Are you suffering from stomach flu? If yes, then you will like to know about how long does stomach flu last, how do they occur, how common they are and how to treat stomach flu. I trust, this article will give you detail information about stomach flu.

What is stomach flu?

Stomach flu – also called as viral gastroenteritis is the viral infection which affects the small intestine and stomach. Stomach flu is not just single disease. Instead, it is itself caused by various nasty viruses like adenoviruses, rotaviruses and noroviruses. This intestinal infection is marked by abdominal cramps, vomiting or nausea, watery diarrhea and sometimes fever.

How do they occur?

The most familiar way to expand viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu) is by ingestion of contaminated water or food or a direct contact with the infected person. For instance, you may possibly get it by shaking hand or kissing or by sharing drink, food or eating utensils.

The virus inflames your intestine and stomach. As soon as the intestine and stomach are inflamed, they do not work and they must. Food may travel faster through the digestive tract.

Besides avoiding water and food which may be contaminated, frequent and thorough hand washings is your best defense.

What are the stomach flu symptoms?

Following are the common stomach flu symptoms found among the infected people.

  • Stomach pain
  • Dry mouth
  • Weight loss
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Vomiting and nausea
  • Watery diarrhea
  • Low-grade fever
  • Loss of appetite
  • Unable to make tear
  • Tiredness
  • Joint aches, muscle aches and headache
  • Sweating, clammy skin

Causes of gastroenteritis

The several types of viruses may cause gastroenteritis (stomach flu). The most frequent ones are:

Norovirus

Norovirus are a set of viruses, which cause the GAS-tro-en-ter-I-tis (gastroenteritis) or “stomach flu” in people. This kind of virus is extremely contagious as well as can affect people of any age. It is very common in overcrowded spaces like daycares, schools and nursing homes. Symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, body aches and fever. Most norovirus outbursts in U.S take place amid November and December.

Rotavirus

Rotavirus commonly affects young children and infants, who then extend the infection to adults and other children. It is regularly spread vocally (orally), meaning the virus go into someone’s body via their mouth. Symptoms naturally appear within 2 days of infection as well as include loss of appetite, watery diarrhea and vomiting.

Astrovirus

Enteric adenovirus

People with uppermost hazard for severe gastroenteritis include the elderly, young children and people having the suppressed immune system.

How long does stomach flu last?

How long does stomach flu last: It lasts for 1 to 3 days

Stomach flu will rarely lasts for longer than one to three days. However, gastroenteritis may be one to two weeks, before your intestine behavior return entirely to normal. Dehydration (dryness) is a potentially serious difficulty of stomach flu. Stomach flu can take place when your body drops too much of fluids because of having diarrhea or continuous vomiting. If you are harshly dehydrated, you may require to be given solutions IV (intravenously). In adults and children, dehydration can quickly turn out to be life threatening.

Is stomach flu contagious?

The virus causes gastroenteritis or stomach flu. The great majority of causes of stomach flu are contagious, regularly through water or food contamination; it can also be transferred from person to person. Some causes are not infectious (contagious) like medication side effects or food allergies. The stomach flu symptoms will appear 1 to 3 days after vulnerability to the disease or virus. You can remain contagious even before you start to develop symptoms. Once you have recovered from symptoms, you can stay contagious for upto 2 weeks. However, children can stay contagious for even longer period later.

How general is stomach flu?

Viral stomach flu is the 2nd most common illness in U.S after upper respiratory infections such as colds. It is not unusual for school age child to have 2 or 3 gastroenteritis a year.

Who is at risk for gastroenteritis?

Stomach flu can have an effect on any person. It take place at any occasion of the year, though is more frequent in the winter months. Gastroenteritis is usually self-limited as well as will get improved on its own when the body battles the infection. The person at high risk for gastroenteritis includes infants, older adults, pregnant women, immune compromised and undernourished people. People living in packed conditions like cruise ships, military and dorms are also at higher hazard for gastroenteritis.

The harshness of infectious stomach flu will depends upon your immune system capability to resist the virus.

How to treat stomach flu

The truth is that: there is no healing for gastroenteritis. Antibiotics do not aid, since it is caused through viruses, not bacteria. Mostly, you simply have to remain it out. Meanwhile, there are few things you can carry out to make yourself comfortable and avoid complications.

Do not worry about how long does stomach flu last for you. Whereas, there is no heal for gastroenteritis, the remedies below can help you to get relief from infectious stomach flu.

  • Drink more: Start to drink additional fluids between and with meals. Ensure you are drinking lots of liquids, particularly if you have vomiting or fever. When you have difficulty in drinking, suck on frost chips or attempt very little amounts of water. It is very simple to become dried out when you have gastroenteritis.
  • Get lots of rest: The dehydration and illness might have made you tired and weak.
  • Avoid fruit juices: Since fruit juices do not restore minerals and can truly increase diarrhea.
  • Wash your hands frequently: You must wash your hands before food preparation and after using the bathroom. If necessary, make use of hand sanitizer till you can access water and soap.
  • Ginger: As it has natural anti inflammatory properties, this antique herb has been used by people as a digestive help and usual nausea remedy. Drink ginger ale or ginger tea made with actual ginger root or you can chew a bit of ginger root.
  • Get the exact nutrients: Seek foods with potassium (for example bananas, fruit juices and potatoes), yogurt with lively bacterial cultures and salt (for example soup and pretzels). Even a small fat can help you, as it delays digestion and possibly will reduce diarrhea.
  • Use sealed products: While travelling you should avoid ice and all raw foods; drink only the sealed bottled products as well as use only the bottled water for tooth brushing.

What to look forward from your doctor?

A few questions your doctor may request include:

  • When did your symptoms begin?
  • How severe it is?
  • Have symptoms been permanent, or do they appear and go?
  • What, if something, appears to develop symptoms?
  • What, if something, seems to worsen symptoms?
  • When to get appointment from a doctor?

The stomach flu is generally self-limiting and not serious; however it can become hazardous as soon as it continues for a long period. There is nothing incorrect with letting gastroenteritis run its route at home, although know when to call a doctor.

Call a doctor, if your baby has:

  • Severe diarrhea or bloody stool
  • Vomiting
  • Dry mouth or weeps without tears

You can also see a doctor when your child shows some of typical signs of dehydration:

  • Excessive fussiness or sleepiness
  • Decreased urination
  • Wrinkled skin

Adult can call a doctor, if you are:

  • Vomiting continuously for more than 2 days
  • Dehydrated – signs include dry mouth, excessive thirst, severe weakness, deep yellow urine, no or little urine and light-headedness or dizziness
  • Vomiting blood
  • Having fever above 104F