What department should I go to for acute gastroenteritis?

Written by Yang Chun Guang

Gastroenterology

Updated on November 04, 2024

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Symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and fever may indicate acute gastroenteritis. It is recommended to register for the Department of Gastroenterology, as acute gastroenteritis is primarily treated within this specialty. However, if the hospital does not have a Department of Gastroenterology, you can register for the Department of Internal Medicine for further examination and treatment. But if a large number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and pus cells are found in the stool, it is likely not acute gastroenteritis but bacterial dysentery, and it is advisable to register with the Department of Infectious Diseases or proceed to an infectious disease hospital for formal treatment.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming

Gastroenterology

49sec

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What causes acute gastroenteritis?

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

50sec

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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.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua

Gastroenterology

1min 11sec

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How many days does acute gastroenteritis last?

The course of acute gastroenteritis generally lasts about 7 to 10 days. Patients typically have an acute onset, presenting with abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and abnormal stools. The abdominal discomfort is usually centered around the navel or the lower abdomen, predominantly characterized by intermittent cramping pain. Vomiting usually occurs more severely after eating and generally involves expelling stomach contents, without accompanying hematemesis or bile, and recurs frequently. Abnormal stools commonly involve more frequent bowel movements, colloquially known as diarrhea. Along with an increase in stool frequency, the stool tends to be looser in texture, and some patients may have watery stools, thus typically it presents as an acute episode. General treatment involves diet adjustment and, when necessary, the addition of some oral medications. Generally, conditions gradually improve over about 7 to 10 days. (Please take medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming

Gastroenterology

1min 2sec

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Symptoms and Treatment of Acute Gastroenteritis

Acute gastroenteritis is usually caused by exposure to cold or improper diet, also known as gastroenteric cold or bacterial enteritis, with common symptoms including abdominal pain and diarrhea. The abdominal pain caused by gastroenteric cold is usually not very severe, and diarrhea is mainly watery. It often accompanies symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, such as fever, chills, sore throat, and general body aches. Treatment mainly focuses on antiviral medications, combined with astringent hemostatic drugs, and a light diet is recommended. Bacterial enteritis caused by improper diet often leads to severe abdominal pain, and stools can be watery or mucous, and may even include pus and blood. The treatment for this condition primarily involves antibacterial therapy, such as cephalosporins or quinolones, and it is also important to maintain a light diet. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming

Gastroenterology

51sec

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Can acute gastroenteritis cause shock?

Acute gastroenteritis often manifests as symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, sometimes accompanied by fever, dizziness, fatigue, etc., often caused by factors such as exposure to cold or improper diet. These include what we refer to as viral enteritis and bacterial enteritis. In most cases, symptoms gradually alleviate after symptomatic treatment, and some may improve without treatment. However, a few patients, such as those with uncontrollable vomiting and diarrhea, coupled with an inability to eat, may experience worsening dizziness, significant fatigue, dry mouth, poor skin elasticity, and reduced urine output. These symptoms indicate the development of hypovolemic shock, which requires attention.