How can gastrointestinal infections be avoided

Bacteria that cause gastroenteritis can be easily transmitted from person to person if someone carries the bacteria on their hands. Every time a person with a bacterial infection touches food, objects, or other people, the bacteria have a chance to be passed on to others.

The bacteria can even be spread through your own body if you touch your eyes, mouth, or other open parts of your body with hands that already have an infection. Washing your hands often and using hand sanitizer with more than 60 percent alcohol can help you avoid contracting infections from other people and your surroundings.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC says that this infection occurs when you eat raw or undercooked pork contaminated with Yersinia enterocolitica. Foods that are contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria can cause staph food poisoning.

These include:. Staph poisoning causes symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps, according to the CDC. They can occur within hours of consuming food or drinks contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus. The CDC says that drinking water containing Shigella bacteria can cause a type of infection called shigellosis.

Typically, shigellosis symptoms begin 1 day after infection and can last up to 7 days. They include:. Your doctor may recommend them if you have a weakened immune system. Salmonellosis is a common infection that occurs when you eat foods contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. These may include:. The CDC estimates that Salmonella bacteria cause about 1. This makes Salmonella one of the most common causes of foodborne illness.

Salmonellosis usually causes symptoms like cramps, fever, and diarrhea. They can occur between 6 hours and 6 days after infection and may last up to 1 week. This type of intestinal infection is caused by the Campylobacter bacteria, the CDC says, which is most often found in undercooked meat and poultry. While most people recover from campylobacteriosis without treatment, others can have serious complications and may require antibiotics to get better.

According to the CDC , E. These bacteria are often found in beef, salads, and certain vegetables, such as sprouts.

If you have an E. Although most E. If you already have gastroenteritis, take safety precautions to avoid transmitting the bacteria to others:. You can also help prevent infections by avoiding unpasteurized milk and raw meat or shellfish.

Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw and cooked meats, and wash salads and vegetables thoroughly. If you have a weakened immune system because of an existing condition or treatment, you may have a higher risk of bacterial gastroenteritis. Handling food incorrectly can also raise your risk of bacterial gastroenteritis. Bacteria can produce harmful substances known as toxins.

These toxins can remain even after reheating food. Your doctor will ask questions about your illness and check for signs of dehydration and abdominal pain, as recommended in a study. To find out which type of bacteria is causing your infection, you may be asked to provide a stool sample for analysis.

Bacterial gastroenteritis rarely causes complications in healthy adults and usually lasts less than a week. Older adults or very young children are more vulnerable to the symptoms of gastroenteritis.

If you have a loved one at a higher risk, keep a close eye on them so they can get medical care if they need it. Complications of these infections include high fevers, muscle pain , and inability to control your bowel movements. Some bacterial infections can cause:. For example, a report by the CBD states that children in the United States under 5 years are more likely to get most bacterial infections, including Salmonella. Most Salmonella infections happen when children consume contaminated food or water or come into contact with animals that carry the bacteria.

Young children are also more likely to get infections from Clostridium difficile. These bacteria are mostly found in dirt and animal feces. Children are more likely to develop infections from these types of bacteria.

However, like adults, children are susceptible to any bacterial infections. Make sure that children practice good hygiene, wash their hands regularly, and avoid putting their hands in their mouths or near their eyes. Many symptoms of bacterial infection in children are the same as symptoms in adults. Young children are especially prone to diarrhea, vomiting, and fevers. One unique symptom of these infections in children is a dry diaper.

Talk with your doctor right away if your child or a child in your care has any of these symptoms. If they have diarrhea or other related symptoms, make sure they drink plenty of fluids.

After seeking treatment or medical care, get plenty of rest to help your body recover from the infection. If you have diarrhea or vomiting, drink plenty of liquids to keep yourself hydrated. Avoid dairy or fruit, which can make diarrhea worse. Many bacterial infection outbreaks result from contaminated food making its way to grocery stores and then being sold to consumers. Keep up on news stories about public outbreaks and check certain foods for contamination.

Bacterial gastroenteritis usually lasts for 1 to 3 days. In some cases, infections can last for weeks and be harmful if left untreated. Seek treatment as soon as you show symptoms of an infection to stop the infection from spreading. With good medical care and proper treatment, your infection will likely go away in a few days. Do you have a stomach bug or food poisoning? Discriminating between the two can be difficult.

Here's what you should know before making an appointment. Intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in children. It can also affect adults. Learn about this condition, symptoms, and….

Polyps are usually abnormal, benign growths of tissue in any organ with blood vessels. But they can become cancerous. Learn what to do if you have…. Weakness in your stomach lining allows digestive juices to damage and inflame it, causing gastritis. Learn more about causes, diagnosis, and treatment. The details of your poop can provide clues to your state of health. Learn what the sight, smell, size, color, and shape of your poop can tell you.

Black stools can occur for a variety of reasons. Here are the common causes and treatments. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Gastrointestinal Infection: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment. Written by Scott Frothingham on December 12, Symptoms of gastrointestinal infection. Common causes of gastrointestinal infections. When to see your doctor. Treatment for gastrointestinal infections. Read this next. Bacterial Gastroenteritis. Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M.

Intussusception in Adults and Children Intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in children. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph.