Enteric infections

Author: Dr Amanda Peppercorn University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
2008-07-28

Yersinia enterocolitica. Source: Public Health Image Library

The topic of enteric infections encompasses all infections of the intestinal tract. Certain infections have an anatomic preference, - causing disease of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, or large intestine, while others can involve multiple anatomic areas of the intestinal tract or involve distant organs in addition to the intestines. While many systemic illnesses are caused by infectious agents that enter via the intestinal tract and disseminate, such as acute Hepatitis (Hepatitis A or Hepatitis B viruses) or Typhoid Fever (Salmonella typhi), only infections of the intestinal tract will be discussed in this article.

Diverticulitis

Author: Dr Amanda Peppercorn University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
2008-07-28

Diverticulosis, defined simply as the presence in the large intestine (colon) of small saccular outpouchings, termed diverticula, is extremely common in “developed” countries and increases dramatically with age (Image 1 below). It affects approximately 5% of the population under 45 years of age and increases to almost 80% in those older than age 85 (1). Diverticula develop most commonly in the descending (“left-sided”) and sigmoid colon, however, there is geographic variability. In Asia and Africa, the ascending (“right-sided”) colon is more commonly involved, but the overall rate is much lower, at approximately 0.2%. Despite the prevalence of diverticulosis, about 70% of all people remain asymptomatic throughout their lifetime; 5-15% develop complications of diverticular bleeding, and 15-25% develop diverticulitis and associated complications.