Sometimes a banal cold leads to abdominal cramps, stool disturbances, and appetite problems. What could be the connection between ARVI and digestion? There is one. Explains gastroenterologist.
The classic symptoms of ARVI include weakness, runny nose, cough, fever, and headache. However, a cold often also manifests as a gastrointestinal disorder — abdominal pain, cramps, stool disturbances — ranging from diarrhea to constipation, and nausea.
Gastroenterologist Ekaterina Kashukh explained why a respiratory infection can be accompanied by nausea and end with diarrhea, and most importantly, what to do about it.
Viral "Special Effect"
ARVI refers to respiratory infections caused by various viruses: rhinovirus, adenovirus, coronavirus, parainfluenza virus, and others. They enter the human body through mucus particles spread by an infected person during coughing and sneezing, through contact, and even through food.
The virus destroys the cells of the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx and causes inflammation, while the products of cell decay contribute to the intoxication syndrome. A person experiences a rise in temperature, headache, fatigue, and a feeling of being unwell. Due to local inflammation in the respiratory tract, there is pain and scratchiness in the throat, and a runny nose begins.
Often, unpleasant cold symptoms are accompanied by gastrointestinal disturbances. This can manifest in various ways — from mild abdominal discomfort and frequent stools to nausea, bloating, and diarrhea.
Causes of Gastrointestinal Disruption
All these unpleasant symptoms can be caused by the viruses themselves if they have spread from the nasopharynx to the gastrointestinal tract or initially entered there. For example, adenovirus can reach the stomach and intestines through food.
"The nature of the relationship between viral respiratory infections and the digestive system is not fully understood, but some studies show that viral diseases, particularly influenza, negatively affect the gut microbiota, reducing the number of beneficial microorganisms. As a result, the illness is accompanied by symptoms similar to gastroenteritis," noted Ekaterina Kashukh.
Reaction to Medications
Nausea, diarrhea, and pain can also be caused by medications, especially if taken without a doctor's prescription and in arbitrary dosages.
"Some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or simply fever reducers, damage the stomach mucosa. Antibiotics, which patients often take without a doctor's prescription and without clarifying the diagnosis — just in case — cause even greater harm to the gastrointestinal tract," the doctor warns.
However, antibacterial medications are useless in treating viral infections; they also destroy the beneficial gut microbiota and can lead to the development of resistance, meaning insensitivity to antibiotics.
"Additionally, some of these medications stimulate increased muscle activity in the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, the contents of the stomach and intestines move faster, and fewer nutrients are absorbed," the doctor explains.
How to Solve the Problem
Mild gastrointestinal disturbances typically resolve on their own within a few days. However, if after a cold you experience bloating, nausea, severe diarrhea, and if there is mucus or blood in the stool, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
"To help the body recover, it is important to follow certain dietary rules. If there is no appetite during the acute phase of the illness, do not force yourself to eat, but it is essential to drink enough water to prevent dehydration," the doctor explains.
Eat according to your appetite, and during diarrhea, exclude whole milk, sweet, spicy, and fatty foods, raw vegetables and fruits, and products containing caffeine from your diet. A patient with ARVI complicated by stomach inflammation can consume chicken broth, rice, oatmeal, jelly, boiled vegetables, and steamed cutlets made from lean meat. After recovery, a person is advised to return to a normal balanced diet.
Fermented dairy products, natural foods, and plenty of fluids will be beneficial.
"However, it is not advisable to get carried away with probiotics, which are often recommended for restoring digestion after illnesses. Their effectiveness has not yet been proven," emphasizes Ekaterina Kashukh.
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