What is acute gastroenteritis?

Written by Zhai Guo Dong
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 13, 2024
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Acute gastroenteritis often has a history of consuming unclean food, with an incubation period that usually ranges from several hours to several days, most commonly one to two days. The onset of acute gastroenteritis is typically characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea, urgent and increased bowel movements, nausea, vomiting, fever, and even convulsions. The frequency of bowel movements may increase to 10-30 times a day, and the patient may experience mild fever among other symptoms. Severe diarrhea can be accompanied by stools containing pus and blood, along with vomiting. In severe cases, patients may also experience dehydration and even shock. Therefore, patients with acute gastroenteritis should try to replenish energy, avoid exacerbation of the illness due to electrolyte imbalance, and prevent severe dehydration.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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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.)

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Written by Zhai Guo Dong
Gastroenterology
55sec home-news-image

What is acute gastroenteritis?

Acute gastroenteritis often has a history of consuming unclean food, with an incubation period that usually ranges from several hours to several days, most commonly one to two days. The onset of acute gastroenteritis is typically characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea, urgent and increased bowel movements, nausea, vomiting, fever, and even convulsions. The frequency of bowel movements may increase to 10-30 times a day, and the patient may experience mild fever among other symptoms. Severe diarrhea can be accompanied by stools containing pus and blood, along with vomiting. In severe cases, patients may also experience dehydration and even shock. Therefore, patients with acute gastroenteritis should try to replenish energy, avoid exacerbation of the illness due to electrolyte imbalance, and prevent severe dehydration.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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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.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Which department should I go to for acute gastroenteritis?

Acute gastroenteritis should be treated in the gastroenterology department of the hospital. Acute gastroenteritis is mostly caused by unclean food or excessive fatigue, with the main symptoms being abdominal pain and diarrhea, accompanied by signs of dehydration in the body. Treatment mainly involves the use of antibiotics to control the infection and antidiarrheal medications to treat diarrhea. It is important to promptly replenish fluids and water if there is significant dehydration. During treatment, a light diet should be maintained, eating small meals frequently, and avoiding spicy, stimulating, and greasy foods. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Causes of Acute Gastroenteritis

Acute gastroenteritis mostly occurs in summer and autumn, due to unhygienic eating habits and consumption of spoiled food. Additionally, a weak immune system or excessive fatigue can gradually lead to acute gastroenteritis. Therefore, it is important to prevent acute gastroenteritis by adopting a healthy lifestyle. This includes having meals regularly and in proper amounts, avoiding spoiled food, drinking plenty of water (preferably boiled water), ensuring the water is thoroughly boiled, maintaining a reasonable work-rest schedule, avoiding excessive fatigue, and eating less greasy and spicy food.