Causes of Acute Gastroenteritis

Written by Ren Zheng Xin

Gastroenterology

Updated on September 05, 2024

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Acute gastroenteritis mostly occurs in summer and autumn, due to unhygienic eating habits and consumption of spoiled food. Additionally, a weak immune system or excessive fatigue can gradually lead to acute gastroenteritis. Therefore, it is important to prevent acute gastroenteritis by adopting a healthy lifestyle. This includes having meals regularly and in proper amounts, avoiding spoiled food, drinking plenty of water (preferably boiled water), ensuring the water is thoroughly boiled, maintaining a reasonable work-rest schedule, avoiding excessive fatigue, and eating less greasy and spicy food.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua

Gastroenterology

1min 9sec

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How long to rehydrate for acute gastroenteritis

Acute gastroenteritis is relatively common in clinical settings. Generally, if patients receive fluid therapy, it may be appropriate for about five to seven days. For treating acute gastroenteritis with fluid therapy, symptomatic treatment is typically chosen, including drugs that protect the intestinal mucosa, stop diarrhea, and regulate the intestinal flora. Of course, if the patient develops a fever, a small dose of anti-infection treatment may be appropriately added, but the treatment course should not be too long, generally three to five days would be suitable. Of course, we generally consider acute gastroenteritis to be a self-limiting disease. Patients can exhibit symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, typically frequent watery stools, but without bloody stools. Therefore, treatment is mainly symptomatic, so patients should not worry too much. (Use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming

Gastroenterology

59sec

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How to treat gastroenteritis?

The treatment of gastroenteritis primarily depends on the cause and specific symptoms to determine the treatment plan. Exposure to cold or improper diet may cause acute gastroenteritis. In such cases, it is recommended to first check routine blood tests, C-reactive protein, stool routine, etc., to identify the cause. Gastroenteric flu can be treated with antiviral drugs and astringent antidiarrheal medications to achieve satisfactory results. Infectious diarrhea caused by bacterial infection generally uses antimicrobial drugs combined with antidiarrheal medications to also achieve satisfactory effects. Commonly used drugs include cephalosporins or quinolones anti-inflammatory. At the same time, it is important to pay attention to a light and easily digestible diet, and if diarrhea is severe, infusion treatment may be necessary to prevent dehydration.

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Written by Feng Ying Shuai

Traditional Chinese Medicine

1min 6sec

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Where to massage for gastroenteritis?

The acupoints commonly massaged for gastroenteritis mainly include those on the limbs and some local to the gastrointestinal tract. For the limbs, we can select acupoints on the lower limbs such as Liangqiu, Xuehai, Yinlingquan, Yanglingquan, Shangjuxu, Xiajuxu, and Gongsun for massage. It's sufficient to massage each acupoint for one to two minutes. In the abdominal area, we usually choose some frequently used acupoints, such as the Zhongwan, then Tianshu, as well as Daheng, Shangqu, or Liangmen for massage. For the upper limbs, we can select the acupoints like Shousanli and Neiguan to help alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms. Generally, we continue massaging each acupoint for one to two minutes and the massage technique progresses from light to heavy. We stop only when the symptoms of gastroenteritis, such as the pain, have eased. This is generally how it is done.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin

Gastroenterology

45sec

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Can I drink soy milk with acute gastroenteritis?

Patients with acute gastroenteritis should drink less soy milk during the onset of the disease. Although soy milk is rich in protein, it is not easy to digest and can aggravate the symptoms of gastroenteritis. The patient's diet should consist of eating smaller meals more frequently, focusing on foods that are easy to digest and low in fat. They can appropriately consume rice soup, noodles, and porridge. It is especially important to pay attention to food hygiene, washing hands before meals and after using the bathroom, and thoroughly heating up overnight food before eating. Avoid consuming raw, cold, spicy, or stimulating foods. Regular physical exercise should be maintained, and appropriate changes in clothing should be made on time with the change of seasons.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming

Gastroenterology

48sec

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What are the symptoms of acute gastroenteritis?

Acute gastroenteritis is one of the common diseases in gastroenterology, especially prevalent in the summer and autumn seasons. It is usually caused by exposure to cold or contaminated food. The main symptoms include abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Depending on the cause, symptoms can vary; for instance, a viral infection causing gastroenteric flu often accompanies symptoms such as dizziness, headache, fatigue, body aches, sore throat, or fever. Infections caused by contaminated food often lead to abdominal pain and diarrhea, with stools frequently appearing mucous or containing blood and pus. Lab tests often show an elevated white blood cell count.