Viral gastroenteritis

　　The pathogen of viral gastroenteritis is mainly transmitted through the digestive tract. Gastroenteritis caused by group A rotavirus mainly occurs in infants and young children, with the peak incidence in autumn, hence also known as infantile autumn diarrhea. Group B rotavirus can cause adult diarrhea. The main site of viral gastroenteritis is the duodenum and jejunum.

　　Viral gastroenteritis patients generally have no other complications, but a few patients may develop intussusception, rectal bleeding, hemolytic uremic syndrome, encephalitis, and Reye syndrome, which can cause serious consequences, so it should be highly valued by clinical doctors and patients.

　　The clinical manifestations of viral gastroenteritis are mainly divided into the following two types:

　　1. Common rotavirus gastroenteritis

　　The incubation period of common rotavirus gastroenteritis is 1 to 3 days, with a large difference in the condition. Children aged 6 to 24 months are more severe, while older children or adults are mostly mild or subclinical infections. The disease onset is acute, mostly vomiting before diarrhea, accompanied by mild to moderate fever. Patients have diarrhea 10 to 30 times a day, and the stools are mostly watery, or yellowish green loose stools, often accompanied by mild to moderate dehydration and metabolic acidosis. Some cases often have upper respiratory tract infection symptoms before the onset of gastrointestinal symptoms.

　　2. Adult diarrhea rotavirus gastroenteritis

　　The incubation period of adult diarrhea rotavirus gastroenteritis is 2 to 3 days, and the onset is acute. Most patients have no fever or only low fever, and the main symptoms are diarrhea, abdominal pain, and bloating. Diarrhea occurs 3 to 10 times a day, with yellow water-like or congee-like stools, without pus and blood. Some cases are accompanied by symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

　　Viral gastroenteritis should be detected and isolated as soon as possible, and the feces of patients should be disinfected. The baby room should have strict disinfection and isolation system, and breast-feeding infants should be encouraged. Oral administration of attenuated vaccines containing all types of rotavirus to children aged 6-24 months can stimulate the local production of IgA antibodies, which is currently the most effective preventive measure.

　　Viral gastroenteritis, at the time of diagnosis, in addition to relying on its clinical manifestations, also needs to be assisted by fecal examination and serological examination. The serological examination needs to detect whether the antibody to rotavirus has increased by more than 4 times in the double blood measurement. Fecal virus particles positive must be combined with clinical and serological results to make a diagnosis.

　　For patients with viral gastroenteritis, the following points should be paid attention to in diet:

　　1. At the beginning of the disease, follow the doctor's advice to fast. Gradually increase food intake as the condition improves.

　　2. Foods should be easy to digest, soft with little residue, and non-irritating. Foods with little residue can reduce intestinal motility and alleviate diarrhea. Foods such as eggs, thin noodles, and porridge can be eaten.

　　3. To improve the nutritional status and intestinal environment, high-protein and high-calorie diets should be provided after the symptoms are relieved, and foods rich in vitamins, inorganic salts, and trace elements should also be supplied, especially foods rich in vitamin C and vitamin B, to supplement energy and nourish the body.

　　4. Appropriately control fat intake. Do not use foods with a lot of oil and fried foods in the diet. Use less oil in cooking, and use steaming, blanching, braising, and stewing methods. Avoid eating foods with a lot of fat such as lard, mutton fat, butter, beef fat, and walnuts, to prevent exacerbation of diarrhea.

　　5. Avoid cold and raw fruits and vegetables. Most patients have weak spleen and stomach, and weakened kidney yang. If they eat too many cold and raw foods, or cold fruits and vegetables, it will further damage the spleen and kidney yang, weaken the movement of the spleen and stomach, and stop the cold and dampness inside. At the same time, these foods themselves are slippery and will worsen diarrhea and abdominal pain.

　　In the treatment of viral gastroenteritis, traditional Chinese medicine is mainly divided into the following two types:

　　1. Cold-damp type

　　Main Symptoms:Clear diarrhea with thin and watery stools, abdominal pain and intestinal rumbling, chest stuffiness and nausea, or accompanied by aversion to cold and fever, headache and nasal congestion, limb ache, thin white or slightly greasy tongue coating, soft and slow pulse.

　　Therapeutic Method:Aromaticize dampness, disperse the exterior and expel cold.

　　Prescription:Huoxiang Zhengqi Powder with modifications.

　　Composition:Huoxiang 10g, Houpu 6g, Chenpi 10g, Fuling 10g, Cangzhu 10g, Fashai 10g, Yiren 15g, Baizhi 10g, Cheqianzi 10g, Gancao 3g.

　　2. Damp-heat type

　　Main Symptoms:Diarrhea with abdominal pain, urgent defecation, or uncomfortable defecation, yellow-brown feces, burning sensation around the anus, restlessness and thirst, yellow greasy tongue coating, soft and rapid or slippery and rapid pulse.

　　Therapeutic Method:Clear heat and transform dampness, raise the clear and lower the turbid.

　　Prescription:Gancao Qinglian Decoction with modifications.

　　Composition:Gancao log, Huanglian 3g, Huangqin log, Yinhua 10g, Fuling 10g, Shengqu log, Cheqianzi log, Gancao 3g.