Inflammation of thesmall intestineis calledenteritis.
Symptoms can include pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and blood in the stool.
In some cases, enteritis might be triggered by eating or drinking something contaminated by bacteria or viruses.
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Radiation treatment for cancer can also lead to inflammation in the digestive system.
The more common reasons include food poisoning and radiation enteritis.
Prevalence
There are an estimated 48 million cases of food poisoning in the United States every year.
Food could be contaminated if it isnt cooked or stored properly.
Radiation Enteritis
Radiation therapy treats various forms of cancer.
Having radiation on a large portion of the intestines is also thought to increase the risk.
Radiation therapy for cancers that occur in the pelvis, abdomen, or colon may cause radiation enteritis.
In some cases of enteritis, bleeding in the intestines can be a problem.
The bleeding may be enough to cause anemia.
An obstruction is when the intestine starts to close on itself, which is called a stricture.
As the intestine narrows, food and stool can’t move through it freely and it may become blocked.
Bowel obstructions might be partial or total.
In some cases, enteritis is discovered because an obstruction is occurring.
Prevention
For radiation enteritis, the team that provides the treatment will take steps to prevent it.
Using the lowest dose possible on the smallest amount of abdomen is important in prevention.
Diarrhea might be treated with antidiarrheal medications.
Fluids and nutrition may be given through intravenous (IV) lines in the case of dehydration or malnutrition.
Other types of medications such as anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, or steroids might also be used.
In the case of infection, most of the time people will improve on their own without any treatment.
Medications that slow down diarrhea may also be recommended.
Its important to talk to a healthcare provider before using them.
This can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and blood in the stool, among other symptoms.
Treatment may include dietary changes, medications, and taking in more fluids.
A Word From Verywell
Enteritis causes a lot of uncomfortable symptoms.
In the case of chronic enteritis, it may last for much longer.
Enteritis from an infection may go away on its own with only home treatments.
In the case of radiation enteritis, most cases are treatable.
Some people may develop chronic enteritis, which may persist and need more intensive treatment.
Blood and stool tests may be used to confirm or rule out enteritis from an infection.
However, food poisoning is often diagnosed based on the symptoms.
When symptoms become concerning, it might be necessary to do testing to see what is causing them.
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