Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu)

Description

Viral gastroenteritis is an intestinal infection which includes signs and symptoms such as watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea or vomiting, and sometimes fever.

The most common way to develop viral gastroenteritis — often called stomach flu — is through contact with an infected person or by consumption of contaminated food or water. If you are otherwise healthy, is likely recover without complications. But for infants, older adults and people with compromised immune systems, viral gastroenteritis can be deadly.

There is no effective treatment for viral gastroenteritis, so prevention is the key. Avoid food and water that may be contaminated and wash your hands carefully and often.

Symptoms

Although it is commonly called stomach flu, gastroenteritis isn't the same as the flu. The flu (influenza) affects only your respiratory system — your nose, throat and lungs. Gastroenteritis, on the other hand, attacks your intestines, causing signs and symptoms such as:

  • Watery, usually nonbloody diarrhea — bloody diarrhea usually means you have a different, more severe infection
  • Nausea, vomiting, or both
  • Stomach cramps and pain
  • Occasional muscle aches or headache
  • Low-grade fever

Depending on the cause, viral gastroenteritis symptoms may appear within 1-3 days after infection and can vary from mild to severe. The symptoms usually last just a day or two, but sometimes can last up to 14 days.

Because the symptoms are similar, it is easy to confuse viral diarrhea with diarrhea caused by bacteria, such as Clostridioides difficile, salmonella and Escherichia coli, or parasites such as giardia.

When to see a doctor

If you're an adult, call your health care provider if:

  • You are not able to maintain liquids down for 24 hours
  • You have been vomiting or have diarrhea for more than two days
  • You are vomiting blood
  • You're dehydrated — signs of dehydration include excessive thirst, dry mouth, deep yellow urine, or little or no urine, and severe weakness, dizziness or dizziness
  • You notice blood in your bowel movements
  • You have: severe stomach pain
  • You have a fever over 104 ° F (40 ° C)

For babies and children

See your health care provider right away if your child:

  • Has a fever of 102 F (38.9 C) or pur
  • Seems tired or very irritable
  • It is located in a great amount of discomfort or pain
  • Has diarrhea with blood
  • Looks dehydrated — see if there are signs of dehydration in sick children, and the children through the comparison of how much they drink and urinate, how much is normal for them, and watching for signs such as dryness of mouth, thirst, and crying without tears

If you have a baby, remember that while the regurgitation can be a daily occurrence from your baby, vomiting is not. Babies vomit for a variety of reasons, many of which may require medical attention in theattention.

Call your doctor right away if your baby:

  • Have frequent vomiting
  • Has not had a wet diaper in six hours
  • You have blood in the stool or diarrhea severe
  • It has a sunken soft spot (fontanel) on the top of his head
  • Have a dry mouth or cries withouttears ut
  • It is unusual sleepiness, drowsiness or does not respond

Causes

You are more likely to get viral gastroenteritis from eating or drinking contaminated food or water. You can also be prone to catching gastroenteritis if you share utensils, towels, or food with someone who has one of the viruses that cause the disease.

Many different viruses can cause gastroenteritis, including:

  • The norovirus.Children and adults are affected by norovirus, the most common cause of foodborne illness throughout the world. Norovirus infection can sweep thrd'oh families and communities. It is especially likely to spread among people in confined spaces. In most cases, you pick up the virus from contaminated food or water. But it can also spread between people who are in close contact or sharing food. You can also get the virus by touching a surface that has been contaminated with norovirus and then touching the mouth.
  • The Rotavirus.In all the world, this is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in children, who are usually infected when they put their fingers or other objects contaminated with the virus in their mouths. It can also spread through contaminated food. The infection is more severe in infants and young children. Adults infected with rotavirus may not have symptoms, but can still spread the disease. This is of particular concern in institutional settings, such as nursing homes, because the adults with the virus without knowing it, you can pass the virus to others. A vaccine against viral gastroenteritis is available in some countries, including the united States, and appears to be effective in the prevention of infection.

The norovirus. Children and adults are affected by norovirus, the most common cause of foodborne illness throughout the world. Norovirus infection can sweep through families and communities. It is especially likely to spread among people in confined spaces.

In most cases, you pick up the virus from contaminated food or water. But it can also spread between people who are in close contact or sharing food. You can also catch the virus by touching a surface that been contaminated with norovirus and then touching the mouth.

