[Health Tip] Summer Unwelcome Guest 'Acute Diarrhea'... Knowing the Cause Properly Makes Treatment Easier

With the early onset of heatwaves coinciding with the rainy season, the number of patients suffering from food poisoning and enteritis is increasing. According to the National Interest Disease Statistics, the highest number of patients visiting medical institutions for food poisoning-related infectious diseases last year was in August, the peak of summer, with 665,825 cases.

[Photo by GC Green Cross Medical Foundation]

Food poisoning and enteritis vary in incubation period and severity of symptoms depending on the causative agent, but they mainly appear within 72 hours after consuming spoiled food, with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. One of the representative symptoms, acute diarrhea, is common enough to affect about one in ten people worldwide every year. However, in severe cases, dehydration and complications can occur, requiring special caution. In particular, bacterial acute diarrhea has a high fatality rate, so it is important to undergo an ‘acute diarrhea screening test’ that can accurately identify the causative bacteria and treatment method.

Food poisoning refers to a series of syndromes caused by the toxicity of ingested food and is classified into ▲bacterial food poisoning ▲natural toxin food poisoning ▲chemical food poisoning ▲waterborne food poisoning (viral enteritis). Enteritis is inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract caused by infections from ▲viruses ▲bacteria ▲parasites, with viruses being the main cause, accounting for about 50-70% of cases. Both diseases are representative summer illnesses related to food intake, and their main symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea are similar, making it difficult to distinguish between them.

Acute diarrhea is a representative symptom of waterborne food poisoning and viral enteritis. It refers to the condition where loose stools occur more than three times a day and the total daily stool weight exceeds 200g, lasting within two weeks. It is known as the second most common infectious disease after respiratory infections, affecting about one in ten people worldwide every year. Since it occurs in the stomach and intestines, it is also called acute gastroenteritis and is broadly divided into ‘viral acute diarrhea’ caused by viruses and ‘bacterial acute diarrhea’ caused by bacteria.

Viral acute diarrhea often occurs in infants, young children, and other immunocompromised individuals. It usually resolves on its own but is contagious, with outbreaks rapidly increasing in crowded places such as schools, childcare facilities, hospitals, and restaurants. Bacterial acute diarrhea occurs more frequently in summer when various bacteria multiply rapidly, and because symptoms can be severe and fatal, prompt and accurate diagnosis is essential.

Most people take antidiarrheal or antibiotics at the onset of diarrhea symptoms. However, taking these medications prematurely can cause side effects such as intestinal paralysis depending on the cause of acute diarrhea, so caution is necessary. Since diagnosis and treatment differ between bacterial and viral acute diarrhea, it is important to identify the cause first and then receive appropriate treatment.

Song Seong-wook, a specialist in diagnostic laboratory medicine at GC Green Cross Medical Foundation, said, “Food poisoning and enteritis are diseases that occur intensively during hot and humid periods and cause sudden acute diarrhea,” adding, “Since symptoms and treatment vary depending on the cause of acute diarrhea, if you have stomach upset symptoms, it is recommended to visit a nearby medical institution and undergo an ‘acute diarrhea screening test.’”