Treatment of Gastroenteritis

The treatment of gastroenteritis depends on the form of infection and the severity of the attack. The majority of cases in the UK are caused by virus rather than bacteria, which means that antibiotic treatment would be ineffective. Although antibiotics may be prescribed if a specific bacteria is involved, it is usually best to avoid them as they will also kill the 'friendly' bacteria in the gut that aid digestion.

In severe cases where there is dehydration, the patient may be treated in hospital, where fluids can be given intravenously. If the patient has contracted a highly infectious strain, they may be isolated in hospital until they have been tested negative for the disease.

Patients at home should make sure that they replace the fluids that have been lost by vomiting or diarrhoea in order to prevent dehydration. This may be done by taking small, frequent sips of water, weak squash or clear soda. Caffeinated drinks such as tea and coffee should be avoided, as should alcohol, fruit juice or milk. Babies should be given their normal feed.

Babies, children and the elderly are at high risk of becoming dehydrated, and may be recommended to take an oral re-hydration solution by their GP. These solutions contain the correct balance of sugars and salts for the body, thus encouraging re-hydration. A homemade version can be made by dissolving half a teaspoon of salt, half a teaspoon of baking soda and four tablespoons of sugar to a litre of water.

Avoiding food will not help to cure gastroenteritis, and so patients should start to introduce a light diet as soon as the acute symptoms have passed. To start with, bland, easy-to-digest foods such as crackers, toast, pasta, rice and chicken should be eaten, whilst avoiding dairy products, nicotine, caffeine, alcohol and fatty or highly seasoned foods. The patient should gradually work up to a highly-nutritious diet, packed with protein and vitamins to help build themselves back up again.

If the patient must travel or get through a social event, they may want to take an over-the-counter medicine to stop diarrhoea. The safest and most effective contain loperamide; however, these medications may have side-effects such as stomach cramps and dizziness. Anti-diarrhoea medicines should not be given to children under the age of 12.