Gastroenteritis dehydration symptoms

Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 02, 2024
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Gastroenteritis, also known as stomach flu, mainly occurs due to simultaneous infections in the stomach and intestinal mucosa by bacteria or viruses. The primary clinical symptoms are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and watery stools—some experience it five or six times a day, and others more than ten times a day. Increased frequency of stools can lead to symptoms of dehydration. Excessive loss of body fluids can cause electrolyte imbalance and dehydration, presenting symptoms such as pale complexion, cold limbs, fever, and decreased blood pressure. In such cases, it is essential to go to the hospital for intravenous fluids as soon as possible. Oral rehydration solutions can also be used, but if the patient experiences severe nausea and vomiting, intravenous administration of glucose, saline, and potassium chloride is necessary. (Please rehydrate under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Yang Chun Guang
Gastroenterology
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Is gastroenteritis contagious?

There are many causes of gastroenteritis, and whether it can be contagious depends mainly on the pathogen involved. For example, if gastroenteritis is caused by an infection with bacterial dysentery leading to gastrointestinal symptoms, this situation can be spread via the digestive tract and is contagious. However, if the gastroenteritis symptoms arise from exposure to air conditioning and getting a chill, this situation is not contagious. Therefore, patients with gastroenteritis must undergo routine blood and stool tests to identify the cause of the infection.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Does acute gastroenteritis cause constipation?

Acute gastroenteritis refers to acute inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, characterized by abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. This condition does not involve constipation. In cases of mild diarrhea caused by acute gastroenteritis, the general condition is good, with fewer than ten bowel movements, and the stool sometimes appears like egg drop soup. For more severe diarrhea, there might be more than ten bowel movements per day, and treatment should primarily focus on antidiarrheal, pain relief, and antiemetic medications. It is also important to rest adequately, hydrate promptly, and follow a diet of eating small, frequent meals. If the condition is severe, treatment might involve gastrointestinal decompression and parenteral nutrition.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Why is fasting recommended for acute gastroenteritis?

Acute gastroenteritis is an acute inflammation of the gastric and intestinal mucosa, which can manifest as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. On the first day of the illness, it is necessary to abstain from food and drink, as any stimulation from food or water can aggravate the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and increase the burden on the intestines. Therefore, at the onset of the illness, it is crucial to abstain from food and drink and to actively treat with medication, such as anti-diarrheal agents and antibiotics. As the condition progresses and treatment continues, it is appropriate to gradually reintroduce food, starting with easily digestible foods such as rice porridge, millet porridge, vegetable soup, and rice soup. It is still advisable to avoid hard, raw, cold, and spicy foods.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Acute gastroenteritis causes and symptoms

Acute gastroenteritis is common in summer and autumn, often caused by consuming unclean food. Consuming chilled watermelon or cola straight from the refrigerator can also trigger acute gastroenteritis. The primary symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Frequent diarrhea can lead to signs of dehydration in the body, such as sunken eyeballs and pale lips. For acute gastroenteritis, immediate fluid replacement therapy should be administered, and antibiotics should be used to control the infection along with medications to stop diarrhea and firm up the stools. (Please take medication under the guidance of a doctor)

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Written by Feng Ying Shuai
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Where to massage for acute gastroenteritis?

Acute gastroenteritis is a common clinical symptom, and we can usually alleviate this clinical symptom through massage. For the massage, we can choose some acupoints on the abdomen, such as Zhongwan, Xiawan, Liangqiu, and the Tianshu points beside the navel for massage. The massage technique should go from light to heavy. If it’s difficult to massage on the stomach, we can choose some acupoints on the distal limbs, including Zusanli, Liangqiu, Shang Juxu, and Xia Juxu, which are very good for relieving acute gastroenteritis. The duration for the massage at each acupoint is about 2-3 minutes. After the massage, we can further choose other acupoints based on differentiation; for example, if the person has excessive liver heat, the Taichong acupoint can be selected for massage to relieve some of the clinical symptoms of acute gastroenteritis.