What Are Your Tips For How To Avoid A Stomach Virus After Being Exposed
Disclaimer: Although I am passionate about nutrition, natural living and alternative health issues, I am not a certified nutritionist, medical doctor, or practitioner of any kind. I am not licensed to counsel anyone in medical matters nor may I be held responsible for any course of action that you choose in regards to your own health or that of your family. Please remember that what I are sharing is the result of my own experiences, but may not necessarily be the right course of action for you. I am an advocate of becoming informed, knowledgeable and responsible for ones own health, but my desire is not to be an authority on any matters of health for you, nor would I presume to have sufficient knowledge to do so. My hope is that what I share may encourage you and start you on the road to doing your own research, and seeking out the opinions of professionals or others that you trust.
Home Remedies And Lifestyle
Diarrhea and vomiting from viral gastroenteritis are common and in most cases, will resolve on their own in a few days. It tends to be uncomfortable, of course, so its understandable to want to try to shorten the duration and lessen the severity of symptoms.
Staying comfortable and hydrated is going to be important while battling and recovering from viruses that cause the stomach flu.
Should I Call The Doctor
- Any symptoms of dehydration such as excessive thirst, dry mouth, deep yellow urine or little or no urine, and severe weakness and lethargy, dizziness or lightheadedness
- Diarrhea or vomiting that lasts longer than 2 days
- Vomit up blood, have bloody diarrhea, or severe belly pain
- Have not had anything to drink in a few hours
- Have not urinated in the past 6 to 8 hours , or if your baby or young child hasnt had a wet diaper for 4 to 6 hours
For more information about stomach flu and possible treatment, contact Valleywise Health professionals. For serious symptoms or symptoms that last longer than three days, contact an emergency room near you and seek treatment as soon as possible.
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Is A Stomach Virus Contagious
Yes, a stomach virus can be contagious. Sick people who do not wash their hands before preparing food can spread the stomach flu to others. Stomach viruses are contagious because viruses and bacteria can live in or on food.
If the food is handled or cooked improperly, you have a greater risk of catching the stomach flu. Cross-contamination during cooking also causes stomach viruses to spread. This can happen when a person uses the same cutting board or knife to prepare different foods.
How Long Does The Stomach Flu Last How Can I Treat It
Stomach flu symptoms usually last 1 to 3 days. Since the stomach flu is a virus and not a bacterial infection, current medicine cant fix the fluit has to get better on its own.
But theres something you or your family can do to feel better in the meantime. Intense diarrhea and vomiting can dehydrate you, which, on top of stomach flu symptoms, can make you or your little one feel even worse. See the Lyte and rehydrate with Pedialyte to feel better fast.
But because it can be brought on by several different viruses throughout the year, stomach flu can hit at any time.
* Mild to moderate dehydration.
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How Long Does A Stomach Virus Last
Depending on the type of stomach virus you are infected with, symptoms may appear 1 to 3 days after you are exposed to the virus. Symptoms of a stomach virus vary from mild to severe and can last anywhere from 1 to 10 days.
Stomach viruses are not the same as bacterial infections. It is important not to confuse diarrhea that is caused by a virus from diarrhea that is caused by bacteria. Diarrhea can be caused by the following types of bacteria:
- Clostridium difficile
- E. coli
- Parasites such as Giardia
Most stomach viruses last 2 to 10 days and can vary in severity and symptoms. Types of viruses that cause stomach viruses include:
- Norovirus
Read: How Long Does the Stomach Flu Last?
Related Resources For Stomach Flu
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This article is not medical advice. It is intended for general informational purposes and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your physician or dial 911.
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Take Precautions When Traveling
When you’re traveling in other countries, you can become sick from contaminated food or water. You may be able to reduce your risk by following these tips:
- Drink only well-sealed bottled or carbonated water.
- Avoid ice cubes, because they may be made from contaminated water.
- Use bottled water to brush your teeth.
- Avoid raw food including peeled fruits, raw vegetables and salads that has been touched by human hands.
- Avoid undercooked meat and fish.
Stomach Virus Signs Symptoms And Treatments
Tessa Chatham Registered Nurse
Tessa Chatham Registered Nurse
Tessa is a MSN prepared Registered Nurse with 10 years of critical care experience in healthcare. When not practicing clinical nursing, she enjoys academic writing and is passionate about helping those affected by medical aliments live healthy lives.
Dr. Katalin Karolyi
Dr. Katalin Karolyi
Katalin Karolyi, M.D. earned her medical degree at the University of Debrecen. After completing her residency program in pathology at the Kenezy Hospital, she obtained a postdoctoral position at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Orlando, Florida.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Gastroenteritis
Symptoms may develop within one to a few days after infection range from mild to severe.
