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Suffering From Stomach Pain, Loose Motion And Feeling Weak. Is It Safe To Give Imodium?
Question: Hello Doctor,
My sister has stomach pain (little severe) since past 2 days. Also she has loose motion too. On Sunday she drank some milk from a hotel which was not hot enough and I have a feeling she caught an infection.
Also, on Monday she was standing in sun waiting for someone for more than 4 hours. Because of this she is also feeling dehydrated and weak.
I was planning to give her a Imodium. Please advise if I should take any other medicine. Thank you in advance.
My sister has stomach pain (little severe) since past 2 days. Also she has loose motion too. On Sunday she drank some milk from a hotel which was not hot enough and I have a feeling she caught an infection.
Also, on Monday she was standing in sun waiting for someone for more than 4 hours. Because of this she is also feeling dehydrated and weak.
I was planning to give her a Imodium. Please advise if I should take any other medicine. Thank you in advance.
Hello,
1) It is good to have all the symptoms in detail.
2) Ask your sister the following one:
a) Type of abdominal pain- whether spasmodic/ burning/ constant pricking
b) Whether localize or generalized in whole abdomen
c) Associated symptoms such as fever, blood in stools
d) Consistency of stool-whether watery or small amount frequent stool
3) Your sister is most likely suffering from acute gastroenteritis. Acute onset abdominal pain with loose motion (loose motion is a broad term it may be watery or patient may use washroom frequently and getting small amount stool) suggest viral/ bacterial infection.
4) Avoid milk and all milk products such as cheese, butter, tea, yogurt. She can take black tea. Intake of milk increase heaviness in abdomen and excessive gas formation.
5) Maintain Hydration by ORS (Oral rehydration) liquid and intravenous fluid, if needed. Dehydration may worsen the health of your sister.
6) Kindly don't give Imodium as it contains Loperamide which is anti-diarrheal medication. Your sister is most likely suffering from infectious diarrhea, use of Imodium will stop bacteria/ virus to leave her body in stool and patient may develop accumulation of infection in body. In such condition patient may develop severe systemic infection.
7) You can give Antibiotics, Anti spasmodics and Probiotics. You should consult to physician/ gastroenterologist to get the prescription.
Hope this will help you
Dr. Mayank Bhargava
1) It is good to have all the symptoms in detail.
2) Ask your sister the following one:
a) Type of abdominal pain- whether spasmodic/ burning/ constant pricking
b) Whether localize or generalized in whole abdomen
c) Associated symptoms such as fever, blood in stools
d) Consistency of stool-whether watery or small amount frequent stool
3) Your sister is most likely suffering from acute gastroenteritis. Acute onset abdominal pain with loose motion (loose motion is a broad term it may be watery or patient may use washroom frequently and getting small amount stool) suggest viral/ bacterial infection.
4) Avoid milk and all milk products such as cheese, butter, tea, yogurt. She can take black tea. Intake of milk increase heaviness in abdomen and excessive gas formation.
5) Maintain Hydration by ORS (Oral rehydration) liquid and intravenous fluid, if needed. Dehydration may worsen the health of your sister.
6) Kindly don't give Imodium as it contains Loperamide which is anti-diarrheal medication. Your sister is most likely suffering from infectious diarrhea, use of Imodium will stop bacteria/ virus to leave her body in stool and patient may develop accumulation of infection in body. In such condition patient may develop severe systemic infection.
7) You can give Antibiotics, Anti spasmodics and Probiotics. You should consult to physician/ gastroenterologist to get the prescription.
Hope this will help you
Dr. Mayank Bhargava
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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