Stomach flu is infection of the stomach and intestine by virus. The accurate name is gastroenteritis. It’s called stomach flu although the causing virus is not influenza. Stomach flu is one of the disturbing diseases that may affect anyone. It affects children more often but it could happen in adults causing more severe symptoms. Actually it’s more like hell when it occurs in adults.

Viruses causing gastroenteritis are: norovirus, rotaviruses, adenoviruses and astrovirus

Stomach flu symptoms include Nausea, Vomiting and Diarrhea, Low grade fever, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and cramps, headache and generally feeling very bad.

Stomach flu like other viral diseases doesn’t have a medication to cure, only to help with the symptoms until it passes. Luckily it’s self limiting disease. Anti bacterial agent aren’t useful in treating stomach flu, actually they kill the useful intestinal Bactria (flora) and that cause more abdominal cramps and pain.

First thing to do when you get stomach flu is to go to your doctor. He/she will prescribe some medication that will help with the symptoms like antispasmodic drugs which decreases stomach cramps, antiemetic drugs which help with the nausea and the vomiting and Analgesic and antipyretic drugs like acetaminophen which is better than non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen and aspirin) as acetaminophen doesn’t irritate the stomach. Your doctor also will run some tests to exclude other serious diseases with the same presentations.

Severe cases of stomach flu in children or in adult should be treated in hospitals to prevent deterioration of general condition and prevent development of serious complication.

The most important thing you should guard against is dehydration. Dehydration is the first complication that may happens during stomach flu due to excessive fluid loss because of repeated vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms of dehydration are thirsty, dizziness, decreased tears and other body secretions; urine is concentrated (dark yellow, little amount). Dehydration may be mild and treated by oral fluid intake, and may be severe and need intravenous fluid administration. Severe Vomiting may cause electrolytes imbalance in addition to dehydration. Dehydration and electrolytes imbalance may affect Kidney and heart functions. Dehydration is more dangerous complication in infants.

For infants and toddlers breast feeding infants shouldn’t stop it as breast milk provides rehydration, beneficial proteins as immunoglobulin and soothes the stomach. Fluid replacement should be done by Oral Rehydration Therapy solutions ORT which contain fluid and electrolytes. Mother should start ORT once the infant has established vomiting or diarrhea and even before developing sign and symptoms of dehydration.

The best thing to do is to wait the nature takes its course and trying to improve your condition by listening to your doctor direction and try our natural stomach flu remedies.

Regarding Gastroenteritis prevention is better that treatment, to prevent stomach flu personal hygiene is the very important, careful hand washing before eating and after using bathroom. Use chlorine based bleaches to clean surfaces and clothes. Avoid eating food and drink that you don’t grantee its source. Vaccination against rotaviruses are certificated now, and proved to decrease Gastroenteritis in children caused by rotavirus in United States.

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