What medications to give for intestinal infection. Drugs for rotavirus infection: which is better to give preference

An intestinal infection is an unpleasant problem that can happen to both an adult and a child. This disease is fraught not only with the terrible health of the patient, but also with a malfunction in the body’s immune system. The causative agents of infection in the intestines can be staphylococcus, shigella, salmonella, rota and enteroviruses, fungi and other bacteria, which are especially active in the summer heat. A good half of the patients suffering from intestinal infection fell ill during hot weather. Every year, doctors record a seasonal surge in the disease, but you can “earn” an intestinal infection at any time of the year. In the text below we will figure out how to protect the body from this trouble and what tablets for intestinal infections can be prescribed for the prevention, treatment and alleviation of the condition of patients.

Intestinal infection is not a specific disease, but a so-called group that includes about thirty diseases. This infection itself does not pose a serious danger and does not threaten the life of either an adult or a child, and complicates life only temporarily. But there are also more serious types of intestinal infections, such as cholera, which can be fatal without timely treatment.

The disease is caused by bacteria and viruses entering the body. Thus, you can “get acquainted” with an intestinal infection by ignoring personal hygiene, eating low-quality or poorly purified food, drinking water that has not been boiled, or communicating with wild animals. The infection enters the body through the nutritional route, that is, through the mouth. Therefore, most often the disease in question affects children who study various objects, try them “by tooth” or put dirty hands in their mouths.

As a rule, the disease spreads very quickly and produces vivid symptoms. Regardless of what harmful microorganism caused the disease, all types of intestinal infections have the same expression:

Intoxication of the body (lethargy, headache, weakness in the body, aching joints, fever).
Nausea and vomiting.
Abnormal stool (repeated painful diarrhea).
Pain in the abdominal area.

First of all, the disease is dangerous due to rapid dehydration of the body, which is worst for young patients. Since fluid and salts are lost with vomiting and diarrhea, it is important to ensure that these losses are replaced. It is necessary to constantly drink fluids; for mild to moderate infections, this can be clean water, green tea, compotes and fruit drinks; for severe infections, you need to resort to rehydration solutions, which include Trisol or Regidron. If an intestinal infection produces severe symptoms or the patient is unable to drink on his own (infants, old people, severe disease severity), solutions to maintain water-salt balance are administered in the form of droppers in a hospital setting.

First aid for intestinal infection

If the patient complains of severe weakness, elevated body temperature, repeated vomiting and bowel movements (more than ten times a day), the infection is considered to be at a critical stage and requires emergency and comprehensive care. First of all, medical actions should be aimed at maintaining water balance in the body and relieving pain.

Above, we briefly covered rehydration solutions used to stabilize water balance and restore sodium and potassium reserves. As a rule, these are powdered preparations that require dilution in water. In mild cases, you can use activated carbon, but doctors recommend more modern and effective drugs like Albumin or Polysorb. These products do not cause harm, help reduce intoxication and remove toxins and pathogens from the body. If taking medications does not bring relief, this is a good reason to contact a medical facility.

To reduce body temperature and eliminate pain and discomfort, an adult can be given No-shpa or Nurofen, but if the pain is not too strong, it is better not to take painkillers until the doctor arrives, so as not to “blur” the symptoms.” In severe cases, lytic mixtures are used in injections, which typically contain diphenhydramine, analgin and papaverine. However, this mixture is characterized by a strong effect and can only be used by doctors (emergency doctors or in a hospital setting).

Detoxification of the body

To help the body remove toxins and poisons, it is necessary to take sorbents. These are drugs that absorb, “bind” all harmful substances and then remove them when visiting the toilet. A doctor can prescribe such drugs based on the patient’s age and body characteristics, as well as the severity of the infection. Sorbents are divided into three groups:

ion exchange drugs;
carbon-containing products;
tablets based on natural ingredients.

The first type includes medications that are mixed with toxins and poisons, as a result of which they break down into simple elements that are quickly eliminated from the body. This group includes drugs such as Cholesiviliam, Cholestyramine, Ezetrol and analogues.

Sorbents containing natural components have a different effect on harmful elements. They do not interact with them, but trap bacteria and act as a magnet for them. Most often, such preparations are based on fiber, cellulose, and pectin. This group includes Laktofiltrum, Filtrum-STI, Zosterin and similar drugs.

Lactofiltrum

There is a fourth group of sorbents - mixed-spectrum drugs. The most popular examples of products from this category today are Smecta and Polysorb. The latter is considered a powerful sorbent that does not contain chemical additives, is not absorbed into the blood and does not interfere with the digestive process. Polysorb not only removes toxins from the body, but also prevents the infection from spreading.

Tablets for intestinal infections: basic drugs

To completely defeat not only the symptoms, but also the pathogens, it is recommended to take specialized medications. They will not only relieve discomfort and pain, but also prevent the cause of the disease. There are drugs with different principles of action, which include:

Antibiotics are aimed at removing harmful bacteria from the body in severe forms of intestinal infections. In order for a doctor to prescribe antibiotics, he must have tests on hand confirming that the disease has a bacterial source. Most often, Cefix, Levomycetin, and Amoxicillin are prescribed for the treatment of intestinal infections. For the treatment of young patients, antibiotics are offered in the form of syrups.

