What should I do about acute gastroenteritis?

Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 03, 2024
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Acute gastroenteritis typically presents with symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting, and sometimes accompanied by fever and chills. In such cases, it is important to rest, keep warm, avoid cold, and follow a diet that is light and easy to digest, such as rice porridge, soft noodles, etc. It is advisable to avoid raw, greasy, spicy, and alcoholic foods. Treatment should be based on the specific cause. For viral infections causing gastroenteric flu, antiviral and antidiarrheal astringents are commonly used. For bacterial infections causing infectious diarrhea, antibacterial and antidiarrheal treatments are needed, typically involving cephalosporins or quinolones. Generally, symptoms will gradually ease.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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What to do about acute gastroenteritis?

Acute gastroenteritis is considered to be caused by unclean food or bacterial and viral infections. It is important to actively provide symptomatic treatment. For nausea and vomiting, use antispasmodic and antiemetic medications; for repeated diarrhea and dehydration, use intestinal firming and antidiarrheal medications; for obvious bacterial infections, antibiotics should be used, preferably quinolones. Be sure to drink plenty of water and replenish fluids in a timely manner. During the acute phase, do not eat anything to avoid overburdening the gastrointestinal tract. After recovery, increase the consumption of vegetables to enhance nutrition and improve the body's resistance. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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How to rehydrate for gastroenteritis

Acute gastroenteritis is primarily characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea or vomiting, abdominal distension, fever, chills, etc. For fluid administration in such cases, the treatment varies based on the specific cause. If it is gastroenteritis caused by a viral infection, antiviral medications and astringents are typically used to stop diarrhea, along with rehydration. If it is bacterial enteritis, the type of fluid administered should primarily be anti-inflammatory. Moreover, if the patient experiences severe vomiting and diarrhea, accompanied by significant weakness, dizziness, poor skin turgor, and scanty urine, these are signs of dehydration. In such cases, the doctor will determine the severity of dehydration—whether it is mild, moderate, or severe—based on the patient's weight loss and will adjust the volume of fluids and electrolytes replenished accordingly.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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What to do about dehydration from acute gastroenteritis?

The main symptoms of acute gastroenteritis should include paroxysmal abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, bloating, and sometimes may be accompanied by fever, chills, and sore limbs, which are indicative of viral infection symptoms. If acute gastroenteritis leads to severe vomiting and diarrhea, combined with the inability to eat normally, dehydration symptoms are likely to occur, such as increased fatigue, dizziness, dry skin, and reduced urine output. In such cases, it is necessary to go to the hospital for treatment. Through relevant examinations, it can be clarified whether the condition is viral gastroenteritis or bacterial enteritis, to administer targeted treatments, such as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and electrolyte replenishment treatments, so as to avoid further aggravation.

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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
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How to treat acute gastroenteritis?

Acute gastroenteritis is quite urgent and is characterized by significant nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The treatment principle involves bed rest and symptomatic use of antiemetic, antispasmodic, antidiarrheal, and rehydrating medications. For milder cases, oral rehydration solutions can be consumed. If persistent vomiting occurs with obvious dehydration, it is timely to administer intravenous fluids to replenish relevant electrolytes, and, if necessary, inject drugs for antispasmodic and antiemetic purposes; For infectious diarrhea, sensitive antibiotics can be chosen. During treatment, it is important to drink water properly, eat vegetables, stay hydrated, eat smaller and more frequent meals, and avoid spicy and greasy foods.