Recently, many citizens asked whether they needed to stock up some montmorillonite and norfloxacin. The reason is that it is rumored that the XBB. 1.5 variant of COVID-19 will cause diarrhea. In this regard, Gao Bin, director of the infectious diseases Department of Tianjin Fourth Central Hospital, gave a reminder. Is this newly prevalent strain prone to diarrhea? Gao Bin said that there is no scientific evidence to support this statement. It is similar to the clinical symptom spectrum caused by the current popular Omicron mutant. Acute diarrhea is mostly related to microorganisms, including some bacteria, viruses, or toxins produced by some bacteria. Common measures to treat diarrhea require doctors to analyze the condition, including fluid infusion (maintaining electrolyte and acid-base balance), symptomatic and cause specific treatment as appropriate. If the amount of fluid discharged from diarrhea is large, it is very important to supplement water and some electrolytes (especially potassium) in time. For simple diarrhea without fever and systemic symptoms, you can try montmorillonite powder. In case of systemic symptoms or diarrhea aggravation, go to the hospital for medical treatment. But it is obviously wrong to rush to purchase and reserve norfloxacin to deal with diarrhea. Why is it bad to store norfloxacin? Gao Bin pointed out that, first of all, norfloxacin is an antibiotic and COVID-19 is a virus. The treatment of diarrhea caused by virus (including COVID-19) infection with antibiotics has no other effect except some side effects. Second, even diarrhea caused by bacterial infection, only some kinds of bacteria have ever been sensitive to such antibiotics; In the past, due to the long-term massive use or abuse of norfloxacin, the bacteria sensitive to this drug have evolved, and now norfloxacin is no longer effective, which is exactly a phenomenon of bacterial resistance. Therefore, if the diarrhea is serious, you should see a doctor in time. (Outlook New Times)