There are a lot of modern drugs that quickly alleviate intestinal infections.

Diarrhea tablets

As a rule, it is diarrhea that causes the greatest suffering for those suffering from an intestinal infection. At a minimum, the frequent urge to defecate does not allow you to lie down, which is necessary in a painful condition. At most, diarrhea prevents you from leaving the house to go to the pharmacy or see a doctor. There are a number of tablets that have proven themselves in the treatment of diarrhea caused by viral and infectious diseases.

One of the most effective drugs is Levomycetin, which is an antibiotic, but with mild diarrhea it helps with a single dose. It kills diarrhea pathogens and works quite quickly. Phthalazole and Tetracycline have an anti-inflammatory effect that blocks the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria and has a fixing effect. Furazolidone is used as an antibacterial agent that also supports the immune system. For various types of intestinal infections, Stopdair, otherwise called Enterofuril, is also prescribed. The latter drugs are not absorbed into the gastrointestinal tract, therefore they do not harm beneficial bacteria and do not interfere with digestion.

To slow down peristalsis and stop contractions of the rectum, appropriate medications are used to bring the stool back to normal. These include Loperamide, Enterobene, Imodium and the like.

The drugs that we have listed are produced not only in the form of tablets, but also as powders, suspensions, capsules and chewable lozenges. However, you need to understand that these are not harmless means of stopping diarrhea. All these medications have contraindications, so the doctor must approve their use. It is especially important to remember this for parents of small children, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding young ladies.

Video - All about infectious diarrhea in 5 minutes

Restoring microflora: drugs for the intestines

Treatment of intestinal infections, especially if antibiotics are used, involves removing not only harmful but also beneficial bacteria from the body. This can cause dysbiosis and gastrointestinal problems in a weakened body. To support the digestive track and prevent a new round of the disease, an additional course of medications should be prescribed after the main treatment. They are aimed at normalizing intestinal microflora.

There are two groups of drugs used for therapy:

probiotics;
prebiotics.

These products contain beneficial bacteria that “add” to the intestinal mucosa. Then they take root and begin to reproduce, reaching the optimal number. Such agents include Profibor, Lactobacterin and others. It will be more effective to take medications that simultaneously contain several types of beneficial bacteria, for example, Bifiform, Linex, Bifilong and the like. Both children and adults can receive such treatment, but only after completing the course of the main drug, since simultaneous positive effects will not occur. A limitation for the use of probiotics is an allergic reaction in the patient or a malfunction in the immune system.

Linex drug in capsules

If the administration of probiotics is not possible, patients are prescribed prebiotics. The principle of their action is different - they do not contain beneficial bacteria, but nutrients for their production. Drugs of this nature reach the lower part of the gastrointestinal tract unchanged and begin their work there, allowing the microflora to return to normal. Popular prebiotics are Livoluk, Prelax, Portlak, Inulin and the like. It is important that these drugs cannot be prescribed to patients with diabetes, intestinal problems and fructose intolerance.

Table 1. Drugs for the treatment of intestinal infections

Problem	Medicine
Avoiding dehydration	Regidron, Trisol, glucose and Ringer solutions, Gastrolit, Citraglucosan
Remove toxins	Polysorb, Smecta, Enterosgel, Polyphepan, activated carbon
Stopping Diarrhea	Levomycetin, Tetracycline, Stopdiar, Loperamide, Imodium
Killing viruses	Amiksin, Arbidol, Anaferon, Rinikold
Killing harmful bacteria	Cefix, Levomycetin, Amoxicillin
Restoring microflora	Bifiform, Linex, Bifilong, Livoluk, Prelax, Inulin

Let's sum it up

We have listed the most common drugs for treating such an unpleasant disease as an intestinal infection. However, a number of them can be used at home without medical supervision (for example, sorbents), while others can be prescribed exclusively by a specialist. We do not recommend using self-selected medications in any situation, but especially if the patient is a child. It is important to understand that self-medication, an incorrect diagnosis and incorrectly chosen pills may not only not work, but also lead to a worsening of the condition.

Even at home, with medical supervision, intestinal infections respond well to treatment, not to mention medical supervision in a hospital. As a rule, two to three days are enough for the patient’s condition to stabilize. Be attentive to your health and do not neglect the qualified help of doctors.

In total, more than 30 infectious diseases are known, primarily affecting the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). There is a group of almost conquered infectious diseases: cholera, typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever. The number of food poisonings that contain bacterial toxins remains high.

Common intestinal infections:

Viral: rotavirus, adenovirus and other viral enteritis.
Bacterial: salmonellosis, dysentery, escherichiosis, yersiniosis, campylobacteriosis.
Protozoans: amoebic dysentery and appendicitis, giardiasis.

Viruses and bacteria enter the external environment from the patient through feces and vomit. In addition, the source of infection is healthy carriers who secrete pathogenic microbes. Infectious agents are transmitted through dirty hands, food, water, and are carried by insects and rodents. Acute intestinal infections are more common in the warm season, when there are more temptations to drink unboiled water or unpasteurized milk, or try unwashed berries and fruits.

