Diagnostics | Gastroentestinal infections (gastroenteritis)

Diagnostics

In most cases, the doctor will conduct an examination interview and a physical examination. However, as a further diagnostic procedure, a stool sample can also be taken, which can be used to determine the pathogen if necessary.

When do I have to go to the doctor?

The most dangerous complication of a gastrointestinal infection is severe dehydration. If the patient cannot provide himself or herself with sufficient water by drinking, a doctor should be consulted. He or she can ensure the supply of water and nutrients through the vein and can also administer medication to reduce vomiting.

In addition, a doctor should be called in if other complaints besides vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain occur, joint pain, kidney pain and pneumonia are just a few examples. If the gastrointestinal infection lasts longer than 6 days, a doctor should also be consulted to rule out other diseases or to prevent a dangerous course. An antibiotic only works against bacteria.

Since the gastrointestinal infection is mostly caused by viruses, antibiotics are useless in this case. However, there are also some diarrhea illnesses, which are caused by bacteria. They are characterized by a more violent course, such as bloody stools and a flu-like weakening.

They are also usually longer lasting. In these cases, an antibiotic must often be used. Fortunately, these bacterial diarrheal diseases have become rather rare in Germany.

Food poisoning is characterized by the fact that it causes symptoms within a few hours after eating. These are often nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, as with a gastrointestinal infection, which makes it difficult to differentiate. However, food poisoning can also cause nerve paralysis of various kinds, liver complaints, fever and reddening of the skin.For this reason, complex new symptoms together with gastrointestinal complaints can be assumed to be food poisoning shortly after food intake.

What to do in case of gastrointestinal infection?

In most cases a gastrointestinal infection cannot be treated causally. Unless it was caused by a bacterium, in which case an antibiotic can be administered. Usually this is followed by a symptomatic therapy, which is mainly aimed at compensating for the loss of fluids and electrolytes.

Mineral water and unsweetened herbal teas are particularly suitable for compensation. Sweet drinks, such as cola, which is often given for illnesses, should be avoided. This is because sugar causes even more water to be drawn into the intestine, further increasing the loss of fluid.

Zwieback and clear soups are suitable foods, especially after vomiting has subsided after one or two days. In addition to these measures, bed rest should be maintained in order not to overexert oneself, as the body needs enough strength to fight the pathogen. Usually the body alone is able to fight the disease and no further measures need to be taken.

In the case of diarrhoea in small children or the elderly, it may sometimes be necessary to give them special electrolyte-sugar solutions, as they are more sensitive to fluid loss. Especially elderly people with pre-existing conditions are at risk. This special liquid contains electrolytes such as sodium, potassium chloride and common salt as well as the nutrient glucose.

In extreme cases, a hospital stay is necessary to supply liquid and electrolytes via the vein. To further compensate for the loss of electrolytes, eating bananas for potassium loss and salt sticks for sodium loss helps. If so, it is best to consume both so that both electrolytes are balanced.

In case of very severe nausea or diarrhea, medication can be purchased in the pharmacy to relieve these symptoms. Loperamide and activated carbon, for example, help against diarrhoea, but they should not be used in children. During a gastrointestinal infection, the patients are allowed to eat anything they feel like.

In most cases, however, they have no appetite or even react to a meal with nausea. They can be offered bread, rusk or soup, which is particularly easily digestible and tastes less intense. However, it is even more important during this time that the patients drink enough.

If this works, you can stir fruit juices or some sugar into the drink to provide the body with some calories and minerals. Homeopathy has not yet been proven to cure diseases or accelerate their healing. However, there is a large following of homeopathy, which has developed a wide variety of preparations.

There are also some remedies for gastrointestinal infections and their individual complaints, such as Arsenicum album, Cocculus and Ipecacuanha, for example. Try these remedies and see for yourself. The concentration in which they are sold cannot cause significant side effects, so they are sold over the counter.