Symptoms of gastroenteritis vary but may include:
- Abdominal pain
- Poor feeding in infants
- Tiredness and general body weakness.
Symptoms usually last one to two days but may persist for up to ten days. Ring your doctor for advice first before going in for an appointment if you are worried about your condition as it as gastroenteritis is very contagious and you could risk spreading it.
Always talk to your doctor if your symptoms have lasted longer than five days or have got worse, not better, if there is blood or pus in your stools, if your abdominal pain is constant, or if you develop significant signs of dehydration such as extreme thirst, dark or strong-smelling urine or passing only small amounts of urine, dry lips and mouth, and a lack of tears, your skin doesnt retract back when pinched, or feel very lethargic.
Infants are particularly prone to dehydration and you should seek further advice if their nappies have been dry for longer than 4 to 6 hours or they develop a sunken fontanel .
What Is The Treatment For A Stomach Bug
There is no real cure for a stomach bug because it is caused by a virus. Most people dont need medical treatment and symptoms will go away on their own within a few days, though in some people symptoms may last up to 10 days.
Antibiotics are not used to treat viral gastroenteritis since it is caused by viruses, and antibiotics are only used to treat infections caused by bacteria.
While medical treatment is often not needed, there may be ways you can help relieve symptoms more quickly.
- Drink adequate fluids to prevent dehydration
- Adults and older children can drink sports drinks
- Young children and babies can drink an oral rehydration solution such as Pedialyte
- Avoid drinks with a lot of sugar, such as juices and sodas, which can worsen diarrhea
Patients who have severe dehydration might need intravenous fluids.
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How To Get Rid Of The Stomach Flu: 7 Home Remedies That Can Help
Getting rid of a stomach virus can actually be as simple as waiting 24 to 28 hours for symptoms to subside. If youre looking to feel better faster and recover well from the stomach flu, there are some natural remedies that you can easily do at home that have been known to help boost the recovery process.
1. Hydrate
Do you know what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say about how to get rid of stomach flu caused by the norovirus? According to the CDC:
There is no specific medicine to treat people with norovirus illness. Norovirus infection cannot be treated with antibiotics because it is a viral infection. If you have norovirus illness, you should drink plenty of liquids to replace fluid lost from throwing up and diarrhea. This will help prevent dehydration.
When you have the stomach flu, youre most likely dealing with diarrhea and/or vomiting. Both of these symptoms mean a lot of water loss for your body and the chance of dehydration which only makes you feel that much worse. To avoid becoming dehydrated from the stomach flu, its really important that you consume a lot of clear liquids like water, coconut water and herbal tea.
2. What To Eat
3. What Not to Eat
You want to know how to get rid of the stomach flu fast? Well, what you dont put into your body can be just as important or helpful as what you do put into your body! If you have the stomach flu, there are certain foods and drinks youll want to avoid until youre feeling better.
4. Rest
7. Probiotics
How Is Gastroenteritis Treated
The main treatment for gastroenteritis is rest, fluids, and limiting your diet for a few days while you have symptoms. For example:
- Limit your intake of solid foods
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and dairy products
- Stop smoking or using products containing nicotine
- Avoid sugary, fatty or highly seasoned foods, instead eat bland, dry foods such as crackers, toast, rice or potatoes
- Take frequent small sips of liquid
- Avoid taking medications that may irritate your stomach further such as NSAIDs . Acetaminophen may be used instead, but sparingly
- Continue breastfeeding if your baby has gastroenteritis and talk to your doctor about offering them rehydration solutions or regular formula.
Consider anti-diarrhea medications to slow the diarrhea
Antibiotics are generally not given for most cases of gastroenteritis because they are ineffective if a virus is the cause and contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.
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Stomach Flu Causes And Risk Factors
What are stomach flu causes? A number of different viruses can cause viral gastroenteritis or stomach flu including noroviruses and rotaviruses. First, lets talk about the norovirus, which is said to be the number one cause of viral gastroenteritis in children and adults. If your stomach flu is caused by the norovirus, then the period during which you are contagious starts from the time you start to feel sick up until three days after you are better with some individuals being contagious as long as two weeks following their recovery. The norovirus causes stomach flu symptoms within a day or two of being exposed to the virus. On the plus side, most people who have the stomach flu due to norovirus feel better within 24 to 48 hours.
Another virus, the rotavirus, is the top cause of stomach flu in kids and infants, but it can also affect adults. Symptoms usually begin within one to three days of exposure. However, with this virus at the root, the stomach flu can be caught from someone before symptoms appear and even up to two weeks following recovery! Astrovirus and enteric adenovirus can also cause stomach flu.
