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Q: I am having terrible stomach cramps, very loose bowel movements, chills and severe sweating, general fatigue, and no appetite. Also, I am bloating in my stomach area and have been vomiting occasionally. However, I do not have a fever. I went to my regular doctor 3 weeks ago when I had stomach cramps and he did a kidney and liver test which all turned up ok. Any suggestions? This has been going on for 3 weeks.
A: The symptoms you describe are typical of a condition referred to as gastroenteritis. In general, these symptoms may have inflammatory or noninflammatory causes. Causative agents include viruses, bacteria, food intolerance, inorganic or organic poisons, or drugs, such as antibiotics.A history of foods eaten, travel, and recent antibiotic usage should be obtained when these symptoms are present. When symptoms persist beyond several days, initial presentation occurs with fever or bloody diarrhea, or the patient has a deficient immune system, stool cultures should be performed. Even though several studies suggest that antibiotic therapy may shorten the course of the disease, routine use of antibiotics is not recommended. However, if symptoms persist and the stool cultures are negative, other dignostic tests are indicated. In particular, it is always worthwhile to then consider performing a colonoscopy. This test consists of passage of a flexible tube through the anus to allow visualization of the bowel wall by the physician in order to determine whether other possible causes or these symptoms are present.
Updated: 05/23/99
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