Important! Staphylococci, E. coli, amoebas and other opportunistic intestinal inhabitants can become more aggressive, for example, with uncontrolled use of antibiotics.

Microbes cause diseases that occur as acute gastritis - with stomach pain and vomiting. Symptoms of gastroenteritis (vomiting, diarrhea), enteritis (frequent bowel movements), colitis (stool problems and blood in the feces), enterocolitis, which is characterized by damage to all parts of the intestine, appear.

Not all strains of E. coli are causative agents of the disease, only enteropathogenic ones that produce toxins. Infection occurs through food that has been exposed to bacteria released by sick people. The body loses a large amount of fluid as a result of toxin poisoning. Death can occur due to severe dehydration or as a result of complications. Treatment of complicated forms is carried out in a hospital, where the patient is prescribed injections and drips.

The bacterium Helicobacter pylori affects different parts of the stomach. When eating contaminated food, a person can develop acute gastritis. Almost 2/3 of the population is carriers of H. pylori, but not everyone exhibits symptoms of the disease. necessary as soon as possible. According to one scientific theory, bacteria cause stomach ulcers. If a person frequently takes antibiotics, this increases the risk of developing aggressive strains of H. pylori.

How to act at the first symptoms of an intestinal infection?

The incubation time of the pathogen is 6–12 hours, in some cases it takes up to 2 days. Toxins released by pathogens cause inflammation in the intestines with fever. Some infections are characterized by a predominance of nausea and repeated vomiting, while others are characterized by persistent diarrhea and abdominal cramps. The stool may contain mucus, greens, and streaks of blood.

Caused by a bacterial infection or intestinal amoeba, the same as for other causes of acute inflammation of the appendix of the rectum. Abdominal pain occurs above or below the navel, nausea, and vomiting. The disease is dangerous due to perforation of the walls, after which the contents of the intestine enter the abdominal cavity. This can lead to peritonitis, bleeding, and sepsis.

You need to call a doctor at home. Before the specialist arrives, you need to do the following:

Put a sick child to bed, preferably in a separate room.
It is advisable for the patient to drink 1 liter of water and induce vomiting to wash the stomach.
If the patient is shivering, cover him with a blanket or blanket.
Offer warm tea and give Regidron solution to drink to restore fluid loss.

No-shpa tablets help with spasms and pain. Immediately before arrival, doctors do not give antispasmodic and painkillers. They influence the manifestations of the disease, which are very important for correct diagnosis and treatment.

With vomiting and diarrhea, a lot of fluid is lost, which leads to dehydration. This condition is especially dangerous for children. If you do nothing and do not treat the patient, the functions of the intestines and the entire gastrointestinal tract are disrupted. It should be noted that in pregnant women, intestinal infections and dehydration negatively affect the functioning of the cardiovascular system and kidneys.

It is relatively easy to cope with gastrointestinal diseases caused by staphylococcus, E. coli, and viruses. Vibrio cholera, typhoid bacilli, and salmonella pose a great danger. If the patient is not provided with timely medical care, death is possible.

Drugs for the treatment of intestinal infections

Therapy should be comprehensive, including the fight against pathogens and released toxins, and replenishment of fluid losses. Specialists, when it comes to how much to treat an infectious disease, are guided by the nature of the pathogen and the properties of the medications used.

Antibacterial agents

Antibiotics are used to destroy harmful bacteria: penicillins, azalides, cephalosporins. If Azithromycin is prescribed, the course of therapy cannot be shorter than 3 days. Levomycetin should be taken for at least 8 days, Ampicillin - from 5 to 14 days. Take medications from this group only as prescribed by a doctor.

Antidiarrheal medications

Metabolic products, toxins of bacteria and viruses, along with vomit and stool, are eliminated from the body. Antidiarrheals such as Loperamide artificially suppress this process. Therefore, in some cases, fighting diarrhea is harmful. On the contrary, you should rinse the intestines and remove toxins with an enema. Only as part of the complex treatment of acute diarrhea of infectious origin are chewable Diara tablets based on Loperamide used.

Rehydrating salt solutions

Dehydration or dehydration is accompanied by inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. Oral rehydration products will help replenish lost water and electrolytes. Patients need to follow a diet and take medications that restore normal intestinal microflora.

How to take Regidron salt remedy for diarrhea:

Dissolve the contents of 1 sachet of powder in 1 liter of freshly boiled and cooled water.
Drink 50–100 ml of this liquid every 5 minutes.
Daily dose: for mild diarrhea - 50 ml, for moderate diarrhea - up to 100 ml per 1 kg of patient body weight.

Analogues of Regidron in composition are rehydrating preparations for children and adults Hydrovit and Hydrovit forte (for oral administration). Such liquids quickly replace water and minerals lost by the body and can be used at home in the early stages of the disease. Significantly more solutions are produced for infusions and intravenous injections containing electrolytes and dextrose.

Intestinal sorbents

Drugs in this group bind and remove pathogenic bacteria and various toxic substances from the gastrointestinal tract. The products Enterosgel, Polysorb MP, Smecta, in addition to the sorption effect, create a film on the surface of the inner intestinal wall that prevents the attachment of microbes. The release form, methods of administration and dosage of the drugs differ. The dose is usually calculated taking into account the body weight and age of the patient.

