What to drink in case of diarrhea and/or gastroenteritis?

Gastroenteritis and diarrhea are well-known disorders for 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 neglected. This is why, in this article we explain their effects on the body and its level of hydration, as well as the drinks to favor to rehydrate effectively.

Let's first look at the impact of diarrhea and gastroenteritis on body hydration levels. The gastroenteritis virus causes inflammation of the gastric and intestinal mucosa, which explains the abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting. The gastroenteritis virus that affects children under 5 years old also causes a moderate fever, less than 39°. Vomiting prevents refeeding, whether liquid or solid. Nutrient and water intake are therefore reduced, and it becomes more difficult to rehydrate. In children, fever forces the body to start its thermoregulation because the body temperature must remain constant. We therefore observe additional water loss due to sweating. Similarly, diarrhea, which corresponds to the evacuation of liquid stools more than three times a day, causes dehydration. Indeed, whether it is caused by gastroenteritis or not, the stools are liquid because water is less absorbed by the digestive system.

Adding these symptoms together, we can see that dehydration is a major complication for people with gastroenteritis or diarrhea. It is therefore important to be able to identify the symptoms in order to act accordingly.

Dehydration most commonly manifests itself with the appearance of:

- Dryness of the mucous membranes (dry mouth, itchy eyes)

- More or less intense headaches

- A feeling of fatigue

- Urinating in small quantities

When dehydration is more serious, other signs appear such as disorientation, dizziness, impaired consciousness such as malaise or lightheadedness which can lead to a change in behavior (agitation, great intellectual and physical weakness).

Therefore, attention should be paid to the warning signs of dehydration, particularly in populations that are highly susceptible to it, such as infants, young children, the elderly and individuals with chronic illnesses.

There are some specific signs of dehydration in infants that can help you spot it:

- Your baby is abnormally weak

- He sleeps a lot, wakes up with difficulty moaning

- He has unusual behavior

- He is pale and has dark circles under his eyes.

- He breathes fast

If your baby shows several of these signs, he or she is probably dehydrated and you should consult your doctor without delay.

In the elderly, the telltale signs of dehydration include:

- Loss of appetite

- Unusual fatigue and drowsiness

- A slight fever

- Irritability

It is essential to compensate for this with sufficient water intake, as it can quickly worsen.

It is therefore essential to carefully monitor the hydration level of people at risk; in the event of severe dehydration , call 15. If symptoms of dehydration persist and there is no rapid improvement, consult your doctor.

As you will have understood, in case of gastroenteritis and diarrhea, the most important thing is to rehydrate effectively. For this, we present the drinks to favor for a fast and effective rehydration in order to avoid any complications.

Obviously, drinking water seems like the easiest choice, although it is not necessarily the most relevant. You can preferentially opt for a 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 it easier for yourself. For example, drinking blackberry or raspberry herbal teas can help you drink more while benefiting from their anti-diarrheal properties due to their composition rich in tannin. 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 juice, etc.) in order to rehydrate yourself, 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 carbohydrates (glucose) which allows a faster and greater absorption of water by the body. As the assimilation of water is maximized, it is then easier to compensate for large water losses and therefore, to avoid dehydration.

Hydratis Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) , designed according to WHO recommendations for rehydration solutions, effectively helps you maintain your hydration level.

In addition, its composition rich in chloride has beneficial properties on digestion as well as on 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 entirely dedicated to them in order to best meet their hydration needs.

With the help of ergonomic packaging that can be transported anywhere, rehydrate yourself, wherever you are:

- For the elderly , simply dissolve one Hydratis sachet in a glass of water (Hydratis 50+)

- For children over three years old, dilute two lozenges of the flavor of their choice in a large glass of water, while offering them to drink it several times an hour, first in small quantities, then letting them drink as much as they want.

Dehydration can occur very quickly in cases of gastroenteritis and diarrhea, so it should be anticipated by drinking more water or using oral rehydration solutions which are very effective in preventing the risk of dehydration .

With the help of Hydratis tablets, adopt the right reflexes to avoid complications caused by water loss. Find them on sale over the counter in more than 400 pharmacies in France and Belgium to be prepared in all circumstances.

Find the Hydratis range and thousands of reviews on hydratis.co