1. Treat Dehydration
Because gastroenteritis causes a loss of fluids, dehydration is the most common complication of this illness. It is also the symptom most likely to require treatment. Mild dehydration is treated with oral rehydration fluids which contain electroyles; water does not and can't help restore the electrolyte balance in your body.
More severe dehydration usually requires hospitalization. In the hospital, you will be given rehydration fluids intravenously. This is generally a brief treatment, and you can go home once your electrolyte balance has returned to normal.
2. Use Medication for Diarrhea
Medication is usually not given to treat diarrhea. It is not always effective and doesn't treat the cause of the diarrhea. Sometimes, however, the diarrhea is extremely severe and can make it difficult to function normally. In this case, your doctor might suggest using an over-the-counter medication, such as loperamide (also called Diamode or Imodium A-D), or a prescription drug, like diphenoxylate (Lomotil), to ease your symptoms. These medications are never used for children under 5 years old.
3. Antibiotics and Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis can be either viral or bacterial. Antibiotics will have no effect on viral gastroenteritis. Even for bacterial gastroenteritis, antibiotics are not always used. Antibiotics can make diarrhea worse. They also disrupt the balance of bacteria in the gut, making it more difficult to recover from a stomach bug. However, for certain kinds of bacterial gastroenteritis, antibiotics are recommended. If your illness has been caused by shigella, for example, you will be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics are also used for traveler's diarrhea.
4. Try Probiotics for a Healthy GI System
Your digestive tract is home to a wide variety of bacteria. Some of these are harmful, but most are the good kind necessary for optimal digestive functioning. Occasionally, the balance of these bacteria is disrupted, and you can be left with too few of the good bacteria, which can make it more difficult to recover from a stomach bug.
One way of correcting this imbalance is by using probiotics--the good kind of bacteria. They are found naturally in yogurt and other fermented foods. They can also be taken in supplement form.
Research has shown that probiotics can be helpful in treating diarrhea, particularly when it is caused by the rotavirus. Probiotic supplementation is safe and can be used with children. If you've recently been on antibiotics, it is a good idea to follow up with probiotics to help to restore the good bacteria to your digestive tract and improve your digestive function.
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