Intestinal antiseptics

The drug Sangviritrin is taken for salmonellosis, dysentery, and food toxic infections. This herbal product has a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity. Available in the form of tablets that dissolve in the intestines. Treatment of bacterial diarrhea with Enterofuril lasts no more than 7 days. There are two forms of release: capsules and oral suspension.

Probiotics

Drugs in this group restore normal microflora disturbed as a result of the inflammatory process in the gastrointestinal tract. Almost all intestinal infections cause it. They take dietary supplements that contain cultures of beneficial bacteria: Narine, Vitabs Bio, Normoflorin. The drugs Sporobacterin and Probifor have an antidiarrheal effect, normalize intestinal microflora, and are immunomodulators.

Salmonella

Salmonella produces endotoxin, which causes a condition called “food poisoning.” Clinical manifestations are very varied, as are complications of the disease. may differ between children and adults. Infants and elderly people are usually hospitalized with salmonellosis.

The target of bacteria is the mucous membrane of the small intestine. The disease is accompanied by fever, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and loose stools. If treatment is started on time, salmonellosis goes away within 10 days.

antibiotics;
rehydration solutions;
intestinal sorbents for removing toxins;
probiotics to restore the balance of intestinal microflora;
diet and vitamin therapy.

Possible complications of salmonellosis: infectious shock, acute renal failure. Most often, dysbacteriosis occurs against the background of inadequate therapy.

Viral enteritis

Viruses are no less likely than bacteria to cause intestinal inflammation. Enteritis of viral origin is more familiar to many under the name “intestinal flu”. The mode of transmission of the pathogen is fecal-oral. One of the main features of a viral infection is its high contagiousness (infectiousness). Therefore, epidemic outbreaks of infectious enteritis often occur.

The most common pathogens of the disease:

rotavirus (almost half of all cases of viral enteritis);
intestinal adenovirus;
coronavirus;
enterovirus;
astrovirus;
norovirus.

Rotavirus infection in adults may be asymptomatic or accompanied by vomiting, flatulence and watery diarrhea. The incubation period of the pathogen is short - from 1 to 3 days. Uncomplicated rotavirus intestinal infection resolves within 5–8 days.

The disease in children can be recognized by the classic triad of symptoms: fever, vomiting and watery diarrhea. Cough occurs more often in infants. Symptoms intensify over the course of a week, then gradually disappear. The danger for babies is prolonged diarrhea, the development of dehydration and malabsorption syndrome.

Note:

To prevent the disease, infants are given the Rototec vaccine orally.
In case of complications, children are treated in hospital for intoxication and dehydration.
There is no specific treatment for viral enteritis.
The risk of transmission of infection persists from 8 to 10 days.

It is necessary from the very beginning to give the patient a sufficient amount of liquid in small portions, saline solutions Hydrovit or Regidron. For infants, rehydrating agents are added to expressed breast milk or formula for artificial feeding. A solution of ½ tsp can serve as a replacement for Regidron and Hydrovit. table salt, ½ tsp. baking soda, 4 tbsp. l. sugar in 1 liter of boiled water (chilled).

Symptomatic treatment of rotavirus infection:

drugs Smecta, Polysorb MP, Activated Carbon to reduce intoxication;
antipyretic syrups/tablets Ibuprofen or Paracetamol;
No-shpa tablets for abdominal cramps;
antiemetic drugs.

Important! Viral diseases are not treated with antibiotics. The antimicrobial drug Enterofuril is prescribed to prevent bacterial superinfection.

Intestinal sorbents are taken to speed up the elimination of toxic substances from the body. Polysorb MP powder must be mixed with water and only taken orally in this form. This intestinal sorbent can be taken by pregnant women and young children. The dosage is determined depending on the patient’s body weight. Accurate adherence to the recommendations helps to quickly cope with the inflammatory process in the intestines and speed up recovery.

In addition to taking medications, it is imperative to replenish fluid losses due to dehydration and restore the gastrointestinal microflora.

Anton palaznikov

Gastroenterologist, therapist

Work experience more than 7 years.

Professional skills: diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and biliary system.

Intestinal infections, as a sudden and acute disruption of the body’s functioning, affect the action of not only the main affected systems, but also the body as a whole. How to prevent them, overcome them, what medications for intestinal infections will be effective, you need to know now, so as not to face this trouble face to face.

Types of intestinal infections

The entire variety of intestinal infections includes only four types of pathogens:

infections - among these there are viruses that affect the main human organs (polioviruses, Coxsackie viruses A and B, enteroviruses), which can cause paralysis, affect the central nervous system, liver and pose a direct threat to the vital functions of the body. As well as viruses that are limited to intestinal symptoms: diarrhea and gastroenteritis of varying severity (rotaviruses, intestinal adenoviruses, astroviruses and coronaviruses).
Bacterial intestinal infections - the leading role in bacterial intestinal infections is played by enterotoxins, which are released by bacteria during their vital activity (Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, Klebsiella). Regardless of the characteristics of the processes occurring in the intestines, any of the pathogens causes diarrhea syndrome with the removal of water from the body and the leaching of both harmful and beneficial substances. Leads to water-electrolyte imbalance.
Fungal intestinal infections - most often caused by fungi of the genus Candida.
Protozoal infections - giardiasis, amoebiasis.

