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Bacterial gastroenteritis    See images

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Infectious diarrhea - bacterial gastroenteritis; Acute gastroenteritis; Gastroenteritis - bacterial

Definition:

An inflammation of the stomach and intestines caused by bacteria or bacterial toxins. Also see food poisoning.

Causes and Risks

Many different types of bacteria can produce the symptoms associated with bacterial gastroenteritis including Salmonella, Shigella, Staphylococcus, Campylobacter jejuni, Clostridium, E. coli, Yersinia and others. Some sources of the infection are improperly prepared food, reheated meat dishes, seafood, dairy, and bakery products. Each organism causes slightly different symptoms but all result in diarrhea. Colitis, inflammation of the large intestine, may also be present.

Risk factors are consumption of improperly prepared foods, contaminated water and travel or residence in areas of poor sanitation. The incidence is 1 out of 1,000 people.

Related topics:

• Salmonella enteritis
• Shigella enteritis
• Staph aureus food poisoning
• Campylobacter enteritis
• E. coli enteritis
• Food poisoning

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