Enterocolitis

Among the diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, enterocolitis is the most common. In this disorder, an inflammatory process develops simultaneously in the small and large intestines.

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What causes enterocolitis?

• various intestinal infections;
• unbalanced and improper nutrition (consumption of fatty and spicy foods, as well as alcohol);
• long-term use of antibacterial drugs;
• food allergy;
• various pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract;
• disorders of the immune system;
• metabolic disorder;
• intestinal dysbacteriosis;
• acute vitamin deficiency.

Pathogenesis of the disease

Enterocolitis makes itself known when an infection penetrates the digestive tract, depleting and damaging them. If the normal functioning of the intestines is disrupted, a chronic form of the disease can develop, as a result of which the intestinal mucosa becomes even more vulnerable to various microorganisms. The disease is classified according to the following signs:

• Exposure to bacterial infections (bacterial enterocolitis).
• Helminth infestation (parasitic enterocolitis).
• Intoxication with chemicals or drugs (toxic enterocolitis).
• Improper nutrition (alimentary enterocolitis).
• Frequent and prolonged constipation (mechanical enterocolitis).
• Complication of gastrointestinal diseases (secondary enterocolitis).

How does enterocolitis manifest itself?

The symptoms of the disease are pain, bloating and rumbling in the abdomen, constipation or diarrhea, flatulence, nausea. A coating appears on the tongue, the pain can vary from severe to moderate. Pain can be concentrated in the navel area or diffuse. Often, pain occurs after eating (after one and a half to two hours), with any motor activity and physical exertion, before bowel movement. With enterocolitis, mucus, food impurities, and bloody masses may be present in the feces.

Diagnostics

Acute enterocolitis is diagnosed based on general symptoms of the disease, blood tests, bacteriological analysis of feces, and the rectoscopy method. Chronic enterocolitis is diagnosed based on general symptoms of the disease, as well as the colonoscopy method, which is one of the most accurate methods for examining the condition of the colon. This procedure allows not only to examine the intestinal mucosa, but also to analyze its contractility, tone, etc. Enterocolitis is also diagnosed using X-ray examination.

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Treatment of enterocolitis

To treat enterocolitis in severe cases, antibacterial and sulfonamide drugs are prescribed. It should be taken into account that antibiotics can have a negative effect on the intestinal mucosa. In case of exacerbation of chronic enterocolitis caused by infection, drugs such as phthalazole, phthazine, and etazole are prescribed. Phthalazole is taken in the first two to three days at 1-2 g every four to six hours, in the following days the dose is reduced by half. Ethazole - 1 g four to six times a day. Phthazine - on the first day, the drug is taken twice a day at 1 g, in the following days - 0.5 g twice a day. Furazolidone is widely used in the treatment of enterocolitis of infectious origin - the drug is usually prescribed at 0.1-0.15 g (two to three tablets) four times a day. The duration of taking the drug, depending on the severity of the disease, can be from five to ten days. It is also possible to use the drug cyclically - 0.1-0.15 g four times a day (from three to six days), then a break of three to four days, after which the drug is taken according to the previous scheme. An important place in the treatment of chronic enterocolitis is occupied by drugs for the normalization of intestinal microflora. After antibacterial therapy, it is advisable to use drugs containing lactobacilli and promoting the normalization of intestinal microflora - Linex (two capsules three times a day), Lactovit (two to four capsules twice a day forty minutes before meals), Bificol. Bificol is taken half an hour before meals. The minimum duration of treatment is two weeks. Before taking the drug, it should be diluted in boiled water, taking into account the dosage. To normalize intestinal motility in case of severe pain, anticholinergic drugs (atropine sulfate, metacin) and antispasmodics (papaverine, noshpa) are indicated. As part of the complex treatment, calcium preparations, vitamin and mineral complexes, and a course of reflexotherapy are also prescribed. In case of water-electrolyte imbalance, intravenous injections of sodium chloride saline, panangin (20 ml three times a day) and calcium gluconate are administered. In severe forms of enterocolitis with predominant damage to the small intestine, which do not respond to the above treatments, steroid therapy is prescribed, for example, prednisolone (15-30 mg per day).

Physiotherapy treatment

The aim of physiotherapeutic treatment is to normalize compensatory and regulatory mechanisms. It is advisable to carry out UV irradiation, diathermy using high-frequency alternating electric current, and thermal procedures. In chronic enterocolitis accompanied by constipation, electrophoresis of antispasmodics is prescribed - magnesium, papaverine, platifillin.

Traditional treatment of enterocolitis

In folk medicine, the following remedies are used to treat enterocolitis accompanied by constipation: add bird cherry and blueberry fruits to one part of oak bark, brew with boiling water and drink half a glass three times a day thirty minutes before meals. You can also prepare a decoction from the marshmallow root, adding fennel fruits, buckthorn bark and licorice root. Drink half a glass at night an hour after eating. For colic, diarrhea and acute inflammation, it is recommended to take the following decoction: mix chamomile flowers with calamus rhizome, add one part valerian and fennel fruits. Pour the resulting mixture into a glass of hot boiled water and take half a glass warm three times a day after meals. Peppermint helps with vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain. A spoon of mint is diluted in a glass of hot boiled water, infused for an hour and the finished infusion is drunk one tablespoon at a time at intervals of three hours. In case of a gag reflex, you can drink a third of the glass at once. Thyme infusion also has a good effect: a spoon of thyme is diluted in a glass of hot boiled water and infused for one hour. Then the infusion is filtered and taken fifty grams three times a day. Medicinal herbs are very important in the treatment of enterocolitis. They can normalize intestinal motility, reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

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Diet for enterocolitis

The therapeutic diet for enterocolitis must be balanced and high in calories, with a high protein content. Its main purpose is to normalize bowel function and prevent complications. To restore normal bowel movements, consume mineral water, black bread, sour milk, and foods containing plant fiber. With frequent bowel movements, it is recommended to consume mashed food, strong black tea, oatmeal, jelly, and unsweetened warm rosehip infusion.

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How to prevent enterocolitis?

To prevent enterocolitis, it is necessary to eat properly and in a balanced manner; if infectious pathologies occur, immediate treatment should be carried out; medications, especially antibacterial agents, should not be abused.

Prognosis of the disease outcome

With timely and qualified treatment, enterocolitis does not cause negative consequences and complications. If the disease is neglected, enterocolitis can become chronic and cause metabolic disorders, digestive disorders and gastrointestinal motility. If symptoms of the disease appear, you should consult a gastroenterologist.