Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis is a viral or bacterial infection that can affect the stomach or small intestine and causes bloody diarrhea. Other symptoms of gastroenteritis include abdominal pain, moderate fever, headache and vomiting.
The most common causes of gastroenteritis are rotavirus in children and norovirus in adults. It is usually caused by eating improperly prepared foods, drinking contaminated water or through close contact with an affected individual.
If you have gastroenteritis, staying hydrated is the best method of treatment. Antibiotics are generally not needed. In most cases, gastroenteritis will clear up on its own within a few days, however, if dehydration is severe, intravenous fluids may be needed.
