How to deal with acute gastroenteritis

Written by Li Ying
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 04, 2024
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When diagnosing acute gastroenteritis, we generally assess whether the symptoms match those of acute gastroenteritis. This typically involves examining the frequency of bowel movements, often more than ten times, with stool colors usually yellow-green. Some may appear like egg drop soup, while others have watery stools, and severe cases might include mucus, nausea, vomiting, reduced appetite, and complications like hypokalemia due to severe vomiting. Other symptoms include abdominal bloating and fever, and in severe cases, it may even lead to unconsciousness. Thus, it is important to conduct routine stool tests and check for white blood cell counts to aid in diagnosis followed by subsequent treatment. In terms of treatment, it principally includes bed rest and symptomatic relief, alongside possible antibiotic therapy. Maintaining hygiene, proper management of drinking water, and stool are essential preventive measures for such conditions.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
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Acute gastroenteritis treatment

The treatment of acute gastroenteritis should be based on the specific cause. For those cases caused by exposure to the cold or other reasons leading to gastrointestinal flu, the main treatment is antiviral and antidiarrheal. For infectious diarrhea caused by improper diet and other reasons, the treatment generally focuses on antibacterial and antidiarrheal measures. Generally, patients with mild acute gastroenteritis can still eat on their own, and other symptoms are not very severe, so they can be treated by taking oral medications. In more severe cases, such as significant vomiting and diarrhea, where the patient cannot eat, intravenous therapy may be necessary. In cases with severe symptoms such as dehydration, dry mouth, reduced urine output, and poor skin elasticity, hospitalization may be required.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
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Can I eat bread with gastroenteritis?

People with gastroenteritis should try to eat less bread, as bread is a type of fermented flour-based food that can cause increased gas production and acid reflux when consumed in excess. Due to some damage in the intestinal function of individuals with gastroenteritis and the disruption of gastrointestinal digestive functions, it is advisable to choose soft, easily digestible foods such as rice soup and vegetable soup, eat more vegetables, and drink plenty of fluids. If diarrhea occurs, it is important to actively use medications that stabilize the intestines and stop diarrhea. Severe diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which should be promptly treated with fluid replenishment.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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How to stop diarrhea in acute gastroenteritis

First of all, start with diet and daily habits by paying attention to keeping warm and avoiding catching a cold, especially for patients with gastrointestinal-type colds. The diet should consist of light and easy-to-digest foods, such as porridge and soft noodles, with some salt added to replenish electrolytes. Avoid eating foods that are too cold or greasy and spicy. Regarding medication, different treatments should be adopted according to different causes of the disease. For patients with gastrointestinal-type colds caused by viral infections, antiviral and astringent antidiarrheal medications are generally used. If the infection is caused by improper diet, the main treatment involves anti-inflammatory medications to achieve hemostasis.

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Written by Zhai Guo Dong
Gastroenterology
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How to alleviate gastroenteritis?

If the patient has gastroenteritis, we recommend that the patient should rest in bed as much as possible. For patients with mild conditions, we can advise oral intake of glucose and electrolytes to replenish the loss of body fluids. If there is persistent vomiting or evident dehydration, intravenous rehydration with glucose saline and other relevant electrolytes is necessary. We encourage the intake of light liquid or semi-liquid diet to prevent or treat mild dehydration. Additionally, injections of pain relievers, antispasmodic drugs, and antidiarrheal medications can be administered for symptomatic treatment. For infectious diarrhea, targeted antibiotics can be used, but it is advised to avoid their misuse.

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Acute gastroenteritis anti-inflammatory drugs

For acute gastroenteritis, if there is a bacterial infection, antibiotics can be used. Empirical use primarily involves quinolones or cephalosporins. If stool bacterial culture is possible, antibiotics sensitive to the results of the test should be chosen. However, it is important to note that if acute gastroenteritis is caused by a viral infection, the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory drugs is very limited. Therefore, it is advisable to diagnose which bacteria are more sensitive based on the stool sample, and then select the appropriate antibiotic. This approach is more targeted, and also less harmful to the body. The specific medication should still be primarily based on the diagnosis of the clinical doctor.