What should I do about acute enteritis?

Written by Wang Zhen Quan
Colorectal Surgery Department
Updated on September 13, 2024
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What should be done if one suffers from acute gastroenteritis? In general treatment, the first step is to eliminate the cause, discarding some unclean food that led to the illness; Secondly, rest appropriately according to the condition, with bed rest for severe cases; Thirdly, patients with severe vomiting and diarrhea should temporarily fast, and gradually introduce some light, easy-to-digest foods as the condition improves; Fourthly, it is advocated to use oral rehydration and salt supplementation to replenish the body fluids lost due to vomiting and diarrhea. Fifthly, keep the abdomen moderately warm; record the frequency and characteristics of the stool; accurately record the amount of urine, paying attention to these aspects. In terms of medication treatment: This includes controlling intra- and extra-intestinal infections and medications that protect the gastric mucosa, as well as treatments involving microecological preparations. The third aspect is to correct dehydration and electrolyte imbalance: during the initial stages of diarrhea, at home, one can use some rice soup, or add a bit of sugar and salt, alternating with plain water and sugar to prevent dehydration. For mild or moderate dehydration, if the patient does not have vomiting or abdominal distension, oral rehydration solutions may be sufficient. In cases of severe dehydration or when the overall condition is poor, indicating potassium, sodium, chloride electrolyte imbalances, and acidosis, intravenous fluid therapy in a hospital is necessary. It is also important to note that both oral rehydration solutions and oral medications should be used correctly under the guidance of a doctor, and should not be taken without professional advice.

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Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
1min 7sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of enteritis?

Enteritis is generally divided into chronic enteritis and acute enteritis. Acute enteritis usually has severe symptoms and develops rapidly. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and fever. In the case of chronic enteritis, symptoms can include mucous stools, bloody pus stools, and abdominal pain, as well as nausea and vomiting. Therefore, during acute enteritis, symptomatic treatment using anti-inflammatory drugs generally cures it within about three days. However, the treatment for chronic enteritis differs from that of acute enteritis since it involves a sterile inflammation, and anti-inflammatory drugs are generally not required outside the acute phase. So, when you are diagnosed with acute enteritis, do not worry; it can usually be quickly cured with some anti-inflammatory medication.

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Written by Wang Zhen Quan
Colorectal Surgery Department
1min 17sec home-news-image

Is it useful to take probiotics for enteritis?

Some patients may ask if probiotics are useful for enteritis. A large number of studies have shown that dysbiosis of the gut microbiota can cause enteritis, and patients with enteritis generally experience a disruption of the gut microbiota, especially those who have had the condition for a longer period, often have this situation of gut microbiota imbalance. Therefore, appropriately taking probiotics should be beneficial for the recovery of the gut, because probiotics inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria in the gut, adhere to the intestinal mucosa to form a protective layer, and prevent attacks on the intestinal mucosa by harmful microbiomes. Additionally, probiotics can produce various enzymes involved in the digestion of food in the gut and other physiological processes; moreover, probiotics can also regulate the activity of immune factors in the gut, enhancing intestinal immunity. Thus, probiotics play a very positive role in preventing and treating symptoms that arise from enteritis. However, patients with enteritis also need to supplement appropriate probiotics under the guidance of a doctor, choosing probiotics that meet the different needs of different individuals to improve related symptoms.

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Written by Li Ying
Gastroenterology
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How to treat enteritis?

Patients with enteritis mainly suffer from a series of symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc., due to viral and bacterial infections. Severe cases can lead to dehydration. Therefore, while providing symptomatic and etiological treatments, it is crucial to pay attention to dietary adjustments. This involves eating less irritating food and avoiding raw and cold foods, including contaminated water and uncooked fruits and vegetables, which should be thoroughly heated. Additionally, it's important to avoid uncooked eggs, meat, poultry, and other such foods, as well as cold foods, spicy peppers, strong tea, coffee, etc. Moreover, quitting smoking and alcohol is essential, as alcohol can particularly aggravate the intestines. It is also important to develop good dietary and lifestyle habits.

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Written by Wang Zhen Quan
Colorectal Surgery Department
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What to do if enteritis causes a fever?

Some patients with enteritis will develop fever as a complication. In treating the complication of fever in enteritis, we should actively treat it based on the cause of enteritis and manage the fever symptomatically. To reduce fever in enteritis, we can first use physical cooling methods, such as turning on the air conditioning, lowering the room temperature, or wearing less clothing. It is important to protect the abdomen from getting cold during this time. When the fever is severe, it is advisable to replenish with saline solutions, etc., to improve dehydration and balance electrolyte disturbances. It is also important to seek medical attention in a timely manner and to undergo treatment under the guidance of a doctor. For individuals who are suitable for antibiotic treatment, antibiotics should be administered based on the specific needs of the condition, and the treatment should include fever reduction, heat clearing, and anti-inflammatory measures according to the specific clinical situation.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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What to do with infant enteritis?

When an infant has enteritis and frequently diarrhea, it is essential to treat this condition. First, you should administer appropriate anti-inflammatory medication. Additionally, medications that stop diarrhea and regulate intestinal flora are needed. If the infant has numerous bouts of diarrhea, followed by reduced urine output or cries without tears, it indicates dehydration. In such cases, it's important to replenish fluids, possibly through oral rehydration salts. If the infant shows significant restlessness or cries without any tears at all, or if there is a noticeable decrease in urine output, fluid replenishment therapy is necessary.