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Loose Stools With A Hot And Cold Spells. And Vomiting
Question: Loose stools with a hot and cold spells. And vomiting for 5 days. And yet feel pretty o.k. between.
Brief Answer:
hold solids, replace fluids slowly, probiotics, dramamine
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
The most common reason for these symptoms would be an infection of the gastrointestinal tract. These infections can be viral or bacterial but viral infections are more common.
In most persons symptoms last less than a week.
It is appropriate to use fluids because you need to replace the fluids that you are losing but you should hold off any solid foods.
The intestines and stomach are not ready to absorb solids (take a lot more to process these than liquids) and using solids before they are ready actually would delay healing and cause the infection to linger longer.
In general, solids should be used after there is a 4 hour period with no symptoms. When 4 hours pass with no loose stools or vomiting then a small amount of dry solid food can be used eg toast, biscuits, plain rice
In terms of the liquids, though it is important to replace them, the amount that you use each time is important. If too much fluids is used initially, then it provokes vomiting.
For the first hour (if still having vomiting episodes), should use 1 tbs every 5 mins, if tolerated, then the amount of fluid can be increased. Oral hydration fluids or gatorade rehydration fluid should be used.
Paracetamol/tylenol can be used for the hot/cold spells (chills). Ibuprofen and other nsaids should be avoided because they would irritate the stomach.
Dramamine would help with the vomiting.
Probiotics would help as well, they help to restore the normal flora of the intestines and can speed up healing in some persons
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
hold solids, replace fluids slowly, probiotics, dramamine
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
The most common reason for these symptoms would be an infection of the gastrointestinal tract. These infections can be viral or bacterial but viral infections are more common.
In most persons symptoms last less than a week.
It is appropriate to use fluids because you need to replace the fluids that you are losing but you should hold off any solid foods.
The intestines and stomach are not ready to absorb solids (take a lot more to process these than liquids) and using solids before they are ready actually would delay healing and cause the infection to linger longer.
In general, solids should be used after there is a 4 hour period with no symptoms. When 4 hours pass with no loose stools or vomiting then a small amount of dry solid food can be used eg toast, biscuits, plain rice
In terms of the liquids, though it is important to replace them, the amount that you use each time is important. If too much fluids is used initially, then it provokes vomiting.
For the first hour (if still having vomiting episodes), should use 1 tbs every 5 mins, if tolerated, then the amount of fluid can be increased. Oral hydration fluids or gatorade rehydration fluid should be used.
Paracetamol/tylenol can be used for the hot/cold spells (chills). Ibuprofen and other nsaids should be avoided because they would irritate the stomach.
Dramamine would help with the vomiting.
Probiotics would help as well, they help to restore the normal flora of the intestines and can speed up healing in some persons
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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