The Rotavirus. In all the world, this is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in children, who are usually infected when they put their fingers or other objects contaminated with the virus in their mouth. It can also spread through contaminated food. The infection is more severe in infants and young children.

Adults infected with rotavirus may not have symptoms, but can still spread the disease. This is of particular concern in institutionalttings, such as nursing homes, because the adults with the virus without knowing it, you can pass the virus to others. A vaccine against viral gastroenteritis is available in some countries, including the united States, and appears to be effective in the prevention of infection.

Some seafood, especially raw or undercooked oysters, it can also make you sick. The contaminated water is one of the causes of diarrhea are viral. But in many cases the virus is spread when someone with a virus that is responsible for the food that you eat without washing your handafter using the toilet.

Risk factors

Gastroenteritis occurs worldwide and can affect people of all ages.

People who may be more susceptible to gastroenteritis are:

  • Small children. Children in child care centers or elementary schools may be especially vulnerable because it takes time for a child's immune system to mature.
  • Older adults. Adult immune systems tend to be less efficient, later in life. Older adults in nursing homes arand vulnerable because their immune systems are weakened. They also live in close contact with others who may pass along germs.
  • The school or dormitory residents. Anywhere that groups of people gather in closed spaces, may be a means to an intestinal infection of the past.
  • Any person with a weakened immune system. If your resistance to infection is low, for example, if your immune system is compromised by the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) / Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), chemotherapy or other medical condition, can be particularly at risk.

Each gastrointestinal virus which has a season when it is most active. If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, for example, you are more likely to have rotavirus or norovirus infections in the winter and spring.

Complications

The main complication of viral gastroenteritis is dehydration — a severe loss of water and salts essential and minerals. If you are healthy and drink enough to replenish the fluids lost by vomiting and diarrhea, dehydration should not be a problem.

Babies, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems may be severely dehydrated when they lose more fluids than it can replace. Hospitalization may be necessary so that the fluid lost can be replaced through an INTRAVENOUS injection in their arms. Dehydration may rarely lead to death.

Prevention

The best way to prevent the spread of intestinal infections is to follow the following precautions:

  • Immunize their children. A vaccine to prevent gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus is available in some cof countries, including the united States. Given to children in the first year of life, the vaccine appears to be effective in the prevention of the severe symptoms of this disease.
  • Wash your hands well.And make sure that their sons do, too. If your kids are older, teach them to wash their hands, especially after using the toilet. Wash your hands after changing diapers, and before preparing or eating food, too. It is best to use warm water and soap and rub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Wash around the cuticles, under the fingernails and in the creases of the hands. Then rinse well. Make disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer for times when soap and water are not available.
  • Use different personal items around your home. Avoid sharing eating utensils, drinking gla- sses, and plates. Use towels in the bathroom.
  • Prepare food safely. Wash all fruits and vegetables before you eat them. Clean kitchen surfaces before preparing food on them. Avoid preparing food if you are sick.
  • Keep your distance. Avoid the contact with someone who has the virus, if it is possible.
  • Disinfect hard surfaces. If someone in your household has viral gastroenteritis, the disinfection of hard surfaces, such as counters, faucets and doorknobs, with a mixture of 5-25 tablespoons (73 369 milliliters) of the city of household of bleach in 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of water.
  • Avoid touching the dirty clothes that you have been exposed to a virus. If someone in your household has viral gastroenteritis, wear gloves when touching a laundry service. Wash clothing and bedding in hot water and dried in the hottest position. Wash your hands well after touching a laundry service.
  • Take a look at your child care center. Make sure that the center has separate rooms to change diapers and prepare or serve food. The room with the diaper changing table must have a sink, as well as a sanitary way to dispose of diapers.

Wash your hands well. And make sure that their sons do, too. If your kids are older, teach them to wash their hands, especially after using the toilet.

Wash your hands after changing diapers, and before preparingflashes or eating too much. It is best to use warm water and soap and rub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Wash around the cuticles, under the fingernails and in the creases of the hands. Then rinse well. Make disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer time when soap and water are not available.

Take precautions when traveling

When you're traveling in other countries, you can get sick from contaminated food or water. You may be able to reduce your risk by following these tips:

  • Drink only well-sealed bottled or carbonated water.
  • Avoid ice cubes because it can be made from contaminated water.
  • Use bottled water to brush your teeth.
  • Avoid raw foods — including the peeling of fruits, raw vegetables, and salads — that has been touched by human hands.
  • Avoid undercooked meat and fish.

Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu)

Diagnosis

It is likely that your doctor diagnose viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu), based on symptoms, a physical exam, and sometimes in the presence of similar cases in their community. A quick stool test can detect rotavirus or norovirus, but there are no rapid tests for other viruses that cause gastroenteritis. In some cases, your doctor may need to submit a stool sample to rule out a possible bacterial or parasitic infection.

Treatment

There are often no specific medical treatment for viral gastroenteritis. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses. First, the treatment consists in self-care measures, such as staying hydrated.

Self-care

To help keep you more comfortable and prevent dehydration while you recover, try the following:

  • Let your stomach settle. Stop eating solid foods for a couple of hours.
  • Try sucking on ice chips or taking small sips of water often. You can also try drinking clear soda, clear broths or noncaffeinated sports drinks. In some cases can be treated with oral rehydration solutions. Drink plenty of liquid every day, taking small, frequent sips.
  • Ease back into eating. As you are able, you can go back to eating your normal diet. You might find that you can eat soft, easy-to-digest foodst in the first place, such as soda crackers, soup, oatmeal, noodles, banana and rice. Stop eating if your nausea returns.
  • Avoid certain foods and substances until you feel better. These include caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and fatty or highly seasoned foods.
  • Get plenty of rest. The disease and dehydration may have made you weak and tired.
  • Try anti-diarrhea medications. Some adults may find it useful to take loperamide (Imodium a-D) or bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol, other) to control your symptoms. However, avoid these if you have bloody diarrhea or fever, which may be symptoms of another disease.

For babies and children

When your child has an intestinal infection, the most important objective is to replace the loss of fluids and salts. These suggestions can help:

  • Help your child to rehydrate.Give your child an oral rehydration solution, available in pharmacies without a prescription. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about how to use it. Do not give your child with the pure water — in children with gastroenteritis, the water is not absorbed well, and is not suitable to replace lost electrolytes. Avoid giving your child the apple juice to the rehydration — you can make diarrhea worse.
  • Get your child back to a normal diet once hydrated. Once your child is rehydrated, introduce him or her to his or her normal diet. This could include toast, yogurt, fruit, and vegetables.
  • Avoid certain foods. Do not give your child sugary foods such as ice cream, soda and candy. These can worsen the diarrhea.
  • Make sure that your child gets enough sleep. The disease and dehydration may have done to his son weak and tired.
  • Avoid giving your child store-bought anti-diarrheal medications, unless advised by your doctor. They can make it harder for the body of his son to get rid of the virus.

Help your child to rehydrate. Giver child an oral rehydration solution, available in pharmacies without a prescription. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about how to use it.

Do not give your child with the pure water — in children with gastroenteritis, the water is not absorbed very well and not adequately replace lost electrolytes. Avoid giving your child the apple juice to the rehydration — you can make diarrhea worse.

If you have a sick baby, let your baby's stomach to rest for 15 to 20 minutes after vomiting or an episode of diarrhea, then offer small amounts of liquid. If you are breast-feeding, breast-feed your baby. If your baby is bottle-fed, offer a small amount of an oral rehydration solution or the normal formula. Do not dilute your baby is already prepared formula.

Preparing for your appointment

If you or your child needs to see a doctor, it is likely that you consult with your doctor first. If there is doubt about the diagnosis, your doctor may refer you to a specialist in infectious diseases.

What you can do

Prepare a list of questions will help you make the most of your time with your doctor. Some questions that you can ask your or your child's doctor include:

  • What is the likely cause of the symptoms? There are other possible causes?
  • There is a need for tests?
  • What is the best treatment approach? There are alternatives?
  • There is a need to take the medicine?
  • What can I do at home to relieve the symptoms?

What to expect from your doctor

Some of the questions the doctor may ask include:

  • When did symptoms begin?
  • The symptoms been continuous or come and go?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
  • You have been in contact with people with similar symptoms?

What you can do in the meantime

Drink plenty of fluids. As you are able, you may returnor eating your normal diet. You might find that you can eat soft, easy-to-digest food in the first place. If your child is sick, to follow the same approach — they offer plenty of fluids. When possible, you start to get your child to eat their normal diet. If you are breastfeeding or using formula, continue to feed your child, as usual. Ask the doctor if your child give your child an oral rehydration solution, available in pharmacies without a prescription, it would be of help.

Symptoms and treatment of Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu)