Page updated 30 September 2007
Food Poisoning - Treatment of Acute Gastroenteritis (All Causes)
- Replace fluids and electrolytes (carbohydrate:sodium ratio 1.2:1)
- Use oral rehydration unless severe
- Intravenous rehydration is often used unnecessarily
- Do not use antisecretory drugs (bismuth), antimotility drugs (loperamide), absorbants (kaolin), antiemetics; they are all ineffective in acute infection and do not prevent fluid loss
- Antibiotics are ineffective for most gastroenteritis which is self-limiting, but essential for elderly patients with salmonella septicaemia
- Antibiotics probably prolong the carrier state of Salmonella and Shigella
- Do not continue feeding in children
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