What causes sudden diarrhea and fever?
May 15, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhou Chao
Introduction
Sudden diarrhea and fever may be caused by indigestion, viral flu, acute gastroenteritis, or other reasons, and symptomatic treatment should be based on the specific condition. If the consumed food is spoiled or contaminated, bacteria present in the food may enter the body, nutrients in the food cannot be fully absorbed and are expelled from the body prematurely, while the gastrointestinal tract is stimulated by inflammatory factors.
Diarrhea refers to loose or watery stools. In general, sudden diarrhea accompanied by fever may be caused by indigestion, viral flu, acute gastroenteritis, or other reasons. Appropriate treatment should be based on the specific cause, as detailed below:
1. Indigestion
If consumed food is spoiled or contaminated, bacteria in the food may enter the body and irritate the gastrointestinal mucosa, causing abnormal gastric motility and inflammatory response. As a result, nutrients in food cannot be fully absorbed and are expelled from the body prematurely. Stimulation by inflammatory factors may lead to sudden onset of diarrhea and fever. If the patient’s mental state remains good, applying a wet towel to wipe the body can help reduce fever, and increasing fluid intake is recommended to prevent dehydration.
2. Viral Flu
This condition is primarily associated with viral infection. Close contact with an infected individual may allow the pathogenic virus to enter the respiratory tract via respiratory droplets, leading to viral flu. As the disease progresses, the virus may accelerate intestinal motility and disrupt the body's temperature regulation center, resulting in these symptoms. It is recommended that patients take antiviral medications such as oseltamivir phosphate granules or acetaminophen tablets under medical supervision.
3. Acute Gastroenteritis
If the living environment has poor hygiene conditions and food or water sources are contaminated, large amounts of bacterial toxins may accumulate in the body. These toxins abnormally stimulate the gastric mucosa, alter osmotic pressure, and impair mucosal blood circulation, leading to acute gastroenteritis. This activates the body's immune system and causes the aforementioned symptoms. Patients are advised to take medications such as smectite powder or levofloxacin hydrochloride capsules under a doctor's guidance.
In addition, similar symptoms may also be caused by bacterial dysentery, food poisoning, gastric ulcers, and other conditions. It is recommended to maintain a light diet in daily life and avoid greasy foods.
