Is Stomach Flu Contagious?

Viral gastroenteritis, commonly referred to as stomach flu is an intestinal infection caused by different types of viruses. Not only is stomach flu contagious but is also the second most common illness in the United States resulting in vomiting and diarrhea. Although most people recover without any complications, stomach flu can be serious when people do not drink enough fluids to replace the water content in the body that is lost through vomiting and diarrhea. This can be especially serious in infants, the elderly, and people with a weak immune system. The main symptoms of viral gastroenteritis are watery diarrhea and vomiting. However, a person may display some other symptoms like fever, chills, headache, and abdominal pain.

Does Stomach Flu Spread?

Depending on the type of virus, stomach flu can be very contagious and spread quickly from person to person. Once a person is exposed to the virus, the symptoms usually appear within 4 to 48 hours and last for 1 to 2 days. In certain severe cases the stomach flu duration may extend to as long as 10 days. The National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases says, the stomach flu contagious time of the noroviruses is the time from when they begin feeling ill, until at least three days after you recover. Some people may also be contagious till up to 2 weeks of being infected by norovirus gastroenteritis. Similarly, the stomach flu contagious period for rotavirus which is also a common cause of stomach flu is up to two days before you start displaying symptoms and up to 10 days after you recover.

The viruses are commonly transmitted by people with unwashed hands or by coming in close contact with infected individuals. Sharing food, drink, eating in the same utensils, or by eating food or drinking beverages that are contaminated with the virus can lead to a stomach infection. Noroviruses typically spread to other people by contact with stool or vomit of infected people and through contaminated water or food poisoning. The usual outbreaks of stomach flu are in households, child care settings, schools, nursing homes, restaurants, and other places where people gather in groups.

Causative Factors for Stomach Flu

The main reason for the occurrence of stomach flu is the viruses which damage cells in the lining of the small intestine, resulting in fluids leaking from cells into the intestine and causing a watery diarrhea. The most common type of viruses causing stomach flu are:

Rotavirus: Rotavirus is the leading cause of stomach flu among children that are 3 to 15 months old. They are also responsible for causing diarrhea in children under the age of 5 years. This virus causes the person being infected by it to have to deal with symptoms like vomiting and watery diarrhea for 3 to 8 days. This may sometimes be accompanied by fever and abdominal pain. Adults in close contact with infected children can also be affected. However, the symptoms are usually milder in adults.

Adenovirus: Affecting children under the age of 2 years, this strain of the existing 49 types of adenoviruses causes vomiting and diarrhea.

Norovirus: The noroviruse belong to the family of caliciviruses which are usually responsible for epidemics of viral gastroenteritis. These virus attacks are more frequent from October to April with the infected people experience vomiting and diarrhea, fatigue, headache, and sometimes muscle ache. These symptoms are also similar to a condition known as gastritis or burning stomach, which is primarily a food borne condition.

Astrovirus: Infants, young children, and the elderly are more susceptible to this virus being most active during the winter season which displays symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, 1 to 3 days from exposure.

Treating Viral Gastroenteritis

Due to the stomach flu being caused by a virus, antibiotics will not work at all. However, due to the dehydration caused by the vomiting and diarrhea, the best treatment for stomach flu is to intake lots of fluid. To provide the body with the appropriate nutrition and to keep it well hydrated, you can also try out a bland diet of rice, dry toast, applesauce and bananas. If there are signs of severe dehydration then hospitalization may be required, especially in infants, children, people with a lowered immunity and the elderly. Oral rehydration fluids and solutions are commonly advised to replenish the bodily fluids and electrolytes. The best way to prevent the stomach flu contagious infection is by maintaining hygiene. Washing your hands before and after eating, before preparing food, and after using the restroom and changing soiled clothing and diapers can reduce the transmission of the virus, and prevent the spread of the illness.