Irritated and inflamed stomach and intestines are the main reasons for gastroenteritis or “stomach flu”. The “flu” is only a consequence of this disorder and hence a misnomer. The irritation and inflammation in the stomach and intestines are generally caused by either bacterial or a viral infection.
The symptoms that herald the onset of this disorder are typically watery diarrhea and vomiting. Additionally the patient may experience a slight headache, cramps or pain in the stomach / intestine areas, nausea and fever. Excessive diarrhea and vomiting can lead to dehydration. Symptoms that indicate that a person is dehydrated are:
A person with all or any of these symptoms must seek medical attention, immediately or else dehydration can lead to fatal consequences.
A gastroenteritis disorder can spread through the following means:
Gastroenteritis can be caused by many different types of viruses of which, rotavirus and norovirus are the main strains.
Rotavirus is commonly the reason for diarrhea in children of all ages, whereas norovirus causes serious gastroenteritis issues and is a foodborne disease. The bacterial form of gastroenteritis is caused by E.coli and salmonella. Both salmonella and campylobacter bacteria are spread through undercooked poultry or eggs. Salmonella can be spread through pets and live poultry.
Escherichia Coli or E.coli are bacteria that live in the human and animal digestive system. E. coli bacteria are of many types and are mostly harmless. However, there are some strains that cause bloody diarrhea and in some virulent strains like O157:H7, can cause severe diarrhea or kidney failure, which can ultimately lead to death. Yet other strains of E.coli bacteria cause urinary tract infections or other types of infections. Shigella, is one more type of bacteria commonly found in child care centers and the source of infection is generally food and drinking water.
Giardia and cryptosporidium, parasitically conveyed infections occur through contaminated drinking water. Gastroenteritis can also be caused by:
Also Read: Tests to diagnose stomach problems
There is no particular treatment for gastroenteritis caused by a viral infection, as antibiotics are not effective on viruses. Care must be taken not to overuse antibiotics as this can cause resistance to strains of bacteria. Treatment basically comprises of self-care measures such as:
In case, you do need medication, consult the doctor for help. Visit our website.
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