What causes acute gastroenteritis?

Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
Updated on February 03, 2025
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Acute gastroenteritis is a common and frequently occurring disease during the summer and autumn seasons, because the temperature is very high during this period, making food easily spoil. Additionally, consuming cold drinks and using air conditioning can easily lead to catching a cold. Therefore, the most common causes of acute gastroenteritis are likely due to catching cold or improper diet. Abdominal pain and diarrhea are the main symptoms, and they vary slightly. If the acute gastroenteritis is caused by bacterial infection, the abdominal pain and diarrhea can be quite severe. The diarrhea can be watery, or it can be mucous-like or even dysenteric. For gastroenteric flu, the abdominal pain is generally not so severe, and the stools are mostly loose watery stools.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Can acute gastroenteritis cause shock?

Acute gastroenteritis, if it causes severe vomiting and frequent diarrhea, can lead to obvious dehydration and may cause shock. During shock, symptoms such as a drop in blood pressure, pale complexion, lethargy, and physical weakness appear, and timely fluid replenishment therapy is necessary. Additionally, proactive use of anti-inflammatory and anti-infection medications, as well as drugs that stabilize the intestines and stop diarrhea, can reduce symptoms of diarrhea. Moreover, during treatment, it is important to adjust the diet, eat smaller and more frequent meals, and consume more vegetables and fruits to supplement plant-based fibers.

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

Acute enteritis can be caused either by exposure to pathogenic wind, cold, and dampness, or by unclean diet and excessive consumption of raw and cold food. At this time, we would choose some acupoints with good effects, such as the Liangqiu point on our feet, for moxibustion. The Liangqiu point is mainly used to treat some acute conditions and is considered an Xi (cleft) point. During moxibustion, we can use either suspended moxibustion or ginger-separated moxibustion, both of which are effective. Additionally, we can also choose the Tianshu point on our abdomen. The Tianshu point is located on the abdomen and is the Mu (alarm) point of the large intestine; it can regulate acute gastroenteritis. Typically, we use suspended moxibustion for the Tianshu point. If the cold is particularly severe, we can also slice a thin piece of ginger, place it on top, and perform ginger-separated moxibustion. This helps to warm the meridians, dispel cold, relieve pain, and regulate gastroenteritis.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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Is acute gastroenteritis contagious?

Acute gastroenteritis is generally considered a self-limiting disease that is not contagious. The course of the disease is about a week, after which patients will gradually recover. Most patients with acute gastroenteritis have a history of unhygienic dietary practices, and the condition is caused by viral or bacterial infections. From a symptomatic perspective, the most obvious reasons for seeking medical advice are abdominal discomfort or abnormal stools. Abdominal discomfort can manifest as abdominal pain and bloating, with paroxysmal colic being relatively common in clinical practice. Of course, some patients also experience nausea and vomiting, with the vomit consisting of gastric contents and not accompanied by hematemesis, among other symptoms. Abnormal stools are often characterized by diarrhea, typically with an increased frequency of bowel movements, watery in nature, and possibly accompanied by bloody stools. The treatment of acute gastroenteritis generally focuses on symptomatic relief, including the consumption of easily digestible and clean foods. Treatment may include the use of gastroprotective agents, antispasmodics, and modifiers of the intestinal flora. Of course, if the patient has significant diarrhea, antidiarrheal medications may be added for symptomatic treatment.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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Is acute gastroenteritis a stomach disease?

Acute gastroenteritis is generally considered an infectious disease, not merely a stomach ailment. Clinically, acute gastroenteritis is commonly thought to be caused by viruses or bacteria, especially due to insufficient hygiene. The typical clinical manifestations include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. Of course, some patients may also experience fever. Diarrhea and vomiting are the most common symptoms observed clinically, with vomiting generally involving stomach contents without blood. Diarrhea is characterized by an increased frequency of bowel movements, with stools being loose and watery, particularly frequent at night, making the symptoms of diarrhea especially prominent in patients seeking medical attention. Treatment for patients generally focuses on symptomatic relief, although in cases of recurrent fever, the cautious use of antibiotics may be considered. (Please use medications under the guidance of a professional physician.)

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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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.