Is acute gastroenteritis a serious danger?

Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
Updated on April 03, 2025
00:00
00:00

Acute gastroenteritis is quite common in everyday life. If the symptoms are mild, the harm is not particularly great, and symptoms can include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and physical weakness. By using medication, recovery can generally be gradual over 2-3 days. If the symptoms are more severe, such as long-term recurrent diarrhea, it can lead to body dehydration, sunken eye sockets, dizziness, and headaches. Further dehydration can cause shock symptoms, such as decreased blood pressure and a thin pulse. It is necessary to visit a hospital in a timely manner, hydrate according to the type of dehydration, and treat with intestinal solidifiers, antidiarrheal, and antibiotic medications. (Please follow medical advice when using medications.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
48sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
1min home-news-image

How many days to get an IV for acute gastroenteritis?

Acute gastroenteritis can be divided into bacterial enteritis and gastroenteric flu. When this condition occurs, it is first necessary to conduct relevant examinations such as routine blood tests, C-reactive protein, and routine stool tests. After identifying the specific cause, targeted treatment can be administered. Generally, for mild acute gastroenteritis, treatment can be achieved through oral medication. If symptoms of severe vomiting and diarrhea are present, and normal eating is impossible, then infusion therapy is required. As for the duration of infusion therapy, it depends on the specific situation; generally, if it is not very severe, a complete cure can be achieved in two to three days. If the inflammation is more severe, and the patient is elderly, weak, or has underlying diseases, the duration of infusion therapy may be appropriately extended. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
1min 11sec home-news-image

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.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
42sec home-news-image

Acute gastroenteritis causes and symptoms

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)