There are different types of enteritis:
Infectious enteritis
The most common type of bacterial enteritis is caused by food poisoning which is caused by ingesting food or water that is contaminated with bacteria. The bacteria can enter the food supply in a number of ways, including:
- Improper food handling
- Poor hygiene
- During poultry and meat processing
The foods most often associated with food poisoning are:
- Raw poultry and meat
- Unpasteurized milk
- Fresh produce
Some common bacteria that cause enteritis include:
- Salmonella
- Escherichia coli ( coli)
- Staphylococcus aureus ( aureus)
- Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni)
- Shigella
- Yersinia enterocolitica (Y. enterocolitica)
- Bacillus species
Contact with infected animals or people may also cause enteritis
Radiation enteritis
Occurs after radiation therapy and develops when your normal, healthy intestinal cells are damaged by radiation and become inflamed. It usually goes away several weeks after treatment cessation. Symptoms may sometimes be chronic and last for months or years.
Enteritis can also be the result of:
- Some medications, including ibuprofen and naproxen sodium
- Illegal drugs, such as cocaine
- Autoimmune diseases, such as Crohn’s disease