How do you catch these viruses and end up with the stomach flu? The stool and vomit of infected individuals contain the viruses that cause stomach flu. The viruses that can cause a case of the stomach flu can easily spread from close contact with infected individuals through the following:
So how do you get rid of the stomach flu?
How Do Doctors Treat Viral Gastroenteritis
Your doctor may prescribe medicine to control severe vomiting. Doctors dont prescribe antibiotics to treat viral gastroenteritis. Antibiotics dont work for viral infections.
In some cases, your doctor may recommend probiotics. Probiotics are live microbes, most often bacteria, that are like the ones you normally have in your digestive tract. Studies suggest that some probiotics may help shorten a case of diarrhea. Researchers are still studying the use of probiotics to treat viral gastroenteritis. For safety reasons, talk with your doctor before using probiotics or any other complementary or alternative medicines or practices.
Anyone with signs or symptoms of dehydration should see a doctor right away. Doctors may need to treat people with severe dehydration in a hospital.
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How To Prevent The Stomach Flu
Since the stomach flu can easily spread, there are things you can do to decrease your risk of contracting the flu bug. Here are some effective stomach virus prevention methods:
- Wash your hands with soap and water often, especially before preparing food or after using the bathroom.
- To prevent waterborne parasitic infections, avoid swimming, especially when diarrhea is an issue.
- People with compromised immune systems and infants who are predisposed to developing severe Salmonella poisoning should avoid common Salmonella carriers, such as birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
- Travelers should avoid contaminated food, water, and ice cubes.
- Wash your vegetables and fruits thoroughly, while also avoiding undercooked or raw foods.
- Two live vaccinations are available for preventing the rotavirus. They are considered effective against most of the strains responsible for the stomach virus.
It is always important to get plenty of rest and adequate water consumption. People who experience vomiting should take small sips of water however, if diarrhea or vomiting is prolonged, or if the person experiences severe dehydration, intravenous electrolytes may be necessary. Your doctor may recommend anti-nausea drugs, or antibiotics for bacterial stomach flus. Anti-parasitic drugs like nitazoxanide and metronidazole are also used to treat the parasitic stomach flu. However, there are plenty of natural stomach flu home remedies as well.
How Soon Can You Start Eating Food After Stomach Flu
You should be able to start eating normally again within 24 to 48 hours of symptoms beginning. Start with simple foods such as crackers, toast, bananas, rice, applesauce or chicken. Depending on the cause, stomach flu symptoms may appear within one to three days after infection and can range from mild to severe. Symptoms usually last less than a day.
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Start On The Brat Diet
If you or your child is able to keep clear liquids down without throwing up, you may be ready to start eating. Don’t do this too quickly, though. Be sure you are able to keep fluids down for eight to 12 hours before trying to eat.
If, after eight to 12 hours, you feel like you can eat something, start with bland, starchy foods. Foods that are heavy, fat, or acidicthink tomatoes or orangesshould be avoided until you are better.
You may have heard of the BRAT diet. BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, because these foods are good choices when you are sick. The BRAT guidelines can help you choose the right foods to stop throwing up.
The BRAT diet suggests bland foods that are easy to digest when you have a stomach bug. Bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast are not the only foods that you can eat, but they are good examples so you will know where to start.
If you start throwing up again after you try these foods, go back to Step 1.
Is Stomach Flu Contagious
Yes! Usually a virus causes the stomach flu. Symptoms appear one to three days after exposure, so you are contagious before you begin to develop symptoms.
And even after youve recovered from your symptoms, you can remain contagious for up to two weeks. Children can remain contagious for an even longer period afterward.
To decrease the risk of passing it onto others, do not go to work or school with symptoms. If you have a fever, wait until its gone for 24 hours before returning to your routine.
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What Are The Common Side Effects Of Stomach Flu Medicine
Stomach flu medications will vary in their side effects based on the type of drug, the dose, and the patients age. This is not a complete list of side effects, so consult with a health care provider about possible drug interactions or side effects.
Oral rehydration solutions have a long track record of safety. Rare side effects include nausea and diarrhea. It is possible, however, to overdo it. Taking too many electrolytes can throw the bodys balance of electrolytes off-kilter, causing potentially serious medical problems.
Antiemetics work by affecting a part of the brain involved with nausea and vomiting, so drowsiness, lightheadedness, sleepiness, restlessness, and agitation are the most common side effects. Dry mouth is a common complaint. The most serious side effect involves a hazardous change in the way the heart beats called QT prolongation. The risk is greatest when these drugs are taken over a long period.
The most commonly experienced side effect of antidiarrheal agents is constipation. Abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting are also possible.