Medications for Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is an infection or irritation of the gastrointestinal tract that commonly results in abdominal pain, diarrhea and/or vomiting. It may also be called food poisoning, traveler’s diarrhea, stomach flu, or intestinal flu.

Gastroenteritis can affect any age but is particularly common in children. Outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis can also occur regularly in places where a lot of people gather, such as cruise ships, college dormitories, daycare centers, or nursing homes. Anyone with a weakened immune system, such as those with cancer, HIV/AIDS, or taking certain medications (such as regular steroids) are also at higher risk of gastroenteritis.

What Causes Gastroenteritis?

There are several different causes of gastroenteritis; however, the most common ones include:

• Viruses, especially rotavirus in children, norovirus (a common cause of gastroenteritis in cruise ships)
• Bacteria, especially Campylobacter, Escherichia coli (E. coli), salmonella
• Parasites, such as Giardia.

Gastroenteritis is very contagious as the microbes that cause it are easily spread through contaminated food or water, person-to-person contact, and some viruses can be transmitted via infected droplets suspended in the air or through contaminated surfaces.

What are the Symptoms of Gastroenteritis?

Symptoms may develop within one to a few days after infection range from mild to severe.

Symptoms of gastroenteritis vary but may include:

• Abdominal pain
• Cramping
• Mild Dehydration
• Diarrhea (watery, urgent, frequent, and sometimes explosive bowel movements)
• Headache
• Fecal incontinence (loss of control over bowel motions)
• Loss of appetite
• Mild fever and chills
• Muscle aches and general body aches
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Poor feeding in infants
• Tiredness and general body weakness.

Symptoms usually last one to two days but may persist for up to ten days. Ring your doctor for advice first before going in for an appointment if you are worried about your condition as it as gastroenteritis is very contagious and you could risk spreading it.

Always talk to your doctor if your symptoms have lasted longer than five days or have got worse, not better, if there is blood or pus in your stools, if your abdominal pain is constant, or if you develop significant signs of dehydration such as extreme thirst, dark or strong-smelling urine or passing only small amounts of urine, dry lips and mouth, and a lack of tears, your skin doesn’t retract back when pinched, or feel very lethargic.

Infants are particularly prone to dehydration and you should seek further advice if their nappies have been dry for longer than 4 to 6 hours or they develop a sunken fontanel (the soft spot on the top of a baby’s head).

How Is Gastroenteritis Diagnosed?

Gastroenteritis is usually just diagnosed by your symptoms, for example, if you are suffering from diarrhea and/or vomiting your doctor will say you have gastroenteritis. Further testing is usually only conducted if symptoms are severe or persistent and may include stool samples to identify the cause.

How is Gastroenteritis Treated?

The main treatment for gastroenteritis is rest, fluids, and limiting your diet for a few days while you have symptoms. For example:

• Limit your intake of solid foods (this allows your stomach to settle)
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and dairy products
• Stop smoking or using products containing nicotine
• Avoid sugary, fatty or highly seasoned foods, instead eat bland, dry foods such as crackers, toast, rice or potatoes
• Take frequent small sips of liquid (thin broths, soups, diluted non-caffeinated drinks, and electrolyte replacement solutions)
• Avoid taking medications that may irritate your stomach further such as NSAIDs (eg, aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac). Acetaminophen may be used instead, but sparingly
• Continue breastfeeding if your baby has gastroenteritis and talk to your doctor about offering them rehydration solutions or regular formula.

Consider anti-diarrhea medications (eg, loperamide) to slow the diarrhea

Antibiotics are generally not given for most cases of gastroenteritis because they are ineffective if a virus is the cause and contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.