Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Definition
Gastroenteritis (vomiting) is inflammation of the lining of the intestine which is commonly caused by infection. Some people also call this indigestion with stomach flu or vomiting (vomiting and defecating).
The cause of the stomach flu is generally a viral infection, but it can also be caused by bacteria or parasites. Gastroenteritis symptoms are similar to diarrhea or food poisoning.
The spread of this disease infection occurs through contaminated food or water, and contact with infected people. The main complaint due to stomach flu is dehydration when too much body fluids are wasted due to vomiting and diarrhea.
How common is this condition?
Gastroenteritis is a digestive disorder that can happen to anyone. Even so, children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more at risk of developing vomiting.
Reporting from the Cleveland Clinic, about 3-5 billion people in the world experience acute diarrhea due to stomach flu per year. This is what makes stomach flu quite common.
Signs and symptoms
The main symptom of vomiting is diarrhea. Diarrhea occurs because the colon is infected, so it is unable to hold fluid in the stomach. As a result, the stool becomes runny.
Not only diarrhea, there are various other symptoms of stomach flu that you need to be aware of, including:
- stomach pain or stomach cramps,
- fever and body sweating,
- nausea and vomiting,
- weight loss,
- difficult to refrain from defecating (fecal incontinence),
- muscle and joint pain, as well
- skin feels moisturised.
Symptoms of vomiting can occur 1-3 days after infection and can last for 1-2 days or more. However, the signs and symptoms of gastroenteritis depend on the cause.
There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.
Symptoms of vomiting in infants and children
Meanwhile, for babies and young children, you need to contact the doctor when they experience conditions such as:
- a high fever of more than 38 C,
- fuss and cry all the time,
- looks limp or weak,
- Bloody stools,
- dehydration in children and infants,
- vomiting for more than a few hours,
- not urinating in 6 hours, as well
- changes in sleep hours.
If you or your child have signs or symptoms above or other questions, please consult a doctor. Everyone’s body responds to an infection differently, so the symptoms that everyone feels are not always the same.
When to see a doctor?
Actually, the way to treat gastroenteritis is quite simple, namely by doing treatment at home. However, you still need to consult a doctor, especially when experiencing symptoms such as:
- CHAPTER continuously for 24 hours,
- Bloody stools,
- prolonged vomiting of more than 2 days or vomiting blood,
- dehydrated, as well
- high fever.
Causes and risk factors
The main causes of gastroenteritis are viral and bacterial infections. Both can enter the body through contaminated food or drink.
Vomiting can also be contagious when you continue to interact with an infected person, especially using the same utensils, such as glasses and spoons.
More specifically, viruses or bacteria that can infect the large intestine include:
Norovirus
Norovirus is the most common cause of vomiting in children and adults. The spread of this virus can occur through family, friends, or associations with infected people in it.
Rotavirus
Compared with adults, rotavirus causes vomiting more frequently in children. This virus usually enters a child’s body when they put their finger or a contaminated toy in their mouth.
Adults infected with rotavirus are usually asymptomatic. However, they can still pass the virus on to other people.
Bacteria
Apart from viruses, other causes of stomach flu are bacterial infections. There are a number of types of bacteria that can cause gastroenteritis, including:
- Yersinia, the bacteria present in pork,
- Staphylococcus and Salmonella, bacteria that are present in unheated dairy products, raw meat, or eggs,
- Shigella, a bacteria often found in swimming pools,
- Campylobacter, bacteria found in raw chicken, bird, or duck, and
- E. coli, a bacteria found in raw beef and salads.
What factors can increase your risk of developing this condition?
Apart from causes, there are several factors that can make a person susceptible to stomach flu, including the following.
- Infants, children, and the elderly because they have a weak immune system.
- Weak immune system, especially people with HIV / AIDS or undergoing chemotherapy.
- Live in an area with poor water sanitation.
- Live in a highly populated area.
- Be in child care or boarding school.
- Travel.
Complications
If not treated properly, vomiting can cause a number of complications, such as:
- dehydration,
- unable to control bowel movements,
- kidney failure,
- intestinal bleeding leading to anemia, and
- Dead.
Drugs & Medicines
How to diagnose this condition?
