Do You Think You Have The Stomach Flu Or A Stomach Bug
It is probably norovirus, a common virus that is not related to the flu. Norovirus is the most common cause of vomiting and diarrhea, and foodborne illness.
Norovirus causes inflammation of the stomach or intestines. This is called acute gastroenteritis.
A person usually develops symptoms 12 to 48 hours after being exposed to norovirus. Most people with norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days.
If you have norovirus illness, you can feel extremely ill, and vomit or have diarrhea many times a day. This can lead to dehydration, especially in young children, older adults, and people with other illnesses.
Symptoms of dehydration include:
- dry mouth and throat
- feeling dizzy when standing up
Children who are dehydrated may cry with few or no tears and be unusually sleepy or fussy.
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How Can I Protect Myself And My Family From Getting Sick With Viral Gastroenteritis
People can reduce their chance of getting infected by frequent hand-washing, prompt disinfection of contaminated surfaces, prompt washing of soiled articles of clothing and avoiding food or water that is thought to be contaminated. Persons who have viral gastroenteritis should not prepare food for other people while they have symptoms and for 48 hours after recovery from illness.
Nobody Likes Getting Sick But There Is An Exceptional Dissatisfaction For When The Stomach Flu Hits The Stomach Flu Hits Hard And Delivers Is Own Brutal Mix Of Symptoms Often Rendering You Nonfunctional And Miserable For Days In Your Misery You Will Probably Wonder What On Earth You Can Do To Feel Better And Thats What We Are Here To Tell You
What is the Stomach Flu?Whats often called stomach flu is gastroenteritis, an infection of the stomach and intestines. The initial stages start with chills, fever, and nausea, which transition into vomiting, diarrhea, and aches and pains. Its awful, and there is no cure. Stomach flu has to run its course. The sickness usually passes in about 10 days without medication. The first few days tend to be the worst, but you can take steps to help get through it.
Causes of the Stomach Flu?Gastroenteritis is usually caused by any number of different viruses that can attack your gastrointestinal system. Its not caused by the influenza virus, which gives you the seasonal flu. Less often, bacteria can cause it, typically due to contaminated water or food that was prepared inadequately or in an unhygienic environment. The stomach flu is contagious, so contact with someone who has contracted the virus
RecoveryWhile the stomach flu is definitely not a pleasant experience, most people make a full recovery without any complications. The first few days tend to be the worst, but you can take steps to help get through it:
3. Get plenty of restWhen you have the stomach flu, your body needs rest in order to fight off the infection. Get plenty of sleep and reduce the amount of activity you normally do during the day. This means lounging on the couch when youre not in bed. While youre resting, your body is working hard to fight off the infection and repairing damage on the cellular level.
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Is The Stomach Flu Worse In Some People
In general, most people recover quickly from the stomach flu. Symptoms can be worse in babies, young children, older adults or anyone of any age that is immune-compromised. Vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration within just a short period of time, depending on the circumstances. Signs of dehydration include:
- Extreme thirst.
- General weakness.
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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When Should I Call The Doctor
- cant drink for several hours
- is peeing less often
- has signs of dehydration, such as crying with few or no tears, having a dry mouth or cracked lips, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, acting very sleepy or less alert
- has a high fever
- has blood in their poop or vomit
- is vomiting for more than 24 hours or the diarrhea doesnt get better after several days
Should You Take Probiotics For An Upset Stomach
Probiotics are highly touted and frequently recommended to help restore the body’s GI system when you have the stomach flu or any other problem causing vomiting or diarrhea. But do they actually work?
Many people recommend themincluding a lot of healthcare providers. However, in the U.S., probiotics are still sold and marketed as natural supplements. They cannot legally make any claims about curing or treating any conditions or diseases. Due to the increasing interest in probiotics, many studies are in progress about what benefits they may offer. Hopefully in the future we will better understand these products and how they might help us recover from various illnesses and ailments.
