What medications are good for gastroenteritis?
Disease description:
Last night I felt a bit chilled, and this morning I have been experiencing palpitations, nausea, and diarrhea. I suspect I may have a gastrointestinal flu. Could you please advise what medications would be appropriate for this condition?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Gastrointestinal cold, also known as gastrointestinal-type cold, the choice of medication mainly depends on the cause and symptoms.
1. Symptomatic treatment: For mild to moderate gastroenteritis, the priority is to replenish fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration. Oral rehydration salt solutions can be used to replace lost fluids and electrolytes. In addition, antiemetic medications such as domperidone and antidiarrheal agents like loperamide may help alleviate symptoms but should be used under a doctor's guidance.
2. Antiviral drugs: For gastroenteritis caused by viruses, there are currently no specific antiviral medications available. Treatment is primarily supportive, helping the patient get through the illness.
3. Antibiotics: If gastroenteritis is caused by bacterial infection, doctors may prescribe antibiotics. However, most cases of gastroenteritis are caused by viruses, which are unaffected by antibiotics. Therefore, antibiotics should not be used arbitrarily to avoid the problem of drug resistance caused by antibiotic abuse.
At the same time, patients with gastrointestinal cold should also pay attention to rest, keeping warm, avoiding cold exposure, and maintaining good dietary habits, focusing on bland, easily digestible foods and avoiding oily and spicy foods to promote recovery.