Determining the pathogen plays an important role when choosing a medicine for poisoning or intestinal infection.

Symptoms for intestinal infections

Depending on the degree of poisoning, the type of pathogen and the amount of toxic substance entering the body, the symptoms will vary from pronounced to diseases with scanty symptoms of a general nature. Intestinal symptoms are common to many intestinal infections.

Diarrhea is the first obvious manifestation of an intestinal infection. It has the appearance of unformed feces of various types (from mushy, abundant watery, to the release of a meager amount of feces with an abundance of mucus and blood elements). Diarrhea occurs three times a day and intensifies and becomes more frequent with the severity of the disease.
Constipation is also a variant of the development of intestinal infection, when watery stool cannot be passed due to the formation of fecal plugs. Retention of feces in the intestinal lumen leads to the reabsorption of toxic components into the body and the manifestation of a general decrease in immune forces.
Temperature increase - up to 37.5 in the initial stages of the disease, up to 38.5-39 in acute or undiagnosed disease.
General weakness, fatigue - an increase in the volume of toxic toxins in the circulating blood leads to the development of general intoxication of the body.
The feeling of aching is a consequence of the inflammatory process in the body and the fight against it. Accompanied by elevated temperature.
Abdominal pain is often sharp, spasmodic in nature, temporarily passing into a resting phase, and then recurring with more frequent frequency.
Nausea and vomiting are an example of an inflammatory process that has already spread throughout the body with a stream of toxic toxins.

In the acute course of the disease, frequent diarrhea, the symptoms become more pronounced, the pain intensifies, the intestinal syndrome worsens and brings even more inconvenience. And the need to use medications for intestinal infections increases.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of intestinal infections consists of a survey and laboratory research methods.

Treatment is based on removing pathogenic organisms and the toxins they produce from the blood circulation. It is directed against the pathogen as the cause of the disease and is inextricably linked with diagnosis. Treatment is not aimed at suppressing symptoms, but at removing dangerous substances and restoring the strength of the body as a whole.

Depending on the severity of the disease, it can be carried out at home or in a hospital, under the supervision of medical staff.

It involves the patient taking medication for intestinal infections, drinking plenty of fluids to restore water balance, and generally strengthening the body through increased nutrition with the necessary set of microelements and vitamins.

Treatment of intestinal infections with folk remedies

Traditional medicine is good for intestinal infections with mild symptoms, in the absence of an exacerbation stage.

St. John's wort decoction - pour one and a half tablespoons of chopped herb with a glass of boiling water, heat in a water bath, and then dilute the resulting decoction to its original state. Consume at least three times a day, two days, store the broth in the refrigerator.
Oak bark decoction - pour 10 g of oak bark into a glass of boiling water, boil for 20 minutes and consume 5 times a day before meals.
Decoctions of calamus or marshmallow root help relieve symptoms of intoxication.

Also, various herbal infusions (alder cones, cinquefoil root, nettle leaves) can be used as a medicine for intestinal infections.

Emergency medicine for intestinal infections

Emergency assistance is necessary for acute intestinal infections with severe diarrheal and intoxication syndrome: when defecating more than eight times a day, including cholera, when feces take on the appearance

In this case, an indispensable medicine for intestinal infections is:

Medicine for intestinal infections for children

For acute intestinal disorders in children under three years of age, treatment requires the immediate intervention of specialists. In case of mild severity of the disease, when there are no pronounced pain symptoms, nausea and vomiting, mild diarrhea (2-3) times a day, mushy stool with a small amount of mucus, therapy can be carried out at home.

It is very important to choose a medicine for intestinal infection for children, since their body is very weak and even mild dehydration can lead to irreparable negative consequences.

In addition to the standard restoration of water-salt balance, the following medications for intestinal infections are used:

“Smecta” is a powder for preparing a suspension, used for children from the moment of birth, eliminates intestinal symptoms, including bloating. Up to 1 year - 1 sachet once a day, over two years - up to 3 sachets per day.
“Stopdiar” is a ready-made suspension, suitable for children from 2 months of age, used 1 measuring spoon 1-2 times a day.
"Enterogel" is a sorbent with a pasty consistency, used in children under 1 year of age, 5 (ml) 2 times a day.

For light but frequent bowel movements, biological products (Lacidophil, Linex, Enterozermina) are used as a cure for intestinal infection.

Prevention of intestinal infections

Clean hands. Pure vegetables and fruits eaten.
Compliance with food preparation rules.
Sufficient heat treatment of meat products and eggs.
Strengthening the immune system. The use of drugs for the prevention of intestinal infections: biological products “Bifidumbacterin”, “Acilact”, “Enterozermina”.

Many people wonder if there are medications to prevent intestinal infections. There are none as such, it will be enough to follow the above recommendations.

Factors predisposing to infection

An organism weakened by disease.
An organism with a disturbance in the composition of the intestinal microflora due to dysbacteriosis.
Hereditary factor.
Poor nutrition.

