enteritis n : inflammation of the intestine (especially the small intestine); usually characterized by diarrhea

English

Etymology

From the Greek enteron and the suffix, -itis.

Noun

(plural: enteritises)

1. Inflammation of the intestines, generally the small intestine.

In medicine, enteritis refers to inflammation of the small intestine. See also inflammation of related organs of the gastrointestinal system: gastritis (stomach), gastroenteritis (stomach and small intestine), colitis (large intestine), and enterocolitis (large and small intestine).

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms may include abdominal pain, diarrhea, abdominal distension and hematochezia.

If there is vomiting, gastroenteritis is the more correct diagnosis.

Diagnosis

Generally a good history is the most important tool in distinguishing serious cases of enteritis from self-limiting ones. The presence of blood in the faeces, dehydration, cutaneous eruptions, presumed link with food exposure, as well as recent travel to endemic areas can prompt further investigation.

Acute enteritis is usually due to bacteria or viruses. When food is involved, foodborne illness is to be suspected. If other family members or members of the household are affected, this may signify infectious causes.

Chronic enteritis can be due to Crohn's disease, giardiasis, tuberculosis, coeliac disease, or rarely due to Whipple's disease.

Treatment

Viral diarrhea is usually self-limiting and is treated with rehydration. When bacterial causes are suspected (recent travel, food poisoning), antibiotics can be considered.

Chronic enteritides are treated according to the diagnosis (please refer to individual articles).

See also

• Enteropathy

adenoiditis, adrenitis, appendicitis, arteritis, arthritis deformans, arthritis fungosa, arthritis pauperum, atrophic arthritis, atrophic inflammation, blennorrhagic arthritis, brain fever, bronchitis, bunion, bursitis, capillaritis, carditis, catarrh, catarrhal inflammation, cerebellitis, cerebral meningitis, cerebritis, cerebrospinal meningitis, chronic infectious arthritis, chronic inflammation, cirrhotic inflammation, climactic arthritis, clitoritis, colitis, collagen disease, conjunctivitis, cystitis, degenerative arthritis, diffuse inflammation, encephalitis, endocarditis, equine encephalomyelitis, exudative inflammation, fibroid inflammation, focal inflammation, gastritis, gingivitis, glossitis, gonococcal arthritis, gonorrheal arthritis, gonorrheal rheumatism, gout, gouty arthritis, hemophilic arthritis, hepatitis, hyperplastic inflammation, hypertrophic arthritis, hypertrophic inflammation, infectional arthritis, infectious hepatitis, inflammation, irritable bowel syndrome, laryngitis, lumbago, lumbar rheumatism, mastoiditis, meningitis, menopausal arthritis, metastatic inflammation, metritis, milk leg, mucous colitis, mumps meningitis, myelitis, necrotic inflammation, nephritis, neuritis, obliterative inflammation, ophthalitis, ophthalmia, orchitis, osseous rheumatism, osteitis, osteoarthritis, osteomyelitis, otitis, ovaritis, paradental pyorrhea, penitis, pericarditis, periodontitis, peritonitis, pharyngitis, phlebitis, podagra, proliferative arthritis, prostatitis, pyonephritis, pyorrhea, pyorrhea alveolaris, reactive inflammation, rheumatism, rheumatiz, rheumatoid arthritis, rhinitis, sclerosing inflammation, seroplastic inflammation, serous inflammation, serum hepatitis, simple inflammation, sinusitis, spastic colon, specific inflammation, subacute rheumatism, suppurative arthritis, suppurative inflammation, syphilitic arthritis, tennis elbow, testitis, thrombophlebitis, tonsilitis, torticollis, toxic inflammation, traumatic inflammation, tuberculous arthritis, tuberculous rheumatism, ulcerative colitis, uratic arthritis, ureteritis, urethral arthritis, urethritis, uteritis, vaginitis, vertebral arthritis, visceral rheumatism, vulvitis, wryneck