Gastrointestinal infections affect the stomach or intestines and can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. They are highly contagious and can spread through contaminated food or water. Symptoms include diarrhea, cramps, and bleeding ulcers. Salmonella, E. coli, shingella, and Norwalk virus are common types. Giardia is a parasite that can be transmitted through contaminated water or animal waste.
In medical terminology “gastro” refers to the stomach. A gastrointestinal infection is one that affects the stomach or intestines and usually causes diarrhea. Some infections, such as E. coli and shingella, are caused by bacteria. Others, like Norwalk and Sapporo, are caused by viruses. Giardia is a gastrointestinal infection caused by parasites.
Many of these infections are highly contagious. A gastrointestinal infection can spread if a person with traces of germs on their hands touches another person or another person’s food. Salmonella is a bacterial infection that is spread this way. It is often found in eggs and chicken. If these products are not handled properly or not cooked well, people can get sick.
Shingella is also a gastrointestinal infection caused by bacteria. Shinella is usually transmitted by ingesting a contaminated substance such as water. The bacteria can cause dysentery, which is a medical condition in which the intestines swell. The mucus lining the intestinal wall usually begins to break down and may become evident in bowel movements. A person may also develop bleeding ulcers due to this infection.
THE. coli is a gastrointestinal infection that can cause bloody diarrhea. This infection is caused by bacteria that are often found in foods, such as partially raw beef. Once a person becomes infected with E. coli, they are likely to experience severe cramps. If you’re not careful to wash your hands thoroughly after a trip to the bathroom, the infection can easily spread throughout your home or workplace.
Giardia is a parasite with a hard shell that can live in a person’s intestines and make them sick. When an infected person has a bowel movement, the parasite and a large amount of germs are released. Giardia is mainly transmitted by ingestion. Since the parasite tends to be resistant to chlorine, a small amount of contaminated water that is ingested while swimming is enough to cause infection. Animals also carry the bacteria and their wastes often contaminate natural water sources such as lakes and ponds where people can also become infected.
Norwalk virus, named after the place in Ohio where it was discovered, has many of the same characteristics as gastrointestinal infections caused by bacteria or parasites. The infection often spreads when people with contaminated hands come into contact with a food source. Seafood eaten raw or partially cooked can also transmit the virus, as many water sources are contaminated with animal and human waste. One positive difference with Norwalk virus, however, is that it generally causes shorter and milder infections than many bacteria and parasites.
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