(Norwalk Virus · Stomach Flu · Norovirus)

In this condition factsheet:

• The facts on Gastroenteritis


• Causes of Gastroenteritis


• Symptoms and Complications of Gastroenteritis


• Diagnosing Gastroenteritis


• Treating and Preventing Gastroenteritis

Diagnosing Gastroenteritis

The symptoms are the telltale signs of viral gastroenteritis in adults and older children. Your doctor will ask questions about your symptoms, any recent travel, and the length of time you have been experiencing symptoms. They may ask if you've recently been in the hospital or used antibiotics.

Stool testing is done in certain circumstances when the doctor suspects something other than viral gastroenteritis, such as food poisoning. For food poisoning, it is important to pinpoint the likely offender so that others do not become sick from the same food or water.

Treating and Preventing Gastroenteritis

Washing hands frequently provides the best defence against the virus. This is because exposure to even a small amount of the virus is enough to make you sick. Also, the virus can survive on inanimate objects (such as bathroom sinks, toilets, and doorknobs) and food for extended periods of time – perhaps as long as several days.

Vaccinations can help prevent rotavirus infection. It is also part of the recommended infant vaccination schedule. For infants, breast-feeding may be a simple and effective way to prevent gastroenteritis.

Wash your hands before and after handling food or food utensils, and after using the toilet, caring for the sick, changing diapers, handling garbage, using the phone, shaking hands, or playing with pets.

Most people do not wash their hands well enough, but following these steps will help keep your hands clean:

1. Wet your hands with warm running water.
2. Add soap, then rub your hands together to make a soapy lather.
3. Continue rubbing your hands together for 20 seconds (about the amount of time it takes to sing through "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" once, not too quickly). Be sure to wash the front and back of your hands as well as between your fingers and under the nails.
4. Rinse the hands under running water, letting the water run back into the sink, not down to the elbows.
5. Turn off the water using a paper towel to avoid contact with the tap.
6. Dry hands thoroughly with a clean towel.
7. Use antibacterial gels or hand sanitizers that are now available in most public places, including bathrooms. They can also be purchased at most groceries, pharmacies, and supermarkets and can be carried around for quick and easy use.

If you're infected with the norovirus (or if your child is), stay home from work, daycare or school, as it's easy for others to become infected if they live or work in your environment. Infected people should also not prepare foods while they are sick, and for 3 days afterwards to help reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

There's no cure for gastroenteritis, but symptoms usually go away in a day or two. The important thing is to keep well hydrated, since you're losing fluids. Adults benefit from oral rehydration solutions, broth, or bouillon. A doctor will usually recommend that children use oral rehydration solutions available at pharmacies. In severe cases, intravenous rehydration may be necessary. Only in very select cases are antibiotics used for treatment.

It may be difficult to eat on the first day of a gastroenteritis infection, as you will likely vomit any food that you eat. In this case, you can drink water or other clear fluids or, if you can't tolerate that, suck on chips of ice. When you're feeling slightly better, you may be able to tolerate thin soup.

Once you are able to eat foods, add bland, soft foods such as bananas, soup, crackers, rice, and oatmeal. Smaller meals may also be better tolerated until you're back to normal.

The following are important tips for preventing food poisoning:

• Keep utensils and cooking surfaces clean.
• Always wash your hands before and after preparing food.
• Rinse fruits and vegetables thoroughly.
• Use a cutting board that is smooth, hard, and nonporous. Clean it with soap and water before and after use.
• Make sure all food is cooked thoroughly (especially seafood and poultry).
• Serve foods immediately after they are cooked.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Gastroenteritis

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