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What Causes Diarrhea, Chills And Lightheadedness?

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Posted on Wed, 15 Oct 2014
Question: my friend has chills and had an episode about an hour ago that we thought was caused because she hadnt eaten all day. She now has diareaha and the chills and is still light headed.
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Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (37 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
likely gastroenteritis

Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

Acute onset of diarrhoea is most commonly related to viral or bacterial infection of the gastrointestinal tract.

This infection can be associated with a range of symptoms, some or all of the symptoms may occur.
Symptoms include abdominal pain, fever and chills, diarrhoea, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, dizziness due to the fluid loss, fatigue

It is likely, with the history of diarrhoea, loss of appetite, chills and dizziness that she has acute gastroenteritis (GE)

The main aspect of treatment of GE is fluid management to prevent or treat dehydration.

This means she should use oral rehydration salts from her local pharmacy or Gatorade which would also contain electrolytes.

Fluid replacement would help with the dizziness

In addition: (1) she would need to avoid solid food for at least 24 hours, maybe more if the symptoms continue and use mainly fluids

(2)probiotics either on their own or in some yogurts would also shorten the course of the symptoms

(3)medications such as peptobismol may also provide some relief

(4) paracetamol would help to reduce any fever or abdominal discomfort

I hope this helps ,feel free to ask any other questions



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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Michelle Gibson James

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16808 Questions

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What Causes Diarrhea, Chills And Lightheadedness?

Brief Answer: likely gastroenteritis Detailed Answer: HI, thanks for using healthcare magic Acute onset of diarrhoea is most commonly related to viral or bacterial infection of the gastrointestinal tract. This infection can be associated with a range of symptoms, some or all of the symptoms may occur. Symptoms include abdominal pain, fever and chills, diarrhoea, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, dizziness due to the fluid loss, fatigue It is likely, with the history of diarrhoea, loss of appetite, chills and dizziness that she has acute gastroenteritis (GE) The main aspect of treatment of GE is fluid management to prevent or treat dehydration. This means she should use oral rehydration salts from her local pharmacy or Gatorade which would also contain electrolytes. Fluid replacement would help with the dizziness In addition: (1) she would need to avoid solid food for at least 24 hours, maybe more if the symptoms continue and use mainly fluids (2)probiotics either on their own or in some yogurts would also shorten the course of the symptoms (3)medications such as peptobismol may also provide some relief (4) paracetamol would help to reduce any fever or abdominal discomfort I hope this helps ,feel free to ask any other questions