GASTRIC FLU - WatsonsHealth

GASTRIC FLU

Overview & Facts

Gastric Flu or viral gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines due to infection by certain microorganisms. Several viruses can cause gastric flu including  rotaviruses, noroviruses, adenoviruses, sapoviruses and astroviruses. A person may be infected by these viruses by:

  • Eating or drinking contaminated food and liquid.
  • Touching surfaces or objects that are contaminated, and then placing their hand in their mouth.
  • Having direct contact with another person who is infected and showing symptoms

Dehydration can be a serious complication of this infection. This means that the people with gastric flu is unable to replace the fluids they lost due to vomiting and diarrhea. Healthy people usually get by with the disease.

Types & Symptoms

Symptoms of gastric flu may include:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Watery Diarrhea
  • Abdominal Cramps

Other symptoms may include:

  • Fever
  • Dehydration (dry or sticky mouth, constipation and little or no urination)

Diagnosis & Medications

DIAGNOSIS

To diagnose gastric flu, your doctor may review your symptoms and conduct a physical exam. Presence of similar cases in the community would be another indicator. To confirm diagnosis, he or she might a require you a stool sample to be examined in the laboratory. This can detect any virus that can be the cause of your symptoms.

 

TREATMENT

Gastric flu is usually brief and the treatment mainly consist of self-care measures until the virus has gone out of the system. To avoid dehydration, they can drink oral rehydration fluids, juice, or water.

 

PREVENTION

To prevent gastric flu, one must practice hygienic habits such as:

  • Washing hands regularly especially when touching food.
  • Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consumption.
  • Avoid eating raw foods.
  • Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces.
  • Avoid sharing eating utensils, glasses and plates and other personal things.

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