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Suggest Treatment For Severe Diarrhea And Vomiting
Question: My wife came down with severe diarrhea and vomiting for last 6 hours, and I notice her facial skin getting yellow and dark circles around her eyes. Our first thought was food poisoning, or 24 hr flu. But the diarrhea and vomiting are frequent every 30 min or so, and the yellow skin seemed odd. She is a breast cancer survivor from double mastectomy 2 years ago, without any known recurrence and had taken tamoxafin for a year after. Should we wait it out or go into ER/Urgent Care? I wanted to give her antidiarrhea medicine, but was told it would be wrong to do if it is food poisoning. Please adivse?
Brief Answer:
Take her to ER.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for choosing HCM.
Most likely she is having Gastroenteritis with Gastritis due to indigestion.The main symptoms you probably have are watery diarrhea and vomiting. You might also have stomach pain, cramping, fever, nausea, and a headache.
Gut flora is the complex community of microorganisms that live in the digestive tracts of humans. The intestinal microflora is a complex ecosystem containing over 400 bacterial species. Anaerobes outnumber facultative anaerobes. The flora is sparse in the stomach and upper intestine, but luxuriant in the lower bowel. After food poisoning episodes, toxins released by bacteria destroys this flora of gut and lead to various problems with digestive system like indigestion.
As per the history given by you it seems that she is dehydrated,Take her immediately to ER.
Thanks
Take her to ER.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for choosing HCM.
Most likely she is having Gastroenteritis with Gastritis due to indigestion.The main symptoms you probably have are watery diarrhea and vomiting. You might also have stomach pain, cramping, fever, nausea, and a headache.
Gut flora is the complex community of microorganisms that live in the digestive tracts of humans. The intestinal microflora is a complex ecosystem containing over 400 bacterial species. Anaerobes outnumber facultative anaerobes. The flora is sparse in the stomach and upper intestine, but luxuriant in the lower bowel. After food poisoning episodes, toxins released by bacteria destroys this flora of gut and lead to various problems with digestive system like indigestion.
As per the history given by you it seems that she is dehydrated,Take her immediately to ER.
Thanks
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Thank you so very much. She is finally sleeping, for the moment, so I will check her again shortly and possibly go to ER as you recommend if she can't keep her last dose of fluids down. Might you have any further comment or thoughts re: the manifestation of yellowing/jaundice of her face and dark circles around her eyes? I am well familiar over many years of living with many acute bouts of upper & lower GI issues, but have never seen it accompanied by yellowing of the skin. Is that typical with Gastroenteritis, or might it possibly reflect something else (perhaps another coexistent issue)? Thanks so much once again, & Regards.
Not sure if this went through first pass - the status does not look like it did, so sending a second time to be sure...
Thank you so very much for the prompt and thoughtful answer to my initial inquiry. She is finally sleeping, for the moment, so I will check her again shortly and possibly go to ER as you recommend if she can't keep her last dose of fluids down. Might you have any further comment or thoughts re: the manifestation of yellowing/jaundice of her face and dark circles around her eyes? I am well familiar over many years of living with many acute bouts of upper & lower GI issues, but have never seen it accompanied by yellowing of the skin. Is that typical with Gastroenteritis, or might it possibly reflect something else (perhaps another coexistent issue)? Thanks so much once again, & Regards.
Not sure if this went through first pass - the status does not look like it did, so sending a second time to be sure...
Thank you so very much for the prompt and thoughtful answer to my initial inquiry. She is finally sleeping, for the moment, so I will check her again shortly and possibly go to ER as you recommend if she can't keep her last dose of fluids down. Might you have any further comment or thoughts re: the manifestation of yellowing/jaundice of her face and dark circles around her eyes? I am well familiar over many years of living with many acute bouts of upper & lower GI issues, but have never seen it accompanied by yellowing of the skin. Is that typical with Gastroenteritis, or might it possibly reflect something else (perhaps another coexistent issue)? Thanks so much once again, & Regards.
Brief Answer:
.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Yelllowing of the skin can be because of increased levels of bilirubin in blood,so it can be jaundice also.However some times in dehydration also skin appears to be a bit pale and may be confused with yellowing.
Basic blood investigation like serum bilirubin will make it all clear.
If you can't take her to ED right now then make sure that her hydration is maintained.Try to give her fluids and Electral solution orally.One glass after every vomit or stool.
Her sleep could be because of the drowsiness,So it should be taken seriously and a visit to ED is recommended.
.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Yelllowing of the skin can be because of increased levels of bilirubin in blood,so it can be jaundice also.However some times in dehydration also skin appears to be a bit pale and may be confused with yellowing.
Basic blood investigation like serum bilirubin will make it all clear.
If you can't take her to ED right now then make sure that her hydration is maintained.Try to give her fluids and Electral solution orally.One glass after every vomit or stool.
Her sleep could be because of the drowsiness,So it should be taken seriously and a visit to ED is recommended.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
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