Medicines for intestinal infections at sea

It is better to choose medications for intestinal infections for the treatment and prevention of diseases while on vacation in a ready-to-use form. For children, these will be suspensions “Nifuroxazide”, “Stopdiar”, “Enterozermina” - a liquid enriched with live bacteria in bottles. Activated carbon capsules and tablets are suitable for adults. Regidron powder for poisoning accompanied by severe vomiting.

Help with acute intestinal infections and body poisoning

Medicine against intestinal infection is prescribed exclusively by a doctor. You can only provide first aid to the patient.

It consists of rehydration, the use of medications aimed at removing infection from the body, and urgent hospitalization in an outpatient clinic to provide adequate treatment until complete recovery. Under no circumstances should the symptoms be suppressed by taking pain medication. The appearance of blood streaks in the stool indicates the severity of the disease and requires immediate treatment.

Priorities for choosing medications

It is up to you to choose which medications to use for intestinal infections. When choosing dosage forms, pay attention, especially when it comes to young children. Recently, doctors are increasingly paying attention to such a medicine as Enterofuril, it is available in capsules and in the form of a suspension, and has a small number of side effects.

When starting treatment and mild manifestations of the disease, leave the choice to the simplest drugs: “Activated carbon”, “Smecta”. There is no need to overload the body with chemical compounds.

Medicines for intestinal infections in adults will be stronger than in children.

Choose complex treatment of different directions: restoration of water-salt balance, elimination of bloating, pain), strengthen the body with the use of living beneficial microorganisms from biological products, supporting the intestines.

But not only infections can be helped. Do not forget about proper nutrition, as often foods, if stored incorrectly, can cause intestinal upset and poisoning.

Acute intestinal infections are pathologies caused by bacteria and viruses. The source of the disease is a carrier of infection or a sick person who infects a healthy person through airborne droplets, household, food or water.

There are the following types of intestinal infections:

Fungal, the causative agent of which is Candida fungi.
Bacterial – the causative agents are salmonella, staphylococcus, pathogens of cholera, dysentery and botulism.
Viral, caused by pathogenic rotaviruses, enteroviruses, coronaviruses and adenoviruses.
Protozoans, caused by protozoa - amoebae and lamblia.

Depending on the pathogen, intestinal infections manifest themselves as gastritis, enteritis, and colitis.

Almost all intestinal infections are characterized by the following symptoms:

nausea;
heartburn;
vomiting;
abdominal and head pain;
increased gas formation;
disorder of the emptying process - diarrhea;
false urge to defecate;
feverish conditions, body hyperthermia;
dehydration.

Important! If such symptoms are detected, consultation with a specialist is necessary to avoid worsening the situation.

Therapy of intestinal infections

Competent treatment of intestinal infections involves the use of an integrated approach, with several stages of therapy, which include:

regulation of water-salt balance;
elimination of poisons from the body;
restoration of natural microflora.

For a speedy recovery, treatment must begin after the first symptoms appear, which will avoid serious consequences and long-term therapy.

Often, intestinal infections are characterized by profuse vomiting and disruption of bowel movements - diarrhea, which are the root cause of excessive removal of fluid from the body, and, as a result, lead to a disorder of water-salt balance. Infusion solutions and oral rehydration agents will help to cope with this problem.

Infusion drugs make it possible to:

quickly compensate for the volume of lost fluid;
correct electrolyte imbalance;
improve tissue and organ perfusion;
enhance the removal of poisons produced by microorganisms.

When correctly prescribing solutions, a preliminary calculation of their required volume is necessary according to the Phillips or Cohen formulas (the degree of dehydration of the patient should also be taken into account).

Drugs for intravenous infusion are divided into groups:

Oral pharmaceuticals include Regidron, Oralit, produced in powder form and containing glucose, potassium and sodium salts. Before use, they must be dissolved in the volume of water recommended by the instructions.

Oral rehydration is considered effective if there is no diarrhea or vomiting within half a day.

To eliminate toxins and pathogens from the intestines, special agents are used - adsorbents capable of absorbing pathogenic particles. The most popular pharmaceuticals in this group include activated carbon, taken orally at the rate of 1 tablet for every 10 kg of a person’s weight.

There are also drugs with an increased tendency to adsorption. These are, Sorbent, White Coal and, the advantages of which are ease of use.

Adsorbents should be started at the slightest suspicion of an intestinal infection and continued during the entire exacerbation of the disease. They are suitable for both adults and children and are absolutely harmless.

Preparations for restoring microflora

After eliminating poisons and toxins from the digestive tract, care should be taken to restore normal intestinal microflora.

For this purpose, probiotic and prebiotic preparations are prescribed, containing live bacteria that strengthen natural immunity, improve metabolic processes and normalize the functioning of the intestines.

Such drugs are Linex, Bifikol, Lactobacterin, etc.

Other drugs for the treatment of intestinal infections

In addition to the main therapy, other types of pharmaceuticals can be used, depending on the type of pathogen.

These include:

Aminoglycoside drugs and enzyme drugs are also prescribed (relieve dyspeptic disorders).

For effective treatment of intestinal infection, it should be remembered that it is advisable to prescribe an antibacterial drug taking into account the resistance of the pathogen - the causative agent of the disease - to it, which is determined by a specific bacteriological study.

