How to self treat gastro & why seeing your GP doesn’t always help
Medically Reviewed by Dr Jillian Lau
Last updated on 20.06.2023
- Gastroenteritis, commonly referred to as gastro, is an infection of the gut (intestines).
- It can range from a mild tummy upset for a day or two with mild diarrhoea, to severe diarrhoea and being sick (vomiting) for several days or longer. Many different germs (viruses, bacteria and other microbes) can cause gastroenteritis. In most situations, gastro can be managed safely at home.
- The majority of gastroenteritis cases are viral, but it may also be caused by eating food infected with bacteria- the most common culprits are Campylobacter, Salmonella and Escherichia coli (usually shortened to E. coli)- in this scenario case, it’s often referred to as “food poisoning”.
How to self-treat gastro:
Fluids – have lots to drink
- The aim is to prevent lack of fluid in the body (dehydration), or to treat dehydration if it has developed. For most adults, sipping water little and often is the best way to maintain fluid intake.
- Rehydration drinks, such Hydrolyte or Gastrolyte are available from pharmacies, and are very effective at rapidly replacing the electrolytes (salts) that you may lose through diarrhoea and/or vomiting. These products may come pre-mixed, or you may need to add a certain amount of water to a powder or to a dissolvable tablet. Generally, “oral rehydration solutions” will allow more efficient rehydration than water alone. Doctors will often recommend using them to avoid dehydration and to speed up recovery from gastro.
Eat as normally as possible
- People used to be advised not to eat for a while if they had gastroenteritis. However, now it is recommended to eat small, light meals if possible. Be guided by your appetite.
Medication
- Antidiarrhoeal medicines are not usually necessary. However, you can buy antidiarrhoeal medicines from pharmacies. We do not advise giving antidiarrhoeal medicines to children under 12 years. We suggest you consult your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
- Paracetamol or Ibuprofen can be useful to ease a high temperature (fever)
- Medication such as Buscopan may help with abdominal cramps.
When should I see a doctor?
Seek medical advice in any of the following situations:
- If you have blood in your diarrhoea or vomit.
- If you suspect that you are becoming dehydrated. Mild to moderate dehydration in adults can lead to symptoms including a dry mouth, increased thirst, reduced amounts of urine which may be a bit darker in colour than usual, mild headaches and somtimes muscle cramps). It is important to recognise the signs of severe dehydration- see table below.
- If you are being sick (vomiting) a lot and unable to keep fluids down.
- If you have severe tummy (abdominal) pain.
- If you have severe symptoms, or if you feel that your condition is getting worse.
- If you have a persisting high temperature (fever).
- If your symptoms are not settling – for example, vomiting for more than 1-2 days, or if you have diarrhoea that continues for more than several days, you may need to see your doctor to send a sample of the diarrhoea to check for certain bacteria or infections.
- If you’ve been on recent overseas travel
- If close contacts have been diagnosed with a more severe cause of gastro (e.g salmonella, campylobacter or shigella) and you then develop symptoms
- If you are elderly or have an underlying health problem such as diabetes, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease or kidney disease.
- If you have a weakened immune system because of chemotherapy, long-term steroid treatment, HIV infection etc
- If you are pregnant.
| Key signs of severe dehydration in adults: |
|---|
| Passing very little, dark-coloured urine, or no urine at all |
| Rapid heart beat |
| Dizziness/light-headedness (particularly when standing) |
| Fatigue/tiredness |
| Irritability/confusion |
| Rapid breathing |
| Very dry skin |
Mild to moderate dehydration in kids may present with reduced urine output (dry nappies in babies), darker urine colour, nausea, headaches, as well as dry mouth and lips. Severe dehydration can be serious, and may involve symptoms in the following table:
| Signs of severe dehydration in children |
|---|
| Pale appearance, with sunken eyes. Fontanelle or “soft spot” may appear sunken in babies. |
| Extreme thirst |
| Irritability, reduced activity levels, drowsiness or confusion |
| Cold peripheries (feet and hands) |
| Faster heart (pulse) rate and breathing (respiratory) rate |
What heart rate is normal?
People often wonder what heart rate is normal, particularly in kids. The rule of thumb in adults for a normal resting heart rate is anywhere between 60-100 beats per minute, so it is quite a wide range and varies from person to person. When checking heart rate, it is important to know what “normal” is for that person when they are well. It is also important to note that changes from earlier measurements may raise levels of concern- e.g. a heart rate that is steadily rising over time, in an unwell patient may be a “red flag”, even if it is still within the “acceptable” range. The following table is a guide to acceptable heart rates for children in different age groups. However, these measurements should only be used as a guide- by themselves they can not predict how dehydrated a child is.
| Age | Heart rate (range in beats per minute) |
|---|---|
| 3 months | 115-180 |
| 6 months | 110-180 |
| 1 year | 105-180 |
| 2 years | 95-175 |
| 4 years | 80-150 |
| 6 years | 75-140 |
| 8 years | 70-130 |
| 10 years | 60-130 |
| 12 years | 65-120 |
| 14 years | 60-115 |
| 17 years+ | 60-115 |
Treatment in most cases of gastro
In most cases, fluids and rest are all that is required. If you need to speak to a doctor about a medical certificate for work, you no longer need to face the discomfort of a doctor’s waiting room- the online doctors at Qoctor can provide you with a telehealth appointment, allowing you to recover in the comfort of home!
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