Bacteria in the intestines that cause diarrhoea
Diarrhoea can be caused by various pathogens. Especially when small children are affected, it can be assumed that it is mostly a viral infection. In adults who suffer from diarrhoea, however, pathogenic bacteria can often be detected in the intestines.
In principle, numerous infectious diseases (such as dysentery or salmonella infections) can lead to the development of severe diarrhoea. In most cases, the disease-causing bacteria excrete toxins in the intestine, which lead to inflammatory processes in the area of the intestinal mucosa. As a result, increased fluid from the circulatory system can seep through the damaged intestinal walls into the intestinal tube.
The affected patients usually develop high fever, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Bacteria in the intestine that lead to diarrhoea: E. coli Bacteria Campylobacter Salmonella Staphylococcus Clostridium difficile Shigella (pathogen of dysentery) Vibro cholerae (pathogen of cholera) Diarrhoeal diseases caused by Salmonella are food-borne in the majority of cases. For this reason, all persons who have eaten contaminated food will usually suffer from diarrhoea and/or vomiting at the same time.
Possible sources of infection are mainly poultry, beef and pork products. In addition, salmonella can often be detected in raw eggs, egg foam, creams, pastry and mayonnaise. Patients who have these bacteria in their intestines develop watery diarrhoea just a few hours after infection.
- E. coli bacteria
- Campylobacter
- Salmonella
- Staphylococcus
- Clostridium difficile
- Shigellen (pathogen of dysentery)
- Vibro cholerae (pathogen of cholera)
In addition, those affected typically experience high fever, severe abdominal pain and headaches. In most cases, the classic symptoms of a salmonella infection last only a few hours or days. The treatment of these bacteria in the intestine is done by taking an antibiotic for several days.
Another bacterial pathogen that in many cases leads to diarrhoea belongs to the group of E. coli bacteria. Although these bacteria in the intestine are actually considered a normal part of the intestinal flora, aggressive representatives of this group can take on a pathological character. Patients suffering from an E. coli infection develop a severe clinical picture within a very short time. Typical symptoms of these bacteria in the intestine are watery diarrhoea, which can be accompanied by bloody admixtures, nausea, vomiting and severe abdominal pain. E. coli-associated diarrhoea can become life-threatening, especially for infants, toddlers, the elderly and immunocompromised people.
Function of the intestinal bacteria
The main task of the health-promoting bacteria in the intestine is the direct defence against pathogens. This process is called “colonisation resistance” in medical terminology. Within the intestine this immune defence is mainly mediated by bacteria of the genus Escherichia coli.
If the proportion of these bacteria in the intestine is reduced, for example by taking antibiotics, various diseases can break out. A classic example of such a disease is the so-called pseudomembranous colitis. In pseudomembranous colitis, the bacterium Clostridium difficile multiplies rapidly.
This bacterium is not part of the normal intestinal flora and can severely affect the tissue by excreting various toxins. Affected patients often develop high fever, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and fluid loss for this reason. In addition, the natural bacteria in the intestine are believed to play an important role in controlling the immune system.
However, this may not always be beneficial for humans. Extensive studies have shown that the intestinal flora stimulates the proliferation of some disease-causing strains of bacteria and amoebae, whereas the spread of other bacterial pathogens is inhibited. In addition, the bacteria in the intestine are involved in the absorption of various vitamins.
In this context, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and vitamin K play a decisive role. Without an intact intestinal flora, the majority of these vitamins cannot be absorbed, or only insufficiently, via the intestinal mucosa. This results in pronounced deficiency symptoms for the patients concerned.
A deficiency of vitamin B1 (synonym: thiamine), for example, can lead to irritability, depression, fatigue and anaemia. A lack of vitamin B12 can make itself felt through far-reaching changes in the blood count. It is now also assumed that a pronounced vitamin B12 deficiency promotes the development of diseases such as dementia, concentration disorders and psychoses.
Furthermore, some bacteria in the intestine produce the vital vitamin K, which cannot be produced by the human organism itself. Vitamin K plays a decisive role in the production of various blood coagulation factors, in bone metabolism and in cell growth regulation. A long-term lack of vitamin K can therefore lead to blood coagulation disorders and skeletal diseases.
In addition, it has now been proven that patients suffering from a vitamin K deficiency are significantly more likely to have extensive vascular calcifications. In addition to their function in vitamin absorption, the bacteria in the intestine are also believed to have a digestive function. The bacteria in the intestine are known to be important helpers in the digestive process.
A disturbed intestinal flora can therefore have a negative effect on health. Above all, the bacteria in the intestine play a decisive role in the digestion of carbohydrates. The reason for this is the fact that many of the bacterial pathogens existing in the intestine have enzymes that the human organism cannot produce itself.
The absorption of essential minerals from food would also be ineffective without the support of the bacteria in the intestine. In this context, the minerals calcium, magnesium and iron are particularly noteworthy. Other functions of the bacterial pathogens within the intestine include the stimulation of intestinal motility and the production of short-chain fatty acids.
In addition, it is now assumed that the bacteria in the intestine could also have an influence on endurance performance. Flatulence is a natural competence of the digestion. Flatulence is a gas that is produced by fermentation and putrefaction processes in the intestine.
The gases are for example methane, hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide. Especially the sulphur compounds, such as hydrogen sulphide, are responsible for the smell of flatulence. While a volume of approx. 0.5 to 1.5 litres of expelled gases per day is normal, increased gas formation can also occur. In this case it is often food intolerances, such as lactose intolerance.
