Treatment for an intestinal infection should always be guided by a general practitioner or a gastroenterologist because it is necessary to identify the type of microorganism that is causing the infection and then start the most appropriate treatment.
However, general care in the case of an intestinal infection are:
- Stay at rest until symptoms improve, avoiding going to school or work;
- Eat grilled white meat, vegetables and fruits, to reduce strain on the gastrointestinal system. Check out what to eat in case of intestinal infection;
- Avoid hard-to-digest foods such as red meat, dairy products and spicy foods, reducing stress on the affected organ;
- Drink plenty of fluids, in the form of water, tea, homemade whey or coconut water, to maintain body hydration;
- Wash and cook food well, avoiding the ingestion of more micro-organisms.
These care may be enough to treat intestinal infection because the body is able to do intestinal cleansing, eliminating many of the organisms responsible for the infection.
However, if the intestinal infection does not pass within 3 days or if there is worsening of the symptoms, treatment with oral antibiotics such as Amoxicillin or Ciprofloxacin may be required as directed by your doctor.
1. Viral intestinal infection
Viral infections are usually the easiest to treat because they do not need a specific type of treatment and are eliminated by the body itself. So during the 3 days of symptoms it is very important to maintain the general indications, such as resting, drinking lots of fluids and avoiding difficult to digest foods.
2. Bacterial intestinal infection
These infections usually arise after eating poorly washed or contaminated foods with bacteria, such as Salmonella or E. coli, for example. In such cases, symptoms such as blood in the stool, intense abdominal pain and persistent fever are common.
Treatment, in addition to general care, can also be done with antibiotics prescribed by the gastroenterologist, such as Neomycin or Amoxicillin, but are usually only used in cases of very severe diarrhea. To choose the best antibiotic, your doctor may order a stool test to identify the type of bacteria responsible and indicate the best antibiotic.
Since antibiotics eliminate both the bacteria that are causing the infection as well as the healthy gut bacteria, it is important to associate a probiotic with the treatment, to help re-balance the intestinal flora. See a list of the main types of probiotics.
3. Intestinal infection by parasites
Infection caused by a parasite also arises from the ingestion of food contaminated with eggs of these parasites, which end up developing in the stomach or intestine, causing an infection with symptoms such as anal itching, difficulty gaining weight, presence of worms in the stool or difficulty sleeping.
In these cases, the gastroenterologist may advise a vermifuge remedy, such as Albendazole or Mebendazole, for example, that can be used for up to 3 days, but then need to be repeated about 2 weeks later, to ensure that all organisms are eliminated.
See the top remedies that can be used in cases of intestinal infection.
Symptoms of intestinal infection
Symptoms of intestinal infection are related to inflammation of the intestines and include:
- Abdominal pain;
- Lack of appetite;
- Nausea and abdominal cramps;
- Changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea or constipation;
- Headache and dehydration;
- General malaise.
The individual with symptoms of intestinal infection should consult a general practitioner, in the case of the adult, or a pediatrician, in the case of the infant or child, to initiate appropriate treatment and avoid dehydration.
Here's a list of more symptoms of intestinal infection.
How To Treat Intestinal Infection In Baby
The treatment for intestinal infection in the baby should be done by a pediatrician, since the treatment will vary according to the cause of the infection.
However, the most important thing is to maintain proper baby hydration by offering boiled water or milk at 15-minute intervals and maintaining good hygiene, preventing the baby from coming into contact with dirty objects, faeces, urine or other sources of micro- organisms.
Natural Treatment Option
A great natural treatment for intestinal infection is the ingestion of homemade whey with sugar and salt as it helps to replenish the minerals needed for the body to function, making it easier to treat the infection.
Thus, the homemade serum should be used while the patient has diarrhea, ensuring correct hydration.
