Gastroenteritis (위장염)

A raw oyster. A dirty fork. A sip of stream water during a hike. Each of these may contain one of the many agents that lead to gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach and small intestine. Highly contagious, the "stomach flu" is the second-most-common illness in the United States after the common cold―making tens of millions of people miserable every year. Viruses, bacteria that produce toxins (such as Staphylococcus and Enterococcus), and even just the toxins in leftovers can trigger it.

 

그럼 어떤 바이러스들이 위장염을 야기시킬까? 두개의 메인그룹들이 있는데, 로타바이러스와 노러바이러스들이다. 그것들은 둘다 전염성이 높고, 오염된 음식물이나 음료수를 먹음으로 인해서 주로 퍼진다. 몇몇 조개류들은 이 바이러스 형태를 함유하고 있는데, 대부분의 경우에서는 감염된 사람이 준비하거나 공유하면서 음식물을 오염시킬 때 미생물이 퍼지게 된다.

 

Symptoms of gastroenteritis include watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, headache, and low-grade fever. They appear 1 to 2 days after infection and last anywhere from 3 to 10 days. Although uncomfortable, the illness is usually harmless in adults. Unfortunately, there's no cure for gastroenteritis. most people must simply wait for the irritants to leave the body. Some cases, especially those in infans and children, may lead to dehydration, in which case a visit to the doctor of hospital is necessary.

 

왜냐하면 위장염과 연관된 설사는 유아들의 생명을 위협할 수 있으므로 로타바이러스 백신이 만들어져 2006 년에 사용가능해졌다. Rota Teq 라 불리는 이 주사는 적어도 다섯가지의 일반적인 타입의 로타바이러스에 대항하는 주사이다.

 

 

 

Rotaviruses and noroviruses are more active from October through April.

 

Noroviruses are also known as Norwalk-like viruses, named after the town of Norwalk, Ohio. That's where this type of virus was first identified after an ourbreak in 1972.