When you consult a doctor about vomiting, the doctor will ask you about the various symptoms you feel. Apart from the symptoms, the doctor will also check your medical history.
The number of digestive disorders that trigger symptoms similar to the stomach flu, makes doctors recommend additional examinations, namely:
Both blood and fecal samples will be examined in the laboratory to detect the cause of vomiting, whether viral or bacterial.
What are the treatment options for stomach flu?
Basically, gastroenteritis treatment can be done at home. However, some patients, such as infants and children, may require special care from a doctor.
Take over-the-counter medications
Meanwhile, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter medications for adults, such as:
Both of these drugs aim to treat vomiting due to viral infections. However, gastroenteritis drugs are not recommended for infants, children, pregnant and lactating women, or people with certain diseases.
That is why, you need to consult with your doctor before using the drug. If your vomiting is caused by a bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection in your body.
In addition, the doctor may also recommend other drugs to relieve symptoms of vomiting, such as fever and pain, including:
Home remedies
Apart from doctor’s care, there are a number of habits that need to be considered in order to support the healing process of vomiting. Here are some simple ways to deal with stomach flu that can be done at home.
Increase fluid intake
In order to prevent complications of gastroenteritis, you need to increase your fluid intake by drinking more water.
Apart from water, you can also replace lost body fluids with ORS solutions and drinks containing electrolytes.
Eat little by little
One of the most common symptoms of gastroenteritis is feeling nauseous and vomiting. These symptoms can actually be relieved by eating small amounts of food, but more often.
This way of treating stomach flu at least prevents the body from becoming weak and at the same time lacks nutrition.
Tips for eating food during diarrhea and vomiting include:
- choose bland but easily digestible foods, such as porridge, bananas, or bread, and
- avoid dairy products, fatty foods or caffeinated drinks.
Get more rest
Not only pay attention to your eating and drinking habits, you also need to get more rest. How not, too often vomiting and defecating certainly makes the body weak.
Therefore, it is highly recommended to rest for 1-3 days until your condition improves.
Prevention
Stomach flu can actually be prevented, as long as you stick to some of the habits below.
Vaccine
Now there is a vaccine to prevent vomiting. Gastroenteritis vaccine is usually given to children aged one year.
This is so that the body forms a stronger immune system in the rotavirus. The vaccine used to reduce the risk of stomach flu is the rotavirus vaccine (Rotatex and Rotarix).
Wash your hands diligently
Living clean and healthy habits is the main key to preventing stomach flu. One of them is washing hands regularly, especially after going to the toilet, eating, preparing food, or doing activities outside the home.
This also applies especially to those of you who care for babies who have gastroenteritis. It should be noted that the virus that causes vomiting can remain in the feces for 2 weeks after the patient has recovered.
Try washing your hands with soap and rubbing them between your nails for 20 seconds. Then, rinse under running water and dry your hands after washing.
Avoid using items together
For those of you who live in a dorm or when a family member has gastroenteritis, don’t use the same items in turn.
Limit interactions with people who are sick, such as not eating at the same table or sleeping at the same table.
Maintain cleanliness while traveling
When you travel to an area or country, be sure to always keep things clean. Not only cleanliness, but also the food and drink you consume.
Steps that can be taken as a way to prevent vomiting while traveling include the following.
- Drink water that is tightly closed and the packaging is undamaged.
- Avoid drinks with ice cubes, if when you buy them in the open.
- Avoid raw or undercooked foods.
- Make sure to buy food in a clean place.
- Always wash your hands and have a handsanitizer ready in the bag.
If you have further questions, please contact your doctor to get the right solution.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Information, H., Diseases, D., Flu ”), V., Flu”), T., Center, T., & Health, N. (2020). Treatment of Viral Gastroenteritis (“Stomach Flu”) | NIDDK. Retrieved 1 April 2021, from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/viral-gastroenteritis/treatment
Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu): Symptoms, Causes & Diagnosis. (2020). Retrieved 1 April 2021, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12418-gastroenteritis
Stomach flu: How long am I contagious ?. (2020). Retrieved 1 April 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/viral-gastroenteritis/expert-answers/stomach-flu/faq-20057899
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