Learn about gastroenteritis

Article written by Master, Doctor Le Thi Thanh Huong - Emergency Medicine Doctor - Emergency Resuscitation Department - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.

Gastroenteritis is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection of the gut, leading to diarrhea and vomiting. This condition can occur at any age but is especially common in young children. Most are due to infection with a virus called rotavirus. Meanwhile, cases in adults are often caused by norovirus infection or bacterial food poisoning.

The main symptoms of gastroenteritis are:
Sudden vomiting. Have loose bowel movements. Feeling tired. Mild fever. Some people also have other symptoms such as loss of appetite, upset stomach, aching limbs and headaches.
Symptoms usually appear a day after being infected. They usually last less than a week but can sometimes last longer.

When you have gastroenteritis, you don't necessarily need to see a doctor right away, but you can stay at home to monitor and manage until you feel better because most of the time, the disease can go away on its own. Treatments you can do yourself include:
Rest. It is recommended to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, to compensate for the loss of water due to vomiting and diarrhea. You should use water with electrolyte replacement: Electrolyte water bought from supermarkets (Pocari, Revive,...), or buy electrolyte tablets/packs (Oresol, Hydrit,...) at stores. medicine mixed with water (according to the ratio recommended by the manufacturer) to drink instead of normal spring water / boiled and cooled water. In addition, can also drink more fruit juices. For children, carbonated drinks or fruit juices should be avoided as they can make diarrhea worse. Babies should continue to feed as usual, with their usual breast milk or formula.
Divide the meal into many small meals, each meal should only eat a small amount of simple food - easy to digest such as: Porridge, soup, rice, noodles and bread. If there is fever or pain, add Paracetamol. If you have severe vomiting or diarrhea, you can try an antiemetic (such as Metoclopramide) and/or an antidiarrheal medicine (such as Loperamide, Smecta). Gastroenteritis can spread very easily. Therefore, you should wash your hands often while you are sick and stay away from work or school until at least 48 hours after your symptoms have gone to reduce the risk of transmission.
However, some cases can be severe and you need to see a doctor immediately if you have the following signs:
Signs of severe dehydration: Persistent dizziness, little or no urine, or perceptual disorder. Diarrhea with bloody stools or green vomit. Persistent vomiting and inability to drink to replace fluid loss. Fever ≥ 38 degrees C (≥ 100.4 degrees F). Other severe signs (especially in children): Shortness of breath, tachypnea, stiff neck, appearance of purpura (erythematous erythema, which does not go away with pressure or tension) or signs of bulging fontanelles in infants. Your digestive symptoms do not improve after a day. Diarrhea that lasts for more than a week or vomiting for three or more days. You have serious underlying medical conditions: Kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or a weak immune system... Your doctor may recommend sending a sample of your stool to a lab to check for the cause of your symptoms. proof. Antibiotics may be prescribed if the results show that you have a bacterial infection.

The bacteria/viruses that cause gastroenteritis can spread very easily from person to person.
You can become infected by putting in your mouth very small amounts (microscopic, invisible to the naked eye) of bacterial/viral secretions from the vomit or feces of an infected person, such as through:
Close contact with a person with gastroenteritis: The sick person can exhale tiny particles of vomit that are suspended in the air for you to inhale. Touch contaminated surfaces or objects, then put food in your mouth or bring your hands to your nose/mouth. Eating contaminated food: By handling food or touching food by an infected person without washing their hands first; eating food that has been in contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, food that has not been properly stored and cooked at the right temperature;... A person with gastroenteritis is most likely to contract the infection from when their symptoms started until 48 hours after the symptoms were gone. Even so, they can also be contagious for a short time before and after.

You can't always avoid getting gastroenteritis but following the advice below can help you stop the spread:
Stay off work, or keep your child out of school until at least 48 hours after the symptoms. The infected person should also avoid visiting anyone in the hospital during this time. Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom and before preparing food. Don't just wash your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizers/gels as they are not always effective. Disinfect surfaces or objects that may be contaminated. Ideally, you should use household cleaners with bleach. Wash contaminated items such as clothing or bedding separately in hot water. Do not share towels, sheets, cutlery or utensils with someone who is sick. Flush stool or vomit in the toilet or potty and clean the area around. Practice good food hygiene and safety. Make sure food is refrigerated properly, always cook food thoroughly, and never eat food that has passed its use-by date. For young children, you should give the rotavirus vaccine to reduce your child's risk of developing gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis needs to be treated early to avoid unwanted health risks.