Gastroenteritis


How to treat gastroenteritis?
Gastroenteritis is relatively common in clinical settings, and its treatment is generally divided into dietary treatment and medication treatment. For dietary treatment, a clean and easily digestible diet is more appropriate. It is advisable to avoid intake of spicy and pickled foods such as coffee, alcohol, and even salted fish, etc. Of course, a standardized and regular diet is very important. For medication treatment, symptom-specific options can be chosen. For example, if a patient often experiences stomach pain, acid-reducing and stomach-protecting medications can be selected. If, besides stomach pain, the patient exhibits abnormal bowel movements such as increased frequency of stool, diarrhea, etc., medications that stop diarrhea, regulate intestinal flora, and relieve spasms can generally be chosen. Typically, we opt for a treatment course of one to two weeks to observe effects. If the effect is good, the dosage can gradually be reduced and combined with dietary adjustments to generally achieve a certain level of control. (Medication use should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)


What foods should be eaten for gastroenteritis?
Acute gastroenteritis is one of the common diseases of the digestive system, usually characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, bloating, etc. Sometimes there are symptoms like fever and chills. In such cases, it is first necessary to undertake targeted treatment based on the specific cause, such as anti-inflammatory, antiviral treatments, astringents to stop diarrhea, and hydration. At the same time, attention should be paid to the dietary structure, initially avoiding exposure to cold. The diet should mainly consist of light, easily digestible foods, with a preference for porridge, wheat products like noodles, and fresh vegetables. It is advisable to avoid raw, greasy, spicy foods and alcoholic beverages.


What department should I go to for gastroenteritis?
Gastritis and gastroenteritis are commonly treated in the gastroenterology department in a clinical setting, as this department is well-equipped to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal diseases and possesses significant clinical experience. In smaller hospitals or those without a gastroenterology department, it’s typical to visit the internal medicine department instead. However, in formal hospitals, gastroenterology is the preferred choice; if unavailable, then internal medicine should be considered. Additionally, it is essential to be fasting for examinations of gastritis and gastroenteritis, as blood tests and ultrasound scans, both requiring fasting, are needed.


acute gastroenteritis symptoms
The symptoms of acute gastroenteritis can vary depending on the cause. Both gastroenteritis and infectious diarrhea exhibit symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. However, there are distinctions; the abdominal pain in gastroenteritis is often less severe than in infectious diarrhea, and the stools in gastroenteritis are typically watery. In infectious diarrhea, the stools can also be watery, but more often they are mucoid or even contain mucus and blood. Additionally, the stool volume in infectious diarrhea is usually not large and is accompanied by symptoms of tenesmus. Gastroenteritis often also involves symptoms of upper respiratory infection, including fever, chills, dizziness, headache, fatigue, general body ache, and sore throat. Differentiating between the two can be achieved through examinations and tests like stool routine, blood routine, and C-reactive protein levels.


How to completely cure acute gastroenteritis?
Acute gastroenteritis generally occurs more frequently in the summer and autumn seasons, possibly due to exposure to cold or improper diet, typically presenting with symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, bloating, and even fever and chills. Relevant tests, such as a complete blood count, C-reactive protein, and stool examination, can usually confirm the diagnosis. As for treatment, it depends on the cause, such as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antidiarrheal, and rehydration measures. Most cases of acute gastroenteritis can be completely cured. During treatment, it's necessary to control the diet by consuming light, easily digestible foods, such as porridge and soft noodles, and to avoid raw, greasy, or spicy foods that might provoke recurring episodes. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)


How many days to rest for acute gastroenteritis?
Patients with acute gastroenteritis experience rapid onset of symptoms but can recover quickly with proper and standard treatment after diagnosis. Acute gastroenteritis generally involves simultaneous infection of the intestinal and gastric mucosa by bacteria or viruses. With appropriate treatment, using anti-inflammatory medications or probiotics, the disease can be rapidly resolved without any problems, typically healing within two to three days. Therefore, when suffering from acute gastroenteritis, it is important to rest, preferably by staying in bed without engaging in strenuous activities to avoid exacerbating the condition. Usually, taking two to three days off from work is completely sufficient.


How long does it take to get an IV for acute gastroenteritis?
Acute gastroenteritis, as understood literally, occurs quite suddenly and rapidly. Therefore, its treatment is not very complicated. Typically, it can be cured in a short term. If it is a bacterial infection, you might choose Levofloxacin, which is quite effective in reducing intestinal inflammation. Generally, about three days of intravenous infusion can cure it. After stopping the infusion, you can take some probiotics orally and adjust the intestinal microenvironment, which can make recovery more thorough. So, if you suffer from acute gastroenteritis, there's no need to panic. As long as you maintain good dietary hygiene, you can recover quickly.


Is it normal to have a fever with gastroenteritis?
If it is acute gastroenteritis, its onset is sudden and the course of the disease is short. The main symptoms are abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and fever. The primary cause is due to unhygienic food consumption leading to bacterial infection in the gastrointestinal tract causing inflammation. It is a disease caused by bacterial infection. Fever is one of its most common symptoms. Thus, acute gastroenteritis does cause fever. The treatment primarily involves anti-inflammatory measures, rehydration, and symptomatic treatment. Generally, after two to three days of treatment, the disease will heal. After recovery, it is essential to pay attention to food hygiene, avoid eating overnight leftovers and spoiled food as they can easily trigger acute gastroenteritis.


Symptoms of gastroenteritis and cold
Gastroenteritis and the common cold generally manifest as two types of symptoms in clinical settings. The first type includes symptoms caused by upper respiratory tract infections. The second type involves gastrointestinal symptoms. Common symptoms of upper gastrointestinal tract infections include fever, fatigue, dry cough, coughing, sore throat, runny nose, and itchy throat, etc., typically lasting about a week. These symptoms are usually nonspecific and similar to those of a typical upper respiratory tract infection. The second type of symptoms generally involves gastrointestinal issues, presenting as abdominal discomfort, bloating, leg pain, and abnormal stool. Clinically, abnormal stools are often looser and more frequent, but typically do not involve bloody stools. These symptoms are generally not severe and can be observed.


acute gastroenteritis dehydration symptoms
Minor dehydration from acute gastroenteritis can manifest as dry mouth, sunken eye sockets, headache, dizziness, general fatigue, decreased appetite, and loss of skin elasticity. If symptoms worsen, signs of shock may appear, including reduced total blood volume, renal dysfunction, rapid weak pulse, low blood pressure, cold and wet limbs, and reduced or absent urine output. It is important to seek medical attention promptly if dehydration symptoms occur and treat according to the type of dehydration, while actively treating the acute gastroenteritis.