Merck Manual

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Gastroenteritis

By

The Manual's Editorial Staff

Reviewed/Revised Jan 2023
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What is gastroenteritis?

Gastroenteritis is inflammation of your stomach and intestines.

What causes gastroenteritis?

What are the symptoms of gastroenteritis?

Symptoms start suddenly and include:

  • Feeling sick to your stomach and throwing up

  • Belly rumbles or cramps

  • Diarrhea

How can doctors tell I have gastroenteritis?

Doctors know you have gastroenteritis from your symptoms. They usually don't need to do tests, but sometimes they may do:

  • Stool (poop) tests

How do doctors treat gastroenteritis?

For adults with mild gastroenteritis, doctors will have you:

  • Take small, frequent sips of fluid

  • Eat regular food as soon as your stomach feels up to it

If you're a healthy adult, the kind of fluid and food really doesn't matter.

If your baby or young child has gastroenteritis, you should give them:

  • Oral rehydration fluid, which you can get in a drug store or supermarket

Oral rehydration fluids have the right balance of salts and minerals that babies and young children need.

For more severe gastroenteritis, doctors may:

  • Give you fluids by vein (IV)

  • Give you medicines to stop diarrhea and help your belly feel better

  • Give you medicine to get rid of parasites, if a parasite is causing your gastroenteritis

  • For certain rarer kinds of gastroenteritis, give you antibiotics

How can I prevent gastroenteritis?

NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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