Acute gastroenteritis causes and symptoms

Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 02, 2024
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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 Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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Can I eat apples with acute gastroenteritis?

Apples are one of the essential fruits in our daily life, containing a rich array of nutrients, such as minerals, fruit acids, vitamins, fiber, etc., which are greatly beneficial to our human body. Acute gastroenteritis is usually caused by exposure to cold or improper diet, primarily characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and sometimes fever and chills. In this case, targeted treatment should be firstly applied, and the diet should consist mainly of light and easily digestible food, such as porridge and soft noodles, while avoiding raw, greasy, spicy foods, and alcoholic beverages. Apples are relatively cold in nature; it is best to avoid eating them raw under these circumstances. If there is a real desire to eat apples, steaming them before eating should be feasible.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
51sec home-news-image

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 Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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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 Peng Miao Yun
Internal Medicine
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Symptoms of acute gastroenteritis caused by Norovirus

Symptoms of acute gastroenteritis due to norovirus infection primarily involve gastrointestinal dysfunction and infection. The onset is usually sudden and often occurs in crowded places and communal dining settings. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, with diarrhea being a common symptom. Children frequently exhibit vomiting, while adults are more likely to experience abdominal pain and diarrhea. Severe diarrhea can lead to dehydration, thus it is important to promptly replenish fluids and electrolytes to correct gastrointestinal dysfunction.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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What foods should not be eaten with acute gastroenteritis?

There are also quite a few foods that should not be eaten during acute gastroenteritis. Firstly, spicy foods should be avoided, as the digestive function of the intestines is somewhat limited during gastroenteritis, and spicy foods can easily irritate the gastrointestinal tract, worsening the symptoms of gastroenteritis. Additionally, foods that are too cold or too hot should not be consumed. It is also advisable to avoid the stimulation of strong tea, coffee, and hard liquor. Instead, eat soft, easily digestible foods, consume less greasy food, and make sure to drink plenty of water. This helps to replenish fluids and prevent dehydration symptoms that might arise from gastroenteritis.