Therapy of a gastro-enteritis
A gastrointestinal flu usually ends by itself within a few days to a maximum of 2 weeks. A drug therapy is not necessary in most cases. Since most cases are caused by viruses, antibiotics are rarely necessary and should only be used if the bacterial cause is proven.
Antibiotics are ineffective with viruses. The most important antibiotics used are metronidazole, ciprofloxacin or trimetoprim in combination with sulfmethoxazole. All these preparations are excellently suited for various germs in the intestine, so that an exact determination of the bacterium is not always necessary.
In all cases it is important to compensate for the loss of fluid due to diarrhoea as well as the loss of important salts in the body. This loss can lead to dehydration of the body and in extreme cases can be life-threatening. Especially babies and elderly people are threatened by dehydration quite quickly.
A stay in hospital is then necessary to compensate for the loss of fluid and salt by administering fluid directly into the body’s vascular system, the so-called “drip”. Outside of the hospital, it is important to keep the loss of fluid as low as possible by drinking enough. Tea, especially herbal teas such as black tea or chamomile tea, are particularly suitable for this purpose, as they are also said to have a calming effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
Peppermint and ginger tea can also soothe the “grumbling”, highly active stomach and relieve nausea. Cola is also very well suited, which, due to its high sugar content, additionally promotes the absorption of fluids into the body. From the field of naturopathy, healing earth has also proven to be a useful additive in drinks.
For the simultaneous replacement of lost salts (electrolytes) there are also special solutions available in pharmacies, the so-called rehydration solutions, which exactly compensate for the loss of salts. However, these mixtures can also be easily made from recipes that can be found on the Internet. If the diarrhea persists or should it be stopped on certain occasions, the drug Loperamid® or Butylscopolamin (Buscopan®) can be used in exceptional cases, which can stop the diarrhea by stopping the intestinal movements.
Perenterol® is available as a natural alternative and contains a yeast fungus that inhibits the growth of harmful intestinal bacteria. In cases of severe nausea, a remedy for nausea such as Metoclopramide (=Paspertin ) is often extremely helpful to make the disease tolerable to some extent.Since a food intake seems impossible in most cases, chamfered in the first days of the illness is usually no large problem for the concerning. If a food intake is possible, then it applies to take as careful a food as possible to itself.
At the beginning light food such as rusk, clear soups, bananas, grated apple, gruel soup, salt sticks or also white bread are suitable outstanding. Salt sticks and clear soups can also compensate for the loss of salt, especially sodium. The intake of food should be started again as early as possible to stimulate the intestinal movements.
Many doctors also recommend the intake of so-called probiotics. These consist of bacteria that occur naturally in the intestine and should help to bring the intestinal flora damaged by the pathogens back into balance. The treatment of gastroenteritis also depends on the trigger of the disease.
There are no drugs against viruses that are used for the gastro-enteritis flu, so only the symptoms can be treated here. Bacteria can be killed with antibiotics if the bacteria are detected. However, these drugs should only be used for gastroenteritis in exceptional cases of life-threatening diseases.
The reason for this is, on the one hand, that taking antibiotics promotes the development of resistance, i.e. the drugs lose part of their effect with each administration. On the other hand the patients excrete the antibiotics get longer pathogens out and increase so the danger of infection. In addition it is very important with a stomach intestine flu to note that most complaints, defense reactions of the body against the illness represent.
Vomiting and especially diarrhoea are intended to transport the pathogens out of the body and thus to heal the person affected more quickly. Therefore, only in the case of severe gastrointestinal flu, such as suspected excessive fluid and salt loss, medication against diarrhoea should be taken. Opioids such as loperamide are suitable for this.
If the loss of fluid and salt cannot be compensated by food, it can be compensated by infusions. Antiemetics such as Vomex® are effective against vomiting. Furthermore, probiotics, i.e. bacteria that live naturally in the intestine, can be taken in the form of tablets or powders to support the regeneration of the intestinal mucosa.
There are some home remedies that can alleviate the symptoms of gastrointestinal flu. The first of these are herbal teas such as chamomile tea. They calm the gastrointestinal tract and alleviate the inflammatory processes that take place.
Special gastrointestinal teas with selected herbs are also available in pharmacies. Fresh, grated apples are also said to be effective against bacteria. However, only a few apples should be eaten, as the acid contained can damage the stomach and intestinal mucosa.
In contrast, probiotic yoghurts are helpful in the regeneration of the affected mucous membrane. They contain bacteria that occur naturally in the healthy intestine and are important for the correct colonization of the intestine. In addition, cooked eggplants should contribute to the healing process.
Furthermore, ginger and liquorice root can help against nausea. The well-known tip Cola and salt sticks is effective because salts and sugar are absorbed together. So you can also absorb salt better by eating salt sticks and dextrose at the same time.
Due to many unhealthy ingredients, however, the consumption of cola should be avoided. Homeopathy is based on taking substances in a very diluted concentration. Therefore the effect of homeopathic remedies is controversial.
Many people are nevertheless helped by these remedies. For example, in the case of gastro-enteritis, substances such as Ipeauanha, the ipecac root or podophyllum, the foot leaf can be used. However, a doctor should be consulted in the case of severe gastroenteritis.