The duration of necessary therapy depends on the general condition of the patient and the strain of the pathogen. In any case, the minimum course of treatment is at least three days. If the disease is characterized by a severe form, sepsis and concomitant immunodeficiency, then a combination of several (no more than two) drugs is used.

Important! Antibiotic therapy is prohibited for intestinal infections caused by viruses, for salmonellosis and shigellosis in a mild form.

The following mechanisms of action of antibiotics are known:

bacteriostatic, with inhibition of the synthesis of membrane proteins and suppression of bacterial growth - fluoroquinolones, nitrofurans and macrolides;
bactericidal, with destruction of the cell wall of the pathogen. These are beta-lactam antibiotics - penicillins, carbapanems, cephalosporins.

Penicillin group

The most frequently recommended drugs in this series are Amoxicillin and Ampicillin, available in tablet form, capsules and powder for the preparation of suspensions and infusions. Recommendations for their use include dysentery, salmonellosis, typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever.

Due to the presence of resistance to the drug in some pathogens, they are not always effective. Their negative effects include inhibition of hematopoiesis, which leads to anemia, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia. Not prescribed together with aminoglycosides.

Group of cephalosporins

To eliminate intestinal infections, Cefuroxime and Cefoperazone are used. Effective against salmonellosis and shigellosis.

They are administered strictly by injection. Their side effects include:

manifestations of allergies;
dyspepsia;
headaches;
atypical lethargy, lethargy;
liver dysfunction;
disturbance of intestinal microflora.

Fluoroquinolone group

Fluoroquinolones are considered the primary drugs in the treatment of severe bacterial infections. Affects only gram-negative pathogens. These drugs include Ciprofloxacin, Ofloxacin, Lomefloxacin. They are prescribed for treatment:

typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever;
salmonellosis;
shigellosis;
Escherichiosis;
cholera;
food poisoning.

Injected intravenously, twice a day. It is possible to combine them with cephalosporins. Contraindications to the use of fluoroquinolones are:

suffered a stroke, bleeding;
convulsive syndrome;
children up to eighteen years of age.

Nitrofuran group

These include Nifuroxazide and Furazolidone, produced in tablet form. Used for therapy:

The duration of the course of therapy is about a week, the drugs are taken 3 to 5 times a day. It is forbidden to prescribe for pathological functioning of the liver, kidneys, or central nervous system. Reduces appetite.

Nitroimidazoles group

convulsive syndrome;
dyspepsia;
peripheral neuropathy.

Bacteriophages

They are used as monotherapy for mild intestinal infections, in combination with antibiotics for moderate diseases, as well as for the treatment of dysbacteriosis and bacterial carriage. Use twice a day, for up to a week.

If the causative agent of an intestinal infection is a virus, then antiviral drugs are prescribed, which include Cycloferon, Arbidol, Ingavirin. Prescribed for rotavirus, adenovirus and enterovirus infections.

The most used include Helmintox, Vermox, Nemozol, Vormil, Dekaris.

Aminoglycoside drugs

Some of the most popular drugs for intestinal disorders include Gentamicin, Amikacin, Tobramycin. Due to their severe toxicity, they are prescribed only when treatment with other drugs has not proven effective. Their side effects are:

hearing disorder;
hematopoietic disorder - anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia;
liver and kidney damage;
development of convulsive syndrome.

Enzyme preparations

They are used to eliminate digestive disorders - excessive gas formation, a feeling of heaviness in the stomach. Similar drugs include Pancreatin, Mezim, Creon, consisting of pancreatic enzymes. They are taken orally, before meals.

For effective treatment of intestinal infections, it is necessary to combine several medications, which will quickly stabilize the patient’s condition and prevent the possible development of complications.

Acute intestinal disorder in a child is manifested by vomiting and loose stools, and a sharp increase in temperature. Against the background of a preliminary healthy state, this phenomenon indicates that the rotavirus has become more active. There are good ways to treat intestinal infections in children at home.

Important! Rotavirus pathogens multiply in the gastrointestinal tract. Nausea begins, which is accompanied by vomiting. In infants, the virus manifests itself as fever. In this case, the stomach hurts, there is a general state of lethargy, severe weakness, and there is no appetite.

What is important to know about rotavirus infection

The development of such an infection is especially dangerous in children who are still fed breast milk. The virus multiplies in the walls of the small intestine, its cells help digest carbohydrates. The villi that are located on these cells are damaged due to the active development of the virus. As a result, the process of digesting the sugar contained in milk is disrupted. That is, with rotavirus infection, milk absorption decreases.

The consequences of the virus are the most difficult to treat.

Symptoms of intestinal infection

Other clinical symptoms that accompany an intestinal infection (vomiting, profuse loose stools, intoxication of the body) require immediate treatment.

Important! At the first symptoms of an intestinal infection, a doctor is urgently called, but while the doctor is on the way, parents should properly treat intestinal infections in children at home.

Signs in children

During illness, body temperature may rise, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, pale complexion, constant desire to sleep, diarrhea, and loss of appetite may appear. If your child develops these symptoms, consult a doctor immediately to prevent dehydration.

Home help for intestinal infections

Before answering the question of how to treat intestinal infection in children, the doctor will advise you to adhere to certain rules.

