Your gut affects every part of your health, whether physical or mental. The GI tract is in charge of important body functions such as digestion and nutrient absorption. However, your Gastrointestinal tract can be infected by a variety of agents. In certain circumstances, these infections create major medical issues. According to dallas gi diagnostic solutions, knowing the most common causes of gastrointestinal tract infections might help you prevent them.
8 most common causes of GI tract infection
- Bacterial infections: Bacterial infections or bacterial gastroenteritis is a condition in which harmful bacteria like Ecoli, Shigella, Salmonella, etc. infect your gut. They enter your body through contaminated food or drink and hence are also referred to as food poisoning. Proper food hygiene habits are important for avoiding bacterial GI tract infections.
- Parasitic infections: While parasitic infections are less common, they can cause serious GI tract issues. Protozoa like Giardia and Cryptosporidium may contaminate water supplies, whereas helminths like tapeworms can enter your system from undercooked meat or contaminated food. Water filtration and proper cooking practices are essential for prevention.
- Viral infections: Several harmful viruses like rotavirus and norovirus can cause viral gastroenteritis, commonly known as stomach flu. Frequent handwashing and keeping a distance from infected persons can keep you safe.
- Contaminated food and water: Ingesting contaminated food or drink is the most common medium for GI tract infection. If you consume food handled with poor hygiene or insufficiently cooked, you are at risk of catching a GI tract infection.
- Poor Hygiene Practices: Poor hygiene, particularly after using the toilet, can spread GI tract infections. When infected hands come into touch with meals, or even the mouth, fecal-oral transmission occurs. Washing hands with soap and water is an essential preventative practice.
- Traveler’s Diarrhea: Traveling to regions with different sanitation standards can expose you to unfamiliar pathogens, leading to traveler’s diarrhea. This condition is often caused by consuming contaminated food or water. If you’re going to such places it is advisable to drink only bottled water and choose well-cooked foods.
- Antibiotic use: Antibiotics are given to treat bacterial maladies in your body. However, during the course, they also kill the good gut bacteria, which creates an imbalance and exceeds harmful infection-causing bacteria. You can rely on probiotics to boost the population of healthy bacteria in your stomach.
Identifying the most common reasons and taking preventative actions can help you avoid GI tract infections. Always remember that a healthy stomach equals a healthy body.
