Enterocolitis

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

[1], [2], [3], [4]

What causes enterocolitis?

• various intestinal infections;
• unbalanced and malnutrition (consumption of fatty and spicy foods, as well as alcohol);
• long-term use of antibacterial drugs;
• food allergy;
• various pathologies of the digestive tract;
• disorders in the immune system;
• a metabolic disorder;
• intestinal dysbiosis;
• an acute shortage of vitamins.

Pathogenesis of the disease

Enterocolitis makes itself felt when the infection enters the digestive tract, draining and damaging them. If the normal functioning of the intestine is disrupted, a chronic form of the disease may develop, as a result of which the intestinal mucosa becomes even more vulnerable to various microorganisms. The disease is classified according to the following characteristics:

• Influence of bacterial infections (bacterial enterocolitis).
• Defeat by helminths (parasitic enterocolitis).
• Intoxication with chemicals or drugs (toxic enterocolitis).
• Malnutrition (alimentary enterocolitis).
• Frequent and prolonged constipation (mechanical enterocolitis).
• Complication of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (secondary enterocolitis).

How does enterocolitis manifest?

Symptomatology of the disease manifests itself in the form of pain, bloating and rumbling in the abdomen, constipation or diarrhea, flatulence, nausea. The tongue appears plaque, the pain can range from pronounced to moderate. Painful sensations can be concentrated in the navel or have a diffuse character. Often the pain occurs after eating (after one and a half to two hours), with any physical activity and physical exertion, before emptying the intestines. With enterocolitis in the stool may be present mucus, a mixture of food, bloody masses.

Diagnostics

Acute enterocolitis is diagnosed on the basis of general symptoms of the disease, a blood test, bacteriological analysis of feces, a method of rectoscopy. Chronic enterocolitis is diagnosed on the basis of common signs of the disease, as well as by the method of colonoscopy, which is one of the most accurate when examining the condition of the large intestine. This procedure allows not only to examine the mucous membrane of the intestine, but also to analyze its contractility, tone, etc. Also, the diagnosis of enterocolitis is carried out using an X-ray study.

[5], [6]

Treatment of enterocolitis

For the treatment of enterocolitis in the severe course of the disease, antibacterial and sulfanilamide preparations are prescribed. It should be borne in mind that antibiotics can have a negative effect on the intestinal mucosa. When exacerbation of chronic enterocolitis, provoked by infection, prescribe drugs such as phthalazole, phtazine, etazol. Ftalazol taken in the first two to three days for 1-2 g every four to six hours, in the following days, the dose is reduced by half. Etazol - 1 g four to six times a day. Phtazine - the first day the drug is taken twice for 1 g, in the following days - 0.5 g twice daily. In the treatment of enterocolitis of infectious origin, furazolidone is commonly used - the drug is usually prescribed 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 cyclical application of the drug - 0.1-0.15 g four times a day (from three to six days), then - break three to four days, after which the drug is taken under the previous scheme. An important place in the treatment of chronic enterocolitis is taken by drugs to normalize the intestinal microflora. After antibacterial therapy, it is advisable to use preparations containing lactobacilli and to promote the normalization of the intestinal microflora-linex (two capsules three times a day), lactovit (two to four capsules twice a day forty minutes before meals), bifikol. Bifikol is taken half an hour before meals. The minimum duration of treatment is two weeks. The drug should be diluted before boiling in boiled water, given the dosage. Anti-cholinergic agents (atropine sulfate, metacin) and antispasmodics (papaverine, noospa) are indicated for normalization of intestinal motility with strong pain sensations. As part of complex treatment, calcium preparations, vitamin-mineral complexes, reflexotherapy course are also prescribed. When violations of the water-electrolyte balance, intravenous injections of saline solution of sodium chloride, panangine (20 ml three times a day) and calcium gluconate are administered. In severe forms of enterocolitis with a predominant lesion of the small intestine, which do not respond to the above treatment, steroid therapy is prescribed, for example, prednisolone (15-30 mg per day).

Physiotherapeutic treatment

The goal of physiotherapeutic treatment is the normalization of compensatory and regulatory mechanisms. It is advisable to carry out UV irradiation, diathermy using high-frequency alternating current, and also thermal procedures. When chronic enterocolitis, accompanied by constipation, is prescribed electrophoresis of antispasmodics - magnesia, papaverine, platyphylline.

Alternative treatment of enterocolitis

In alternative medicine for the treatment of enterocolitis, accompanied by constipation, use the following tools: on one part of the oak bark add the fruits of cherry and blueberries, boil with boiling water and consume half the glass three times a day for thirty minutes before eating. You can prepare a decoction from the root of the althaea, adding the fruits of fennel, the bark of the buckthorn and the root of the licorice. Drink half the glass at night one hour after eating. When colic, diarrhea and acute inflammation is recommended to take the next broth: the flowers of chamomile drug are mixed with the rhizome of aura, add one part of valerian and fruits of fennel. The resulting collection is poured into a glass of hot boiled water and taken in a warm form three times a day after eating half a cup. When vomiting, nausea and pain in the abdomen helps peppermint. Spoon the mint diluted in a glass of hot boiled water, insist for an hour and drink the ready infusion of one tablespoon at intervals of three hours. With a gag reflex you can drink a third of the glass once. A good effect is also the infusion of thyme: a spoonful of thyme is diluted in a glass of hot boiled water and insisted 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 are able to normalize the motility of the intestinal tract, reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

[7], [8], [9]

Diet with enterocolitis

Therapeutic diet with enterocolitis must necessarily be balanced and high in calories, high in protein. Its main role is to normalize bowel functions and prevent the development of complications. To restore the normal emptying of the intestine, use mineral water, black bread, sour milk, foods containing vegetable fiber. With frequent emptying it is recommended to use mashed foods, strong black tea, oatmeal, jelly, unsweetened warm broth of dogrose.

[10], [11], [12], [13],

How to prevent enterocolitis?

For the prevention of enterocolitis it is necessary to eat correctly and in a balanced manner, when an infectious pathology occurs, immediate treatment should be carried out, drug preparations, especially antibacterial agents, should not be abused.

Prognosis of the outcome of the disease

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