Tactics of a general practitioner when identifying a case of acute intestinal infection

Acute intestinal infection refers to a group of acute infectious diseases in humans, predominantly of bacterial origin, with an alimentary transmission mechanism. It is characterized by a combination of fever and intestinal syndrome, which may lead to dehydration and severe progression in children and the elderly. Approximately 12 million people are affected by acute intestinal infections daily, with around 4 billion cases registered annually. In developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, acute intestinal infections are a leading cause of death among young children. The main pathogens responsible for intestinal infections include Shigella, Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and rotavirus infection. These types of intestinal diseases are characterized by an acute onset, rapid development of fever, symptoms of intoxication and exsiccosis, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain in the epigastric and periumbilical regions, tenderness upon abdominal palpation (salmonella triangle), and hepatosplenomegaly. The stool is usually liquid, watery, containing undigested food residues and mucus, with a "swampy" color, sometimes mixed with blood. The physician's approach upon detecting a case of acute intestinal infection should involve timely identification and isolation of patients, conducting final disinfection in the outbreak area, organizing bacteriological examinations of contacts, carrying out sanitary and educational work among the population, and providing follow-up care for recovered patients.