Even though the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday hasn’t officially arrived, some people have already started their barbecue season. A high school student ended up in the emergency room after feeling nauseous with mild diarrhea during a barbecue party. Things worsened at home as he developed a high fever and severe diarrhea, prompting his family to rush him back to the hospital. The culprit? Undercooked food.
Dr. Chuang Chia-Shun, a gastroenterologist at Taichung Hospital, explained that the student initially experienced nausea, vomiting, and mild diarrhea after the barbecue. His parents took him to the emergency department, where he was given medication and sent home to rest. However, his symptoms escalated, with high fever and intense diarrhea, leading to a second urgent hospital visit.
Further examinations revealed severe intestinal inflammation, swelling, and fluid accumulation. Doctors determined the cause was likely eating undercooked meat or seafood at the barbecue, resulting in acute gastroenteritis. The student was admitted, treated with IV fluids, antibiotics, and anti-diarrheal medication, and after three days in the hospital, he recovered and was discharged.
Dr. Chuang warns that emergency cases related to gastrointestinal issues typically increase by about 20% after the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. With the upcoming three-day break, he urges the public to ensure all meat and seafood are thoroughly cooked before consumption. Due to the hot weather, improperly handled food can spoil quickly, leading to bacterial contamination and acute gastroenteritis.
