Bacterial gastroenteritis is a digestive illness that develops because of an inflammation of the stomach and intestines. It occurs because certain pathogenic bacteria manage to proliferate inside the intestines, causing an infection. Today, we want to tell you how to overcome bacterial gastroenteritis in 5 simple steps.
This infection spreads easily from one person to another or through contact with contaminated objects and foods. What’s more, it’s common in certain areas where water isn’t properly treated.
So, what are the symptoms? How can you deal with it naturally?
Keep reading to find out!
Symptoms
The symptoms of bacterial gastroenteritis may vary according to the type of bacteria that’s causing the infection. For example, Staphylococcus, Salmonella, and E. coli. In general, the clinical manifestations of this condition can include the following:
- Lack of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Moderate fever
- Bloody stool
How to overcome bacterial gastroenteritis in 5 steps
To overcome bacterial gastroenteritis, you need to put into practice a series of steps that will bring fast relief. The most serious cases require medical attention, as they may require the administration of intervenous saline and antibiotics. However, to control symptoms at home, you can do the following:
1. Increase your liquid intake
Increasing your intake of water and other healthy liquids is fundamental in overcoming your current condition. This is even more true if you’ve been experiencing episodes of diarrhea. While many ignore the importance of hydration, gastroenteritis can lead to cases of dehydration, which can put you at risk for complications.
What should you do?
- Drink between 6 and 8 glasses of water per day (8 ounces each).
- If you can, prepare rice water and drink it after you experience diarrhea.
- Other healthy options include certain infusions, broths, and rehydration solutions that contain electrolytes.
2. Limit your food intake
Overloading your digestive system with heavy foods isn’t a good idea when it comes to this infection. Given that it involves digestive alterations, as well as pain and swelling, it’s best to eat small, frequent portions of food that are easy to digest.
What should you do?
- Start by going on a bland diet, based on broths and isotonic drinks.
- Then, little by little, add astringent foods that are low in fiber, to regulate your intestinal function. If that goes well, then you can eat foods like white rice, cooked carrots, and sweet potatoes, deli ham, fish, and chicken breast.
3. Avoid self-medicating
There’s a wide variety of medications that can help you treat the discomfort of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and nausea. However, even though you can buy them over-the-counter, you should only take them under medical supervision. On occasion, they may make symptoms worse.
What should you do?
- If you have severe or persistent symptoms, ask your doctor what medication you can take to control them.
- Avoid antibiotics–these should only be used in the most severe cases and only when prescribed by a doctor.
4. Wash our hands constantly
Bacterial gastroenteritis can spread easily when proper hygiene is lacking. Therefore, to prevent spreading it to others, you should wash your hands constantly. This is especially important after going to the bathroom or changing diapers.
What should you do?
- Wash your hands with bacterial soap and water for at least 15 seconds before rinsing well.
- If you can’t wash your hands, then use antibacterial hand disinfectant.
- Be sure to repeat this action before handling foods or touching other people.
- These measures will also help protect you from bacterial infections.
5. Handle foods properly
The proper handling of foods is a fundamental part of overcoming bacterial gastroenteritis. In fact, many cases of this infection are the result of contamination from foods. For this reason, it’s important to pay attention when handling certain foods like meats, as well as those that are served raw.
What should you do?
- Wash your hands carefully before handling foods. If you have an infection, avoiding cooking.
- Wash and disinfect all fruits and vegetables that you will be serving raw.
- Be sure to cook all meat, chicken, fish, etc. completely.
- Pay careful attention to the handling of other foods like dairy products and eggs.
In conclusion…
Keep in mind that the symptoms of bacterial gastroenteritis tend to go away on their own after 3 or 4 days. Also, in some cases, they may last for up to 2 weeks. If you don’t see improvements after a few days, you should see a doctor. Also, seek immediate medical attention if cases of prolonged diarrhea, high fever, or bleeding.
Via: FairView | MedlinePlus
