Gastrointestinal Illnesses

Gastrointestinal (GI) illnesses often give you unpleasant symptoms like nausea, diarrhea or fever. At SCC Dallas, we treat a number of GI illnesses to get you back to feeling well.

GI diseases involve ailments related to the digestive system, including the throat, stomach, and intestines. They can be acute or chronic, requiring long-term treatment. Common types include viral gastroenteritis, food poisoning, and constipation.

Symptoms of Gastrointestinal Illnesses

Most GI ailment symptoms are easily recognizable. GI disorders often begin with abdominal discomfort and nausea and then symptoms may differ depending on your specific ailment. GI disorders or infections may include:

Viral Gastroenteritis (“Stomach Flu”)

Viral gastroenteritis, often referred to as "stomach flu," is a digestive illness caused by a contaminated food or water. It typically appears within a day or two, with exceptions for rotavirus and norovirus. Symptoms include:

  • Vomiting

  • Watery diarrhea

  • A low fever

  • Cramping

Food Poisoning

Food poisoning is an illness which occurs when you've eaten food contaminated by an infectious organism, such as salmonella, listeria or E. coli. This can occur with undercooked or improperly handled food. Symptoms typically appear eight to 12 hours after eating and can last for one to two days. Food poisoning begins with abdominal cramping. Other symptoms include:

  • Nausea

  • Vomiting

  • Diarrhea

  • Fever

  • Cramps

Gastrointestinal Infections

Gastrointestinal infections can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites that settle in your GI tract. Viral and bacterial infections normally resolve in a few days, whereas parasitic infections typically will require medical treatment to resolve. Symptoms include:

  • Diarrhea

  • Abdominal discomfort

  • Vomiting

  • Those with parasites, particularly pinworms (common among school-age children) may experience difficulty sleeping, restlessness and itching around the infection site.

Constipation

A common, usually temporary disorder, often the result of inactivity, eating or drinking a lot of dairy products, and/or not having enough fiber or water in your diet. Constipation may resolve itself within a few days. Symptoms include:

  • Trouble with bowel movements

  • Bloating

Morning Sickness

Many pregnant women suffer from morning sickness, which (despite its name) can occur at any time of the day. Typically occurring during the first trimester of pregnancy, morning sickness is also not a true “sickness” but rather the result of fluctuating hormones in a woman's body. Symptoms include:

  • Nausea

  • Vomiting

Diagnosing Gastrointestinal Illnesses

Because there are a multitude of diagnoses that fall under GI illnesses, your SCC Dallas medical team may ask you about your symptoms and recent activities, among other things, to help them make their diagnosis.

Patients may be referred to a gastroenterologist for chronic disorders. Specialists may be able to help the patient determine how to adjust their lifestyle, diet, medications, or manage their ongoing symptoms. In cases where serious underlying disorders are suspected by your health care provider, immediate referral to the emergency department may be necessary.

Treating a GI Disorder

Though specific treatments vary depending on the diagnosis, general care of stomach or digestive trouble may include:

  • Resting and drinking plenty of fluids.

  • Following the BRAT diet – bananas, rice, applesauce and toast – all of which are easy on the stomach and beneficial in their own way. At the same time, avoid things like dairy, grease, and spices, as they can aggravate your digestive system.

  • Taking over-the-counter medications to ease symptoms (for example, laxatives for constipation).

  • Upon being examined by a medical provider, medications could be prescribed to control symptoms such as nausea to provide comfort and aid in the ability to rehydrate. When appropriate, anti-nausea medications and/or IV rehydration may be administered.