Gastroenteritis is an intestinal infection that is usually caused by ingesting contaminated food, causing symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting, as well as fever and headache in the most severe cases. Because it causes vomiting and diarrhea, it is very important to increase water consumption during the day, to avoid possible dehydration.
Foods in a person’s diet with gastroenteritis should be low in fiber and therefore it is advisable to preferably consume cooked vegetables and skinless fruits. Also, avoid eating foods that may irritate the gut, such as coffee or pepper, and food should be prepared as easily as possible.
- Foods ingested should be easy to digest to allow the stomach and intestine to rest to speed healing of the disease.
- Such as:.
In addition to food, it is important to drink many fluids to maintain hydration and replenish lost water in case of diarrhea or vomiting. In addition to pure water, you can use filtered teas and juices consumed in small amounts throughout the day. Learn how to make a homemade serum.
Due to severe vomiting and diarrhea, gastroenteritis can lead to severe dehydration, especially in infants and children. Therefore, it is important to be aware of possible signs of dehydration such as decreased frequency of urination, tear-free crying, dry lips, irritability and drowsiness, for example. See other possible symptoms of dehydration.
To replenish lost fluids with diarrhea and vomiting, water, coconut water, soups, teas or juices should be ingested. In addition, to replenish lost minerals you must administer homemade serum or oral rehydration salts, which can be purchased from the pharmacy.
In the case of children, the amount of serum or rehydration salts they wish to take should be administered immediately after evacuation, as the body will produce a feeling of thirst to replenish the lost water. Even if the child does not appear dehydrated, he or she should offer at least 1/4 to 1/2 cups of serum when he or she is under 2 years old, or 1/2 to 1 cup if he or she is older than 2 years old, after each evacuation.
In case of vomiting, rehydration should be initiated with a small amount, offering 1 teaspoon of serum every 10 minutes for young babies, or 1 to 2 teaspoons of tea every 2 to 5 minutes, for older children. The amount offered can be gradually increased every 15 minutes, ensuring that the child can tolerate well, without vomiting.
In adults, to replenish the amount of fluid, the same amount of serum should be drunk depending on what is lost in the stool or vomiting.
Foods banned during gastroenteritis are foods that are difficult to digest and stimulate greater movement in the stomach and intestine, such as:
Also, avoid hot sauces, industrial sauces, bechamel or mayonnaise, pepper, and fast or frozen foods. See more tips for treating diarrhea:
The following table shows an example of a 3-day menu to treat gastroenteritis:
In addition to being careful in your diet, it may also be necessary to use probiotic medications to replenish intestinal flora and speed up intestinal recovery. See examples of probiotic supplements.