Viral Gastroenteritis (stomach flu)

The intestinal infection known as viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu) manifests as watery diarrhoea, cramping in the stomach, nausea, vomiting, and occasionally fever.

The most typical ways to get viral gastroenteritis, also known as the stomach flu, are by eating or drinking contaminated food or water, or by coming into touch with an infected individual. If everything else in your health is okay, you should have a trouble-free recovery. However, viral gastroenteritis can be fatal in infants, elderly individuals, and those with weakened immune systems.

Since there is no known cure for viral gastroenteritis, prevention is essential. Steer clear of potentially contaminated food and water, and wash your hands frequently and thoroughly.

Ailments

Despite being referred to as the “stomach flu,” gastroenteritis is not the same as influenza. Only your respiratory system—your nose, throat, and lungs—is impacted by the flu (influenza). Conversely, gastroenteritis assaults your intestines and manifests as signs and symptoms like:

• Watery, mostly non-bloody diarrhoea; bloody diarrhoea typically indicates the presence of a more serious infection.
• Vomiting, nausea, or both
• Stomach aches and cramps
• Periodic headaches or aches in the muscles
• Minimal fever

Viral gastroenteritis symptoms can range from mild to severe and can show up one to three days after infection, depending on the aetiology. Usually, symptoms subside within a day or two, but on rare occasions, they might last up to 14 days.

Due to their similar symptoms, parasitic diarrhoea like giardiasis and diarrhoea brought on by bacteria like Clostridium difficile, salmonella, and Escherichia coli are often confused with viral diarrhoea.

Reasons

The most common way for viral gastroenteritis to strike is through contaminated food or water. If you share dishes, towels, or food with someone who has one of the viruses that cause gastroenteritis, you may also be at risk of contracting the illness.

Gastroenteritis is caused by a variety of viruses, including:

Noroviridae. Noroviruses are the most common cause of foodborne illness worldwide, affecting both adults and children. A norovirus infection can spread quickly through communities and families. It is more prone to spread among individuals in small areas.

The majority of the time, contaminated food or water is where the virus is acquired. However, it can also spread amongst those who share food or are in close proximity. Additionally, contacting your mouth after coming into contact with a norovirus-contaminated surface can expose you to the virus.

Rotatevirus. This is the most prevalent cause of viral gastroenteritis in children worldwide; the illness typically strikes when a youngster puts contaminated fingers or other objects in their mouth. Additionally, it can spread via tainted food. The infection affects newborns and young children the most severely.

Even though adults with rotavirus infections may not show any symptoms, they can still infect others. Because infected adults can inadvertently infect others, this is especially concerning in institutional settings like nursing homes. In certain nations, such as the US, there is a vaccine against viral gastroenteritis that seems to be useful in avoiding the illness.

Certain seafood can also cause illness, particularly raw or undercooked oysters. Viral diarrhoea is caused by tainted water sources. However, handling food that you consume without washing your hands after using the loo is often how the virus is spread.

Difficulties

Dehydration, or a significant loss of water and vital salts and minerals, is the primary side effect of viral gastroenteritis. Dehydration shouldn’t be an issue if you’re in good health and drink enough to make up for the fluids you lose from diarrhoea and vomiting.

Severe dehydration can occur in infants, elderly individuals, and those with compromised immune systems when they lose more fluids than they can replenish. It may be necessary for them to stay in a hospital so that an IV can restore any lost fluids in their arms. Rarely can dehydration result in death.

Avoidance

Taking the following precautions is the best approach to stop intestinal illnesses from spreading:

• Vaccinate your youngster. In certain nations, including the US, there is a vaccine against rotavirus-induced gastroenteritis. When administered to infants during their first year of life, the vaccination seems to be successful in preventing the illness’s more severe symptoms.
• Give your hands a good cleaning. Additionally, see to it that your kids do. Teach your older children to wash their hands, especially after using the restroom.

Hands should be washed before making or consuming meals, as well as after changing diapers. Ideally, hands should be thoroughly rubbed for at least 20 seconds while using warm water and soap. Cleanse the area around the cuticles, under the fingernails, and in the hand creases. Then give it a good rinsing. When soap and water are not available, keep hand sanitizer and sanitising wipes in your pocket.

• Throughout your house, use different personal objects. Refrain from sharing dishes, cups, and utensils when dining. When in the bathroom, use different towels.
• Safely prepare food. Before consuming any fruits or vegetables, wash them all. Before cooking on kitchen surfaces, clean them. Stay away from cooking when you’re sick.
• Remain apart from them. Try not to get into close touch with somebody who is infected.
• Get rid of hard surfaces. If someone in your house has a viral gastroenteritis, use a solution of 5 to 25 teaspoons (73 to 369 millilitres) household bleach to 1 gallon (3.8 litres) of water to clean hard surfaces including counters, taps, and doorknobs.
• Don’t handle laundry that has possibly come into contact with a virus. Wear gloves while handling laundry if someone has viral gastroenteritis in your home. Use hot water to wash and the highest drying temperature to dry clothes and bedding. After handling laundry, thoroughly wash your hands.
• Examine your nursery facility. Ensure that the centre offers dedicated spaces for feeding or cleaning up after meals and changing diapers. A sink and a hygienic nappy disposal area should be located in the same room as the changing table.

When travelling, use caution.

Contaminated food or water might make you ill when travelling to foreign nations. By using these suggestions, you might be able to lower your risk:

• Only sip well-sealed carbonated or bottled water.
• Steer clear of ice cubes as they might have been produced using tainted water.
• When brushing your teeth, use bottled water.
• Steer clear of raw food that has come into contact with human hands, such as salads, peeled fruits, and raw vegetables.
• Steer clear of underdone fish and pork.