Gastroenteritis in adults Q&As
Published by Bupa's health information team, October 2008.
Answers to questions about gastroenteritis in adults
This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.
- What are probiotics and how can they help if I have gastroenteritis?
- Why are people who take antibiotics more prone to getting gastroenteritis?
- How should I prepare food to avoid getting gastroenteritis or giving it to others?
What are probiotics and how can they help if I have gastroenteritis?
Probiotics are a food supplement. They contain live bacteria and yeasts that can be helpful in restoring the balance of bacteria in your gut after a bout of gastroenteritis.
Explanation
Probiotics are food supplements containing live bacteria and yeasts that help restore the balance of bacteria in your gut. Bacteria are often thought of as harmful and causing ill-health, but there are many good bacteria that live in and on your body that help keep you healthy. This is especially so in your gut. Good bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract prevent harmful organisms from growing in your bowel or entering your body through your intestine.
Gastroenteritis is an infection in your gut caused by harmful bacteria, viruses or parasites. These germs damage the cells lining the inner surface of your gut interfering with its normal processes and upsetting the balance of bacteria. Taking probiotics which contain bacteria such as lactobacillus helps to restore the balance of good bacteria in your gut. This can relieve symptoms of diarrhoea and speed up your recovery.
You can buy probiotics as food supplements (capsules or tablets) from your pharmacist or health food shop. Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your supplements. Or, they can be bought as yogurts or drinks (eg Danone Activa or Actimel) from your supermarket. Plain yogurts don't contain probiotics.
If you have any questions or concerns about probiotics or gastroenteritis, talk to your GP.
Further information
- The British Dietetic Association
www.bda.uk.com
Sources
- Evidence on probiotics. Clinical Knowledge Summaries. www.cks.library.nhs.uk, accessed 31 July 2008
- Probiotics for treating infectious diarrhoea (review). The Cochrane Collaboration, 2007, Issue 4. www.cochrane.org
Why are people who take antibiotics more prone to getting gastroenteritis?
Some antibiotics can upset the balance of good bacteria in your gut allowing harmful bacteria to thrive. This is often referred to as antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and can cause painful stomach cramps and watery diarrhoea.
Explanation
Antibiotics are medicines prescribed by doctors to treat infections (for example, a kidney infection). They are used to kill or prevent the growth of harmful bacteria in your body. However, some antibiotics, such as ampicillin, clindamycin, and cephalosporins, will also kill the normal bacteria in your gut. This can allow other bacteria such as Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), to grow and thrive in your gastrointestinal tract. As this bacterium multiplies and divides, it produces a toxin which causes pain in your abdomen and watery diarrhoea - gastroenteritis. This is also known as antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.
It's not clear how many people get diarrhoea as a result of taking antibiotics. It has been estimated that it could be as many as one in four people, although the actual number may be much lower.
Most people who get antibiotic-associated diarrhoea experience only mild symptoms that usually resolve themselves quite quickly. It's important to seek advice from your GP if you have symptoms rather than stopping the course of antibiotics yourself. If possible, he or she will take you off the antibiotic and prescribe a different type.
While you have symptoms, you should continue with your normal diet, but leave out fatty foods or food and drink with a high sugar content, and make sure you drink enough fluids. You may find that you become intolerant to milk for a couple of weeks after your bout of gastroenteritis. This is because you are temporarily unable to break down the lactose (milk sugar) in it, giving you diarrhoea. Milk and milk products are best avoided if they make your diarrhoea worse. If you have become dehydrated, you can take oral rehydration salts (eg Dioralyte). Taking probiotic supplements or yogurt drinks can also be helpful in easing symptoms of diarrohea.
Very occasionally, a C. difficile infection in your gut can develop into a serious disease and symptoms can be severe. If your diarrhoea doesn't improve and you are in a lot of discomfort, you should see your GP as soon as you can. He or she will take a stool sample and blood test for analysis before referring you on for further treatment.
If you have any questions or concerns about antibiotics or gastroenteritis, talk to your GP.
Sources
- Gastroenteritis. Clinical Knowledge Summaries. www.cks.library.nhs.uk, accessed 31 July 2008
- Probiotics for treating infectious diarrhoea (review). The Cochrane Collaboration, 2007, Issue 4. www.cochrane.org
How should I prepare food to avoid getting gastroenteritis or giving it to others?
Every year millions of people suffer from gastroenteritis caused by poorly prepared or stored food. Following food hygiene measures can ensure that you and the people you cook for don't become ill.
Explanation
To prevent gastroenteritis it's important to take care over how you prepare, cook and store food. The following food hygiene tips will help you to keep yourself and those you cook for safe.
Preparing food
When preparing food it's important to make sure that bacteria aren't spread through cross-contamination, for example, raw food placed in contact with food that is ready to eat, cooking utensils, chopping boards or people's hands. To prevent this:
- wash your hands before you start preparing food and after touching raw food (especially meat)
- prepare raw foods and foods that are ready to eat separately
- clean knives and chopping boards thoroughly after you have used them to prepare raw meat
- keep cloths, tea towels and hand towels clean and change them regularly
Cooking food
During cooking any harmful bacteria in your food are destroyed, so it's important to make sure you cook everything properly. Do this by:
- allowing meat and poultry to thaw thoroughly before cooking
- making sure your food is hot all the way through before you eat it
- never reheating food more than once
Storing food
Some foods need to be kept chilled in the fridge to keep them safe. When storing these types of food always:
- put them in the fridge straight away
- cool cooked foods as quickly as possible before putting them in the fridge
- use separate, sealed containers to store raw meat and poultry in your fridge
- don't overfill your fridge, otherwise the cold air won't be able to flow properly and food may become too warm
When preparing food for the elderly, babies and toddlers, pregnant women or people who are ill, don't give them food that contains any raw or runny eggs (ie mayonnaise). Raw eggs can contain bacteria which may be harmful to those people.
Storing food
Food hygiene standards are not always as high abroad as they are at home. Also, you may encounter bacteria that you have not been exposed to before. To reduce the risks while on holiday try to do the following.
- Ensure you have any suggested vaccinations well before leaving, in particular typhoid and cholera. Your GP will have an up-to-date list of these for the area you are visiting.
- Only drink bottled water and ensure the seal has not been broken when you buy it. You should also use this for brushing your teeth. Avoid ice in drinks if you don't know where the water came from.
- Peel fruit and avoid salad leaves unless you have washed them yourself in bottled or sterilised water.
- Be cautious with shellfish and eggs (especially raw eggs in foods like mayonnaise) which are the commonest source of salmonella abroad.
If you have any questions or concerns about gastroenteritis and food hygiene, talk to your GP.
Further information
- Food Standards Agency
www.eatwell.gov.uk
Sources
- Food hygiene. Directgov. www.direct.gov.uk, accessed 30 July 2008
Related topics
- Gastroenteritis in adults
- Gastroenteritis in children
- Clostridium difficile infection
- Antibiotics
- Food hygiene
This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.
Publication date: October 2008
Gastroenteritis in adults factsheet
Visit the gastroenteritis in adults health factsheet for more information.
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