How to treat acute gastroenteritis?

Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 26, 2024
00:00
00:00

The main principles of treating acute gastroenteritis clinically are to stop vomiting, stop diarrhea, relieve spasms, replenish fluids, and rest in bed symptomatically. For mild cases, oral intake of dilute salt water can be used to replenish lost body fluids. If there is frequent vomiting or obvious dehydration, intravenous fluids are necessary to maintain water and electrolyte balance. Sensitive antibiotics should be used to treat intestinal inflammation, but it is important to prevent antibiotic abuse. With active treatment, the prognosis for acute gastroenteritis is generally good. After treatment, attention should also be paid to diet; avoid eating unclean food, and consume less raw, cold, and spicy foods, while also paying attention to personal prevention.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhai Guo Dong
Gastroenterology
46sec home-news-image

How to alleviate gastroenteritis?

If the patient has gastroenteritis, we recommend that the patient should rest in bed as much as possible. For patients with mild conditions, we can advise oral intake of glucose and electrolytes to replenish the loss of body fluids. If there is persistent vomiting or evident dehydration, intravenous rehydration with glucose saline and other relevant electrolytes is necessary. We encourage the intake of light liquid or semi-liquid diet to prevent or treat mild dehydration. Additionally, injections of pain relievers, antispasmodic drugs, and antidiarrheal medications can be administered for symptomatic treatment. For infectious diarrhea, targeted antibiotics can be used, but it is advised to avoid their misuse.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
52sec home-news-image

What should pregnant women do about gastroenteritis?

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Ying
Gastroenterology
52sec home-news-image

Where does acute gastroenteritis come from?

Acute gastroenteritis is primarily an acute inflammation of the gastrointestinal mucosa. It is mainly characterized by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever, and is commonly seen in the summer and autumn seasons. It is primarily caused by improper diet, overeating, or consumption of raw, spoiled, or unclean food. The condition is mainly due to bacterial or toxin infection, often seen in group outbreaks or family clusters. It can be caused by the consumption of infected fish, meat, poultry, or seafood, or by leftovers contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus, among others. Moreover, accidental ingestion of strong acids, strong alkalis, or certain pesticides can also cause this disease.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Ying
Gastroenterology
1min 18sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
59sec home-news-image

How long does acute gastroenteritis hurt?

Acute gastroenteritis, due to spasms in the gastrointestinal tract, involves significant pain. If the intestinal inflammation is minor, the symptoms of abdominal pain usually improve noticeably after defecation. However, if the inflammation is severe, the abdominal pain can be intense, with more frequent episodes of diarrhea, and the pain lasts for a longer duration. Medical treatment involves using medication to relieve spasms and pain, using antibiotics to eliminate the inflammation, and appropriately supplementing fluids to maintain the balance of water and electrolytes. If necessary, spasm-relieving medication can be administered by injection. At the same time, it is important to maintain a reasonable routine, ensure plenty of rest, and observe a good prognosis with active treatment. (Note: Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor based on the specific condition.)