What rehydration solutions to stay hydrated during diarrhoea, gastroes and vomiting?
What to drink in case of diarrhea and / or gastro?
Gastroenteritis and diarrhea are disorders well known to young and old. Every year, France is affected by a gastro epidemic, due to the more intense spread of the viruses that cause it. This disease causes diarrhea which is a direct symptom but the latter can have multiple origins, since a change in diet, or food poisoning can also be the cause. Although these conditions are common, their management should not be overlooked. This is why, in this article, we explain their effects on the body and on its level of hydration, as well as the drinks to be preferred to rehydrate effectively.
Let's first look at the impact of diarrhea and gastro on body hydration level. The gastro virus causes inflammation of the gastric and intestinal mucosa, this explains the abdominal pain felt, diarrhea but also vomiting. The gastro virus which affects children under 5 also causes a moderate fever, less than 39°. Vomiting prevents refeeding, whether liquid or solid. The nutritive but also aqueous contributions are therefore reduced, it becomes more difficult to rehydrate. In children, fever forces the body to initiate its thermoregulation because the body temperature must remain constant. Additional water loss due to sweating is therefore observed. Similarly, diarrhea, which corresponds to the evacuation of liquid stools more than three times a day, causes dehydration. Indeed, whether caused by gastro or not, the stools are liquid because the water is less absorbed by the digestive system.
Adding up these symptoms, we can see that dehydration is a major complication for people with gastro or diarrhea. It is therefore important to be able to identify its symptoms in order to act accordingly.
Dehydration manifests itself most frequently with the appearance of:
- Dryness in the mucous membranes (dry mouth, “itchy” eyes)
- More or less intense headaches
- A feeling of fatigue
- To urinate in small quantities
When the dehydration is more serious, other signs then appear such as disorientation, dizziness, disturbances of consciousness in the order of malaise or dizziness which can go as far as a change in behavior (agitation, great intellectual weakness and physical).
Therefore, it is necessary to be attentive to the warning signs of dehydration and particularly in populations who are very sensitive to it such as infants, young children, the elderly and individuals suffering from chronic diseases.
There are particular signs of dehydration in infants that can help you spot it:
- Your baby is abnormally weak
- He sleeps a lot, hardly wakes up moaning
- He has an unusual behavior
- He is pale and has dark circles in his eyes
- He breathes fast
If your baby shows several of these signs, he is probably dehydrated, you should consult your doctor without delay.
In the elderly, the telltale signs of dehydration are:
- Loss of appetite
- Unusual tiredness and drowsiness
- A slight fever
- Irritability
It is absolutely necessary to compensate for it with a sufficient supply of water, because it can worsen quickly.
It is therefore essential to carefully monitor the level of hydration of people at risk, in the event of severe dehydration, you must contact 15. If the symptoms of dehydration persist and in the absence of a rapid improvement, consult your doctor.
As you will have understood, in the event of gastro and diarrhea, the most important thing is to rehydrate effectively. For this, we present to you the drinks to be preferred for a fast and effective rehydration in order to avoid any complication.
Obviously, drinking water appears to be the simplest choice, although it is not necessarily the most relevant. You can preferably opt for mineral water rich in electrolytes, with an intake of at least 2 liters per day, and more if you can. If drinking two liters of water puts you off a little, we advise you to flavor it to make your job easier. So drinking blackberry or raspberry herbal teas can help you drink more while taking advantage of their anti-diarrheal properties due to their tannin-rich composition. Similarly, you can turn to a peppermint infusion, rich in phenolic compounds, which will relieve your digestive spasms while rehydrating you.
However, be careful not to consume diuretic drinks (green tea, coffee, pineapple juice, cranberry…) in order to rehydrate you, because you will cause the opposite effect.
Thus, the most suitable drink when you are at risk of dehydration remains the oral rehydration solution, also known by the abbreviation ORS. This is water enriched with electrolytes, which promote the proper functioning of the body, and with carbohydrates (glucose) which allows faster and greater absorption of water by the body. The assimilation of water being maximized, it is then easier to fill the great losses in water and thus, to avoid dehydration.
Hydratis oral rehydration solution (ORS) , designed according to WHO recommendations for rehydration solution, helps you effectively maintain your level of hydration.
In addition, its composition rich in chloride has beneficial properties on digestion as well as fluid retention. The Hydratis solution is suitable for children over 3 years old who are part of populations at risk of dehydration, as well as seniors, with a range that is entirely dedicated to them in order to best meet their hydration needs. .
With the help of ergonomic packaging that can be transported everywhere, rehydrate yourself, wherever you are:
- For the elderly , simply dissolve a Hydratis sachet in a glass of water (Hydratis 50+)
- Concerning the child over three years old, dilute two lozenges of the perfume of his choice in a large glass of water, while offering him to drink it several times an hour, first in small quantities, then leaving it drink at will.
Dehydration can very quickly occur in the event of gastro and diarrhea, it is therefore to be anticipated with a more substantial intake of water or thanks to oral rehydration solutions which are very effective in preventing the risk of dehydration .
Using Hydratis pellets, adopt the right reflexes to avoid the complications induced by water loss. Find them on over-the-counter sales in more than 400 pharmacies in France and Belgium to be prepared in all circumstances.
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