Gastrointestinal infections

Clinical information

Gastrointestinal infections can be caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites and are among the most frequent infectious diseases. They manifest as gastritis, diarrhoea, vomiting or unspecific symptoms which occur within just a few hours after uptake of the pathogen in the case of some bacterial or viral infections and may, in rare cases, lead to chronic sequelae. Infections with parasitic pathogens, however, usually take a chronic course.

Diagnostics

Gastrointestinal infections are usually self-limiting, especially those caused by viruses. In most cases it is therefore sufficient to treat the symptoms. Direct pathogen detection may be useful in outbreaks and in risk patients. Bacteria such as Yersinia and Campylobacter may cause immunologically mediated secondary diseases, e. g. reactive arthritis. Here, serological tests may support the diagnosis. Infections with Helicobacter pylori may cause chronic active gastritis and complications such as gastroduodenal ulcer disease, stomach carcinoma or lymphoma. Antibody detection is recommended in suspected cases of non-acute or chronic infection. Parasitic pathogens such as Schistosoma and Strongyloides stercoralis can also cause gastrointestinal symptoms with chronic courses. Direct and indirect methods are applied for diagnostics. In general, specific antibody detection is suitable to support the diagnosis in suspected cases of chronic courses or secondary diseases, but not for diagnostics in acute cases.