How to treat severe gastroenteritis?

Summer is here, and that means certain illnesses are coming with the season. Generally speaking, diseases that often occur in summer are related to the stomach and intestines, such as severe gastroenteritis, intestinal cramps and other diseases. These diseases usually have one common feature, that is, rapid onset and constant pain. This type of disease has a huge impact on patients. Let us now learn how to treat severe gastroenteritis.

The main symptoms of gastroenteritis are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, etc. In severe cases, it can lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, shock, etc. Patients often present with nausea and vomiting first, followed by diarrhea, 3-5 times a day or even for dozens of days. The stools are mostly watery, dark yellow or green, and foul-smelling, and may be accompanied by abdominal cramps, fever, body aches, and other symptoms. Specific treatment methods are as follows:

1. Replenish fluids

If you are unlucky enough to get a bacterial infection, these bacteria irritate your intestines and cause you to lose a lot of water through vomiting and diarrhea. At this point, you need to drink plenty of fluids to prevent collapse. Plain water is the best fluid to drink, followed by other clear liquids such as apple juice, broth or stock. Soda will work too, but let the bubbles dissipate first. A quick way to get rid of the bubbles is to pour the soda into two cups repeatedly. When replenishing water, do not swallow it all in one breath to avoid inducing vomiting again.

2. Supplement electrolytes

Both vomiting and diarrhea cause loss of important electrolytes - potassium, sodium, and glucose. You can replenish this by sipping electrolyte drinks, such as oral rehydration salts. Or you can mix it yourself: mix fruit juice (containing potassium) with 1/2 teaspoon of honey or corn syrup (containing glucose) and a pinch of salt (sodium chloride).

3. Avoid antacids

Antacids reduce stomach acid, but they also reduce your ability to fight bacteria. If you take antacids, it may cause bacteria to multiply rapidly and in large numbers.

4. Don’t rush to stop diarrhea

Diarrhea means your body is trying to eliminate toxins. In some cases, taking antidiarrheal medicines may interfere with the body's ability to fight infection. Therefore, it is best to let nature take its course and allow harmful bacteria in the intestines to be excreted from the body. If you think you need to take medication, please consult your doctor first.

In summary, there are generally four types of treatments for severe gastroenteritis. However, these are simple treatment measures that can prevent the patient's condition from becoming more serious in a short period of time. If you are interested in these four simple treatment methods, you can learn more about them from the above content and supplement your common sense.