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Q& a: The Omicron Booster
by Carrie MacMillan, Yale University
When the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were first unveiled in December 2020, medical experts touted the benefits of this new technology, saying formulations could easily be tweaked someday to match a quickly changing virus. That day has finally come.
In early September, the Food and Drug Administration authorizedand the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendedtwo updated boosters. The boosters target two omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5. These are by far the most contagious versions of SARS-CoV-2 to date, with BA.5 accounting for nearly 90% of cases in the United States.
While the original mRNA coronavirus vaccines have proven effective at preventing death and severe disease from COVID-19, breakthrough infections and reinfections have become more common in the face of an evolving virus.
The boosters are authorized under an FDA emergency use authorization .
We asked Yale Medicine infectious diseases experts to answer common questions about these new, reformulated boosters.
How is this booster different?
The new booster is a bivalent vaccine, which means it contains two messenger RNA components of the coronavirus. Half of the vaccine targets the original strain, and the other half targets the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariant lineages, which are predicted to continue circulating this fall and winter.
How do we know the booster is safe?
Why weren’t these omicron boosters tested in humans?
When should you get the new booster?
Stomach Flu Treatment Options
Most cases of viral gastroenteritis resolve on their own, typically in one to three days, depending on the virus. Treatment of viral gastroenteritis focuses entirely on managing symptoms, particularly dehydration. Bacterial gastroenteritis, the subject of other articles, is treated with both antibiotics and symptom support.
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Is A Stomach Virus Contagious To Babies
Viral gastroenteritis is very contagious. Your baby may have eaten something contaminated with the virus or shared a cup or utensils with someone who has the virus.
What causes gastroenteritis in babies?
Gastroenteritis is a bowel infection that causes diarrhoea and sometimes vomiting. Diarrhoea is runny, watery bowel motions. The vomiting may settle quickly, but the diarrhoea may last up to 10 days. Bouts of gastro can cause dehydration, which can be dangerous for very young babies.
What is good for a stomach virus?
It is important to keep up fluid levels in the body to help avoid dehydration. People with stomach flu should drink plenty of liquids such as clear soda, clear broths, or caffeine-free sports drinks. Slow sips help to keep fluids down. People who cant keep food or drink down can snack on ice chips to keep hydrated.
What Can I Do To Help Prevent Stomach Flu
The single, most helpful way to prevent the spread of stomach flu is frequent, thorough hand washing. Also, avoid contact with the body fluids of an infected person, including saliva. Don’t share food with someone who has stomach flu.
Developed by RelayHealth.Published by RelayHealth.This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.© 2018 RelayHealth and/or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
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How Can I Prevent Viral Gastroenteritis
You can take several steps to keep from getting or spreading infections that cause viral gastroenteritis. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water
- after using the bathroom
- after changing diapers
- before and after handling, preparing, or eating food
You can clean surfaces that may have come into contact with infected stool or vomit, such as countertops and changing tables, with a mixture of 5 to 25 tablespoons of household bleach and 1 gallon of water.7 If clothes or linens may have come into contact with an infected persons stool or vomit, you should wash them with detergent for the longest cycle available and machine dry them. To protect yourself from infection, wear rubber gloves while handling the soiled laundry and wash your hands afterward.7
If you have viral gastroenteritis, avoid handling and preparing food for others while you are sick and for 2 days after your symptoms stop.7 People who have viral gastroenteritis may spread the virus to any food they handle, especially if they do not thoroughly wash their hands. Contaminated water may also spread a virus to foods before they are harvested. For example, contaminated fruits, vegetables, and oysters have been linked to norovirus outbreaks. Wash fruits and vegetables before using them, and thoroughly cook oysters and other shellfish.7Find tips to help keep food safe.
How Does Viral Gastroenteritis Spread
Viral gastroenteritis spreads from person to person through contact with an infected persons stool or vomit.
