Stomach Flu Symptoms & Stomach Flu Treatment
Stomach flu symptoms can occur in anyone of any age and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in the elderly, but also in the very young. Stomach flu, also known as gastric flu, viral gastroenteritis, stomach bug or vomiting bug has high economic costs too and is a leading cause of sickness absence in the work place due to being so infectious and disabling, with the average stomach flu duration being anything between 2 to 7 days (although often a 24 hour stomach bug, it takes at least 48 hours to get over the symptoms).
Stomach Flu Symptoms:
The symptoms of the stomach flu or vomiting bug (gastric flu) include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and acute diarrhea. Other symptoms that can occur include dizziness, cramps, headache and palpitations usually as a result of dehydration. As previously mentioned whilst sometimes only a 24 hour stomach bug, the average stomach flu duration is between 2 to 3 days and most
stomach flu symptoms
normally settle without any need to see a doctor.
What Causes Stomach Or Gastric Flu?Stomach or gastric flu is caused by a virus. The most common virus is known as the Norwalk or Norovirus. Norovirus gastroenteritis commonly occurs in the winter and is commonly known as the ‘winter vomiting virus’, although this can be misleading as it can actually occur at anytime of the year. Other viruses that can cause viral gastroenteritis symptoms include rotavirus, astrovirus, adenovirus, small round virus, small round structured viruses and calcivirus. However, it is the Norovirus that is most well known due to its label as the winter vomiting virus. The average incubation period for these viruses is between 24 to 48 hours. Treatment Of Stomach Flu
Stomach flu treatment is usually in the form of conservative measures. The most important measure is to maintain hydration by keeping a good fluid intake up in the form of water and electrolyte solutions. Oral rehydration therapy with commercial preparations such as Pedialyte or Dioralyte, which contain rehydration salts, are commonly used. However, a good home remedy for stomach flu is to make your own up as the important replacements are sugar, salt and water, all of which are usually readily available in the home. A teaspoon of table salt, 8-9 teaspoonfuls of sugar mixed in a litre of water is all you need and this can be diluted to taste with juices if required. This should help to improve your stomach flu symptoms.
Rehydration can be difficult if vomiting is a predominant symptom and the reason why there can be high morbidity and mortality (particularly when no medical services are available) in the young children and the elderly who are particularly susceptible. Hospital admission for rehydration is sometimes necessary, when oral rehydration therapy can be replaced with intravenous fluids. Avoiding foods and drinks that may worsen symptoms is also a remedy for stomach flu. These include alcohol, coffee and tea (due to caffeine being a gut stimulant), fatty foods and dairy products such as milk and butter. There aren’t any other treatments for stomach flu apart from antipyretics such as paracetamol or similar to keep fever down and help with the muscle aches and headache symptoms.
Prevention Of Stomach Flu
The main prevention of stomach flu is to maintain good hygiene. The virus is usually spread either by the fecal-oral route usually, due to contamination of food, water or hand to hand contact. Make sure that good hand hygiene is observed by frequent hand washing, preferably the infected individual having their own toilet and isolating whilst infectious from unaffected individuals.
Any Other Questions About Stomach Flu?If you have anyother questions about stomach flu symptoms you can always ask the free online doctor service. Ask A Question On Stomach Flu Or Leave A CommentDo you have a question or comment about stomach flu? Leave a question or comment now! What Other Visitors Have SaidClick below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Vomiting after chinese meal
IS THE 24 HOUR BUG CONTAGIOUS
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