About Stomach Flu (Gastroenteritis): Symptoms, Causes & Treatments

What is Gastroenteritis?

Stomach flu, or gastroenteritis, is a common illness during cooler seasons. Having gastroenteritis means your stomach and intestines are infected by a virus or bacteria. Norovirus and rotavirus are the most common types of stomach viruses that cause gastroenteritis. While norovirus can infect people of all ages, rotavirus infects mostly young children.

Stomach flu symptoms

When you suffer from stomach flu, you probably experience:

• Watery diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal pain and cramps
• Fever
• Nausea
• Headache

Note that because of diarrhea and vomiting, it is likely that you become dehydrated as well.

Stomach flu causes

1. Contact with people who have the virus
2. Food or water contaminated with the virus
3. Unwashed hands after using the washroom or a nappy change

Stomach flu prevention

Since vaccination is not available for norovirus infection, the best way to stop stomach flu from spreading is by practicing:

1. Good personal hygiene routines - Wash hands frequently with liquid soap and water wherever possible. Dry them with a disposable paper towel afterward.
2. Good food hygiene routines - Clean hands and utensils, cook food thoroughly, separate raw and cooked foods, consume food and drinks from reliable sources only, etc.
3. Good environmental hygiene routines - Ensure indoor areas are well-ventilated, clean up vomits or any contaminated areas properly and immediately, maintain washroom and drainage facilities, etc.

Besides, remember to keep your child at home if they suffer from stomach flu symptoms like fever, vomiting or diarrhea until they are fully recovered.

Stomach flu treatment

Typically caused by viruses, stomach flu cannot be cured by antibiotics. Plenty of fluids and supportive treatment like ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen are usually all it takes for a patient to recover within days. 

You can take over-the-counter medication to treat the symptoms, but do so sparingly. For fever or aches, ibuprofen (Advil) can help, as long as it doesn’t cause you to have more of an upset stomach. It can also be hard on your kidneys if you get dehydrated. Take it sparingly and with food.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is often recommended for the stomach flu, unless you have liver disease. It relieves fever and aches.

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Sources:

1. WebMD - Gastroenteritis ("Stomach Flu")
2. Centre for Health Protection - Viral Gastroenteritis
3. Healthline - Stomach Flu Remedies