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Acute Gastroenteritis
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.
How long does acute gastroenteritis take to get better?
Acute gastroenteritis is one of the common diseases of the digestive system, and occurs more frequently in the summer and autumn seasons. During these seasons, the hot weather can lead to food spoilage. Additionally, people often like to eat cold drinks and use air conditioning, which can easily trigger acute gastroenteritis. It usually presents with symptoms such as intermittent abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and bloating, and sometimes symptoms like fever and chills may also appear. In such cases, examinations like routine blood tests, stool tests, and C-reactive protein tests can be conducted to determine whether it is infectious diarrhea or a gastrointestinal type of cold, and then targeted treatment can be applied. How long it will take to recover depends on specific symptoms and the patient's medical history among other factors. Generally, for a gastrointestinal cold, symptoms typically alleviate in about 2-3 days; for bacterial gastroenteritis, recovery might take a bit longer, generally about 3-5 days. If the patient is elderly, frail, or has underlying conditions such as chronic bronchitis, heart failure, or diabetes, the recovery might take slightly longer, but generally it can still be cured.
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.
What department should I go to for acute gastroenteritis?
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.
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.)
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.
Symptoms of acute gastroenteritis caused by Norovirus
Symptoms of acute gastroenteritis due to norovirus infection primarily involve gastrointestinal dysfunction and infection. The onset is usually sudden and often occurs in crowded places and communal dining settings. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, with diarrhea being a common symptom. Children frequently exhibit vomiting, while adults are more likely to experience abdominal pain and diarrhea. Severe diarrhea can lead to dehydration, thus it is important to promptly replenish fluids and electrolytes to correct gastrointestinal dysfunction.
acute gastroenteritis symptoms
Acute gastroenteritis caused by catching cold is due to viral infection. This condition often accompanies symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection and acute gastroenteritis, such as fever, chills, dizziness and weakness, generalized body ache, sore throat, and other symptoms of viral infection, along with abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. The abdominal pain is usually not very pronounced, and the stool is mainly watery. Laboratory tests generally do not show significant abnormalities. Acute gastroenteritis caused by bacterial infection can also present with fever, chills, chills, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc. The abdominal pain is often more pronounced and typically presents as episodic periumbilical pain. The stool characteristics are often mucous or jelly-like, and may even include pus and blood. Laboratory tests often show clear abnormalities, such as elevated white blood cells, pus cells in stool, white blood cells, or occult blood, etc.
What to avoid eating with gastroenteritis
Patients with gastroenteritis need to pay special attention to their diet, especially avoiding spicy, greasy, and irritating foods. They should also avoid strong tea and coffee, as these are necessary to abstain from. It is advisable to consume more bland or easily digestible foods, such as noodles, egg custard, and rice soup. Under strict dietary control, if symptoms do not improve, medication may be necessary. Common medications include those that suppress gastric acid secretion and protect the gastric mucosa, as well as antibiotics. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)
Is gastroenteritis contagious?
There are many causes of gastroenteritis, and whether it can be contagious depends mainly on the pathogen involved. For example, if gastroenteritis is caused by an infection with bacterial dysentery leading to gastrointestinal symptoms, this situation can be spread via the digestive tract and is contagious. However, if the gastroenteritis symptoms arise from exposure to air conditioning and getting a chill, this situation is not contagious. Therefore, patients with gastroenteritis must undergo routine blood and stool tests to identify the cause of the infection.