What should pregnant women do about gastroenteritis?

Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
Updated on December 13, 2024
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During pregnancy, if a pregnant woman experiences gastrointestinal inflammation, it can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea, mostly due to unhygienic dietary habits during pregnancy. For example, aside from avoiding raw, hard, or moldy foods, attention should be paid to adjusting the diet to include foods that are bland and easier to digest and absorb. For instance, consuming porridge such as millet porridge, soft noodles, etc., and moderately increasing the intake of fresh vegetables and fruits to enhance physical health. If the gastrointestinal inflammation leads to severe abdominal pain or diarrhea, it is necessary to go to the hospital promptly. After examination by a doctor, guided medication treatment should be carried out.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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The difference between a stomach cold and gastroenteritis

Gastrointestinal colds and gastroenteritis generally have similar symptoms. Gastrointestinal colds are caused by viral infections or heatstroke, causing mild fever, runny nose, mild nausea, diarrhea, etc., typically without substantive white blood cells or pathogens in the stool. Gastroenteritis, on the other hand, involves actual pathological changes in the gastrointestinal tract, such as from Helicobacter pylori or E. coli infections, and usually does not cause fever, runny nose, or other complications. Typical symptoms include intermittent abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and other digestive system symptoms.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Does acute gastroenteritis cause stomach pain?

Acute gastroenteritis, due to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, can cause gastric colic. Clinically, it may manifest as upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It often occurs in the summer and is directly related to improper diet. It can cause not only stomach pain but also electrolyte imbalance, intestinal perforation, and sepsis. Active use of medications should be undertaken for treatment, with attention to prevent dehydration. During the treatment period, eat a light diet, avoid spicy food, rest well, and keep the abdominal area warm.

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Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
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How long does acute gastroenteritis take to heal?

The natural course of acute gastroenteritis is about one to two weeks, so it is recommended that patients undergo regular treatment. Acute gastroenteritis is commonly seen in clinical practice, with patients generally presenting with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and abnormal stools. The main manifestation of stool abnormalities is an increase in the frequency of bowel movements, appearing as diarrhea, with the stools being watery. Additionally, patients may experience some fever and chills. Given the symptoms of acute gastroenteritis and its short duration, it is generally considered to be caused by viral or bacterial infections. Therefore, treatment can involve the use of anti-infective medications in small doses, especially when the patient has a fever. Other medications can include acid suppressants, mucosal protectants, antidiarrheals, and those affecting the intestinal flora, so the treatment generally has a good effect. Patients need not worry too much, and we adhere to a 1-2 week treatment period. (Medication should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Ying
Gastroenterology
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How to thoroughly treat acute gastroenteritis?

The main treatment methods for acute gastroenteritis are as follows. Firstly, the patient should rest in bed. If the patient has persistent vomiting, or shows signs of dehydration caused by vomiting, it is necessary to promptly rehydrate the patient. Regarding the diet, it is advisable for the patient to consume liquid or semi-liquid foods, such as porridge and rice soup, to prevent dehydration. Secondly, it is crucial to treat the symptoms. If the patient has uncontrollable vomiting, we can administer antiemetic medications to alleviate this symptom. Thirdly, in the case of antimicrobial treatment, common gastroenteritis may involve bacterial infections, which require antibiotics for targeted treatment of infectious diarrhea. However, it is important to avoid overuse or misuse of these antimicrobial drugs. Furthermore, attention must be paid to dietary habits. It is essential to wash hands before meals and after using the toilet, and to properly disinfect raw vegetables, fruits, and meats, which should be thoroughly cooked before consumption, to effectively prevent the occurrence of gastroenteritis.

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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.