Nutrition

First of all, you need to start following a diet for your child:

For the reasons described above, consuming dairy products is strictly prohibited.
From the diet you need to exclude foods that cause fermentation processes in the stomach. These are fruits, juices, various fruit-based purees.
During the peak of the disease, you should eat more porridges cooked in water; liquid mashed potatoes and a small amount of boiled pureed meat are suitable for nutrition.

What to do before the doctor arrives

What to do if a child has a severe intestinal infection:

Drink a lot. With vomiting and diarrhea, electrolytes and mineral salts are washed out of the body. This can lead to dehydration, so your child should drink plenty. In addition to water, you should give weak tea with sugar to drink.
Take Regidron. This is a powder that contains mineral salts and individual vitamins to maintain the strength of the child’s body at critical moments. The sachet is diluted (one quarter for infants) with a liter of water.
Give activated carbon or another sorbent to drink (at the rate of one tablet per 10 kg of weight). Sorbents are needed to absorb toxins.
Stop feeding the baby. The break lasts from 6 to 12 hours. Solid food with an intestinal infection will cause new vomiting.

What to do is strictly prohibited

When treating intestinal infections in children at home, it is strictly forbidden to give the child anti-diarrhea medications. If the diagnosis is not specified, they can worsen the patient's condition.

It is not recommended to give children a solution of potassium permanganate. The effectiveness of the drug against a viral infection is low, but a large volume of liquid increases vomiting and provokes dehydration. In addition, a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate leads to burns of the mucous membranes of children.

For acute intestinal infection in children, drugs such as Linex, Hilak-Forte are not suitable for use in the described situation. While the stool is loose and vomiting continues - these are symptoms of an acute intestinal infection, there is no point in taking all bacteria-based drugs. You should not give him anything to eat, not even crackers.

Important! If the body temperature is elevated, and this often happens with intestinal infections in children, it is forbidden to rub the child with vodka or vinegar. For an organism that is sick, this will be a strong toxic blow (toxins will penetrate the body through the skin).

How to treat an intestinal infection in a child

Treatment of intestinal infections in children must be agreed with the pediatrician.

In children under one year old

If your child is breastfed, there is no need to switch him to artificial nutrition. It is necessary to feed the same volume, only in smaller doses and more often, so that the food is better digested and vomiting is not provoked. Antibiotics are not recommended for children with rotavirus infection. You can use Smecta.

Desoldering

How else is intestinal infection treated in children? It is necessary to give a lot of water, despite the fact that he does not want to drink. With the help of liquid, it will be possible to remove toxins from the body, as well as replenish lost vitamins and microelements. Drinks should be offered in small portions - teaspoons or dessert spoons, so as not to increase vomiting.

Additionally, you need to take special medications in the form of powders that will help maintain the body’s strength. The most popular remedy is Regidon. The powder is diluted in a liter of water, drinking will compensate for the loss of water and salts, and eliminate sudden loss of fluid.

Gastrolit will help to quickly relieve the symptoms of an intestinal infection. The product contains not only salts, but also chamomile extract (additional anti-inflammatory effect). The powder is diluted in a glass of water. If you don’t have any necessary medications at hand, you can simply give the child a drink based on salt and sugar. Dissolve 1 tsp in 1 liter of water. salt, half a dessert spoon of soda and eight small spoons of sugar.

Diet

If the doctor determines that hospitalization is not required, then further home treatment falls on the parents. For infants, you need to give up complementary foods (introduce them a few days after the symptoms have stopped). For older children, you can give porridge (not wheat), cook vegetables, puree boiled meat. Eating baked apples, fermented milk foods and drinks is allowed.

Food should be given often and in small portions. Make sure that the condition does not worsen after eating. You shouldn’t force your child to eat: if he eats a couple of spoons after such a severe infection, that’s already good. It is not necessary to eat crackers, dryers or cookies. The first few days (with the exception of infants) the child may go hungry. It is recommended to give him rice or oatmeal broth for 2-3 days, and then begin to diversify his diet.

Treatment with antibiotics

Some intestinal infections in children are treated with antibiotics. Here are medications for intestinal infections for children:

Metronidazole;
Ciprofloxacin;
Norfloxacin.

Such drugs should be used strictly as prescribed by a doctor, with a confirmed bacterial infection. Other medicines you can use:

Regidron;
Enterosgel;
Smecta or activated carbon.

To restore the microflora, use: Linex, Canadian yogurt, Acipol.

Treatment after an intestinal infection

After a course of treatment, children need to have their stool tested again to make sure they are not carrying the infection. During treatment, the child is on a diet; after recovery, you should not interrupt it immediately. In this way, you can only make it worse - the body is not ready to eat different tasty foods, it may not have time to digest it. Also, the child’s body must be provided with enzymes.

Prevention

The most effective way of prevention is vaccination. It is also necessary to follow the rules of hygiene: wash your hands before eating, after using the toilet, thoroughly wash food, handle newly purchased toys, monitor the quality of drinking water. It is necessary to accustom the child to sanitary and hygienic rules.

In order not to treat intestinal infections in children at home, you need to know how to avoid this condition. It will not be difficult to protect your child completely from sources of infection.