Is gastroenteritis contagious?

Written by Yang Chun Guang

Gastroenterology

Updated on September 18, 2024

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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.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin

Gastroenterology

42sec

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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.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming

Gastroenterology

1min 7sec

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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.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming

Gastroenterology

1min

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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.)

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming

Gastroenterology

52sec

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What should I do about acute gastroenteritis?

Acute gastroenteritis typically presents with symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting, and sometimes accompanied by fever and chills. In such cases, it is important to rest, keep warm, avoid cold, and follow a diet that is light and easy to digest, such as rice porridge, soft noodles, etc. It is advisable to avoid raw, greasy, spicy, and alcoholic foods. Treatment should be based on the specific cause. For viral infections causing gastroenteric flu, antiviral and antidiarrheal astringents are commonly used. For bacterial infections causing infectious diarrhea, antibacterial and antidiarrheal treatments are needed, typically involving cephalosporins or quinolones. Generally, symptoms will gradually ease.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming

Gastroenterology

50sec

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Can I eat apples with acute gastroenteritis?

Apples are one of the essential fruits in our daily life, containing a rich array of nutrients, such as minerals, fruit acids, vitamins, fiber, etc., which are greatly beneficial to our human body. Acute gastroenteritis is usually caused by exposure to cold or improper diet, primarily characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and sometimes fever and chills. In this case, targeted treatment should be firstly applied, and the diet should consist mainly of light and easily digestible food, such as porridge and soft noodles, while avoiding raw, greasy, spicy foods, and alcoholic beverages. Apples are relatively cold in nature; it is best to avoid eating them raw under these circumstances. If there is a real desire to eat apples, steaming them before eating should be feasible.