Gastrointestinal Tract Infections

Gastrointestinal infections are a common global health problem. In select populations, however, diarrheal diseases carry a high degree of morbidity and mortality. The elderly, young children and people with chronic illnesses or compromised immune systems can become acutely dehydrated and require medical attention. Both upper and lower alimentary tract infections are discussed here. Upper alimentary tract infections involve oral bacterial infections like dental plaque, periodontitis/gingivitis. Viral diseases of mouth and salivary glands are caused by herpes simplex virus, mumps virus. Infection of stomach that leads to serious complications involves the gram-negative bacteria Helicobacter pylori. Lower alimentary tract infections include microbes involved in food poisoning due to fecal-oral contamination. The organisms involved are bacteria, viruses, and fungal species, and the list is ever increasing.