If you have viral gastroenteritis, viruses will be present in your stool and vomit. You may spread the virus in small bits of stool or vomit, especially if you dont wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and
- touch surfaces or objects used by other people
- prepare or serve foods and drinks for other people
- shake hands with or touch another person
Infected people who do not have symptoms can still spread viruses. For example, norovirus may be found in your stool before you have symptoms and up to 2 weeks after you recover.2
Norovirus is especially contagious, meaning that it spreads easily from person to person. Norovirus can live for months on surfaces such as countertops and changing tables. When an infected person vomits, the virus may become airborne and land on surfaces or on another person.
Viral gastroenteritis may spread in households, day care centers and schools, nursing homes, cruise ships, restaurants, and other places where people gather in groups.
If water comes into contact with stools of infected people, the water may become contaminated with a virus. The contaminated water can spread the virus to foods or drinks, and people who consume these foods or drinks may become infected. People who swim in contaminated water may also become infected.
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When Should I Call My Healthcare Provider
Viral gastroenteritis is common in children and adults. In most cases, the disease is not serious and will run its course in a few days. Call your healthcare provider if you or a family member has vomiting or diarrhea thats not getting better, if you see blood or tar-like stool, or if you have any signs of dehydration.
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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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.
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.
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Take Precautions When Traveling
When youâre 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.
Can You Pass A Stomach Bug Through Breast Milk
When you are sick your body makes antibodies to the virus that are then passed to your baby through your breast milk. So not only can you breastfeed even if you are sick, its the best thing you can do since your baby has already been exposed to your illness before you even show symptoms in most cases.
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What Kinds Of Viruses Cause Viral Gastroenteritis
Many different viruses can cause viral gastroenteritis. The most common causes of viral gastroenteritis include
- norovirus. Norovirus is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis. Symptoms usually begin 12 to 48 hours after you come into contact with the virus and last 1 to 3 days.2
- rotavirus. Symptoms usually begin about 2 days after you come into contact with the virus and last for 3 to 8 days.3Vaccines can prevent rotavirus infection.
- adenovirus. Symptoms typically begin 3 to 10 days after you come into contact with the virus and last 1 to 2 weeks.4
- astrovirus. Symptoms typically begin 4 to 5 days after you come into contact with the virus and last 1 to 4 days.5,6
Norovirus causes infections in people of all ages. Rotavirus, adenovirus, and astrovirus most often infect infants and young children, but they can also infect adults.
Viruses may cause viral gastroenteritis any time of the year. In the United States, norovirus, rotavirus, and astrovirus are more likely to cause infections in the winter.
What Are Symptoms Of A Stomach Bug
The hallmark symptoms of a stomach bug usually start suddenly, can be severe, and include:
- Dehydration, caused by loss of fluids from diarrhea and/or vomiting
- Severe dehydration can be life-threatening
- Dehydration occurs more frequently in babies, young children, and the elderly
Symptoms of dehydration include:
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Current Reports Increasing For Stomach
May 20, 2022
The Wyoming Department of Health said reports of stomach-related illnesses known overall as viral gastroenteritis have been recently increasing in Wyoming.
Recent upticks have been reported from the northern part of the state, including Sheridan and Park counties, as well as in southern Wyomings Laramie County. We are specifically seeing increased reports in school and restaurant settings, said Matt Peterson, WDH surveillance epidemiologist.
Peterson said commonly reported symptoms include vomiting, nausea, chills and diarrhea.
We are encouraging anyone with these symptoms to stay home from work or school and from social events such as graduation parties and weddings until 48 hours have passed since their last bout of vomiting or diarrhea, Peterson said.
Commonly described as stomach flu or food poisoning, gastroenteritis can spread easily when people eat or drink contaminated food and beverages, touch contaminated surfaces or through close contact with someone already sick.
Contamination is almost always not obvious. Were usually talking about extremely tiny amounts of poop or vomit we cant see, Peterson said
Gastroenteritis can be caused by rotaviruses, noroviruses, adenoviruses, sapoviruses, and astroviruses, along with some bacteria . Noroviruses are most common.
Gastroenteritis illnesses can be prevented, Peterson said. It sounds too simple, but, truly, good hand washing is critical.
Recommended steps to help prevent illness include: