The 'worms' described in Donguibogam represent a concept very similar to microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria in modern medicine. In particular, symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, chills, and fever experienced by an entire family all at once are, in most cases, caused by viral enteritis. The primary culprits are norovirus and rotavirus.
These tiny viruses enter the body through the mouth and attack the mucosal cells of the small intestine and large intestine. As intestinal mucosal cells become damaged, they fail to properly absorb nutrients and moisture. Instead, excessive water and electrolytes are secreted into the gut, inducing diarrhea. When the virus invades intestinal cells, an inflammatory response occurs. Inflammatory mediators released during this reaction abnormally accelerate intestinal motility or stimulate nerves, causing abdominal pain. Furthermore, vomiting is not merely a localized stomach issue; it is a protective defense mechanism triggered when signals indicating an intestinal infection travel via the enteric nervous system to the brain's vomiting center. Our digestive organs contain a complex neural network known as the gut-brain axis. When viral infection triggers excessive secretion of neurotransmitters like serotonin in the gut, these signals travel along the vagus nerve to the brain, producing nausea and vomiting.
Fever and chills represent a systemic immune response to the viral infection, appearing as the immune system mobilizes leukocytes to fight off the intruders and mounts an inflammatory reaction. As the immune system activates, body temperature rises, and chills cause the body to shiver. In viral enteritis, dehydration can lead to serious complications, making adequate hydration and electrolyte replenishment essential. Because children and the elderly face a higher risk of dehydration, careful observation and prompt care are necessary. In this way, viral enteritis is an overall emergency state where the digestive system, nervous system, and immune system react in a complex interplay.
