Enteritis

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Campylobacter jejuni organism	Clostridium difficile organism	Digestive system	Esophagus and stomach anatomy
Salmonella typhi organism	Yersinia enterocolitica organism

Enteritis is an inflammation of the small intestine caused by a bacterial or viral infection. The inflammation frequently also involves the stomach (gastritis) and large intestine (colitis).

Enteritis is usually caused by eating or drinking substances contaminated with bacteria or viruses. The organism settles in the small intestine and causes inflammation and swelling that can cause abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea, fever, and dehydration.

The symptoms may begin soon after exposure, or there can be a delay of several days. Mild cases usually need no treatment. The diarrhea can cause rapid and extreme dehydration in babies.

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Risk factors include recent family illness with intestinal symptoms, recent travel, or exposure to untreated or contaminated water. The incidence is 3 out of 10,000 people.

Types of enteritis include:

• Food poisoning
• Salmonella enteritis
• Shigella enteritis
• Staph aureus food poisoning
• Campylobacter enteritis
• E. coli enteritis
• Bacterial gastroenteritis
• Radiation enteritis
• Crohn's disease and regional enteritis

Review Date: 08/02/2005
Reviewed By: Courtney W. Houchen, M.D., Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.