Irritable Bowel syndrome

An 18 years old girl who was born in America decided for the first time to visit her motherland Africa she was excited about getting to know her mother's family. And arranged to stay in the same house with her uncles and cousins who live there. And she was drinking their water and eating at different restaurants trying to have fun as much she can. One week in Africa she began experiencing nausea, vomiting, and low-grade fever. Several hours later she began experiencing intense cramping and diarrhea. For the next 3 days she felt so sick she was unable to leave the house. The next day she arranged for an emergency trip to America. 

 

 What is probably happening to her.? Think about the GI reflexes and explain the underlying cause for his signs and symptoms. What treatment should be started now? What could have been done to prevent this problem from occurring? What possible drug therapy might have been helpful for

 

She might have gastroenteritis. Gastrointestinal reflexes may be altered because of the inflammation or infection. Proper rehydration to avoid dehydration. Avoiding raw food and drinking bottle water. Intravenous fluid replacement, antibiotics if the cause was bacteria.

Step-by-step explanation

She might be experiencing gastroenteritis because of possible contaminated food and water that she consumed during the visit. Because of the inflammation cause by gastroenteritis, the lining of digestive was altered causing nausea, vomiting, cramping and diarrhea later on. The normal function of gastrointestinal is affected. Presence of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea altering gastrocolic reflexes. Proper rehydration should be initiated to prevent dehydration which is a complication of persistent vomiting and diarrhea. Rehydration by drinking a lot of fluid or oral rehydration drinks, if oral rehydration solution is not available, Home made oresol can be done using 1 teaspoon salt, 4 teaspoon sugar in 1 liter water as an alternative. Avoiding raw food and drinking sealed bottled water might prevent the said problem, because of the food and water might be contaminated during the preparation. Handwashing is a must also to avoid contracting such problem. Intravenous fluid at the hospital to replace the fluid loss during vomiting and diarrhea that might lead to dehydration, may start antibacterial medication if the said problem was cause by bacteria. Above all, "Prevention is better than cure" she might avoided that problem if she had been careful at first.