Gastroenteritis Stomach Flu

About Gastroenteritis Stomach Flu

Viral gastroenteritis, commonly called stomach flu, is inflammation of the stomach and intestines from viral infection. It affects people of all ages and is extremely common. The leading viral causes are norovirus responsible for the majority of outbreaks, rotavirus much reduced where vaccination is routine, adenovirus, astrovirus, and sapovirus. Norovirus is notorious for outbreaks in closed settings cruise ships, nursing homes, schools, and restaurants. It is extremely contagious, as a very small number of virus particles can cause infection, and spreads through contaminated food, water, surfaces, and person to person contact. Symptoms typically develop 12 to 48 hours after exposure and include nausea, vomiting the predominant symptom in children, diarrhea the predominant symptom in adults, abdominal cramps, low grade fever, headache, and body aches. The illness usually resolves in 1 to 3 days. Bacterial gastroenteritis Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella, E coli, C difficile causes more prolonged or severe illness, often with bloody diarrhea and high fever. Diagnosis is usually clinical, with stool testing for bacteria and toxins if bloody diarrhea, severe illness, prolonged duration, or outbreak setting. Treatment is supportive, centred on fluid replacement, often with oral rehydration solution. Anti diarrheal medications such as loperamide are not recommended for young children or for bloody diarrhea. Signs of severe dehydration, blood in vomit, or a very drowsy infant need urgent medical care. Antibiotics are rarely needed and may worsen C difficile infection or cause hemolytic uremic syndrome in Shiga toxin producing E coli O157 H7. Prevention includes hand washing, food safety, and norovirus vaccines in development. Hand sanitizer is less effective against norovirus than soap and water.