufficient. In cases of severe dehydration or when the overall condition is poor, indicating potassium, sodium, chloride electrolyte imbalances, and acidosis, intravenous fluid therapy in a hospital is necessary. It is also important to note that both oral rehydration solutions and oral medications should be used correctly under the guidance of a doctor, and should not be taken without professional advice.

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Written by Wang Zhen Quan
Colorectal Surgery Department
1min 15sec home-news-image

What department should I go to for enteritis?

Many friends with poor gastrointestinal health feel confused when seeking medical treatment. When registering, we are not sure which department to visit. We describe enteritis as an inflammatory disease, primarily including specific inflammations or non-specific ones caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, etc., such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and others. There are also localized types of enteritis, which can be divided into acute and chronic based on the duration of the illness. For example, acute enteritis can cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, while chronic can mainly manifest as constipation and other symptoms, with some patients also experiencing fever and a sense of urgency followed by straining. Therefore, the treatment methods for enteritis vary. During medical consultations, it is generally recommended for patients to visit the department of gastroenterology as it falls under the category of gastrointestinal diseases. Of course, the proctology department is also an option, and a portion of the cases can be correctly diagnosed and treated in proctology.

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Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
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What are the symptoms of enteritis?

Enteritis is generally divided into chronic enteritis and acute enteritis. Acute enteritis usually has severe symptoms and develops rapidly. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and fever. In the case of chronic enteritis, symptoms can include mucous stools, bloody pus stools, and abdominal pain, as well as nausea and vomiting. Therefore, during acute enteritis, symptomatic treatment using anti-inflammatory drugs generally cures it within about three days. However, the treatment for chronic enteritis differs from that of acute enteritis since it involves a sterile inflammation, and anti-inflammatory drugs are generally not required outside the acute phase. So, when you are diagnosed with acute enteritis, do not worry; it can usually be quickly cured with some anti-inflammatory medication.