Patient's question:
This morning, my stomach suddenly started hurting very badly, and I was experiencing dry heaves and nausea. Apart from diarrhea, after a thorough examination at the hospital, it was discovered that I had caught gastroenteritis. Currently, I am receiving an intravenous drip. May I ask if it's okay to drink water when suffering from gastroenteritis? Will it cause stomach pain?Doctor's answer:
Gastroenteritis not only requires drinking water but also drinking good quality water, because acute gastroenteritis does not mean simply drinking plain water to digest fluids. It is best to consume an electrolyte solution that contains appropriate amounts of salt and water. If you force yourself to drink only plain water, it may dissolve the electrolytes in your body, leading to a deficiency of electrolytes and causing symptoms such as seizures, known as "water intoxication." Therefore, it is important to drink correctly. In addition to drinking water, appropriate exercise can also help alleviate the condition.