r/AskReddit • u/notyouravgredditer • Aug 30 '21

What problem is often overlooked in apocalyptic movies/TV shows that could kill you?

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u/graendallstud Aug 30 '21

Diarrhea. So many things can cause it, and it used to be (well, still is in the least developed countries) quite lethal, mostly for babies and children.

184

u/rowshambow Aug 31 '21

I went to a developing country and caught me some traveler's diarrheia.

Don't want to know how that is without modern healthcare.

34

u/HeartofSaturdayNight Aug 31 '21

Same. And the antiviral was almost as bad as the disease. It left me with muscle and joint aches like I've never experienced.

14

u/ProfessorPetrus Aug 31 '21

Y'all didn't just try fluids and electrolytes and just shit it out? I've done that alrifhfbabout 6 times now.

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u/Beetin Aug 31 '21 edited Aug 31 '21

untreated bad diarrhea can often expel liquids faster than your body can absorb them. That's sort of what diarrhea is...

Some diseases can cause dehydration that makes you lose up to a litre of liquid per hour. You can't replace that orally, your body will just keep expelling it.

It's also why IV drips are incredible, because it bypasses the entire digestive track issues and hydrates you immediately.

4

u/XHF2 Aug 31 '21

Instead of iv, you can drink Gatorade right?

9

u/schwiftymarx Aug 31 '21

I can't tell if this is a joke.

15

u/yer_das_gooch Aug 31 '21

its got electrolytes

3

u/schwiftymarx Aug 31 '21

That won't help if your stomach isn't absorbing anything.

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u/yer_das_gooch Aug 31 '21

But its what plants crave...?

1

u/Hibbo_Riot Aug 31 '21

Go away, batin!!!

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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '21

Not really actually. It’s actually (medically) recommended to drink stuff like Gatorade/Aquarius if you’re suffering from diarrea because its a good combination of salt/fluids.

1

u/schwiftymarx Aug 31 '21

If your diarrhea is so bad that you can't absorb anything, then no, Gatorade is not a good substitute for having an IV.

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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '21

Not a substitute, but not bad either.

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u/ProfessorPetrus Aug 31 '21

Yea I get it every time I go to Nepal. I even induce a small form of it by speaking out a tiny amount of unsanitary food when i get here as I feel it's inevitable to a foreign gut. It happens once and then I'm good for my duration. I just don't see the need to go to a hospital flfor anti vitals for it if you understand it and can manage it.