Bacterial Gastroenteritis
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- What is bacterial gastroenteritis?
- Symptoms of bacterial gastroenteritis
- Causes of bacterial gastroenteritis
- Prevention of bacterial gastroenteritis
- Risk factors for bacterial gastroenteritis
- Complications of bacterial gastroenteritis
- When to see a doctor about bacterial gastroenteritis
- Diagnosis of bacterial gastroenteritis
- Conventional treatment of bacterial gastroenteritis
- Alternative/complementary treatment of bacterial gastroenteritis
- Living with bacterial gastroenteritis
- Caring for someone with bacterial gastroenteritis
Conventional treatment of bacterial gastroenteritis
Conventional treatment of bacterial gastroenteritis consists of the following:
Medication
This is the main way to reverse any potential adverse health symptoms of bacterial gastroenteritis:
- Antibiotics - the doctor will prescribe antibiotics to reduce the bacterial population in the gastrointestinal system, reduce symptoms and reduce disease length. Antibiotics will only work on a bacterial infection (not viral), so if viral gastroenteritis is suspected, they will not likely be prescribed
- Anti-diarrhoea medication - depending on the severity of the diarrhoea symptoms, the doctor provide this medication intravenously or a prescription for tablets
- Anti-nausea medication - depending on the severity of any nausea symptoms, the doctor may provide this medication intravenously or a prescription for tablets
- Electrolyte rebalancing powder - this powder is purchased over-the-counter at the pharmacy and is mixed with water. It contains the right balance of salts, sugars and minerals to help the body recover the electrolytes lost after vomiting and/or diarrhoea
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Dietary and lifestyle modifications
In addition to the medications (mainly the electrolytes, but also the other medications if symptoms are bad enough), the doctor will also recommend the following:
- Fluids - plenty of water should be given, in small amounts and at regular intervals and juice which has been diluted with water: the ratio should be 1/2 juice and 1/2 water
- Rest - plenty of bed rest will be recommended to help the body heal itself from the bacterial infection
- Soft foods - it will be recommended to eat foods that are soft and easily digested to reduce pressure on the digestive system (which needs to digest and absorb foods) in order to enable the digestive system time to recover from the bacterial gastroenteritis. The doctor will recommend soft foods, such as ripe bananas, rice and bread for a few days
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< 8: diagnosis 10: alternative treatment > Last reviewed: 30 October 2009 || Last updated: 18 January 2010
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
