Stomach Flu Incubation Period

What most people are unaware of is the fact that the term 'stomach flu' is no where related to the viral infection known as 'flu' or 'influenza'. Clinically, it is known as gastroenteritis and it is mostly caused by a group of viruses which include noroviruses (RNA virus; belonging to the family of caliciviruses), rotaviruses (double-stranded RNA virus), adenoviruses (non-enveloped, double-stranded linear DNA virus) and astroviruses (non-segmented, single-stranded RNA virus). Bacteria, parasites and biotoxins (toxins produced by organisms) also cause the illness in rare cases. Expecting mothers, infants, undernourished, people with weak immune systems and older adults are the ones that are more prone to developing stomach flu. In adults, stomach flu is mostly caused by the norovirus and in children and infants, rotavirus is the leading cause. What follows is an insight on the stomach flu incubation period and a look into how long an affected person remains contagious?

Incubation Period of Stomach Flu
Stomach flu incubation period slightly depends upon the virus causing the illness. If the person has been infected by the norovirus, then the incubation period of stomach flu would be one to three days. The affected person develops the risk of spreading the infection right from the time he feels ill. Even after having recovered from the stomach flu, the person may still be contagious for a period that can range from three to two weeks and may even be longer in the case of small kids.

In cases wherein, rotavirus is the cause of stomach flu, the stomach flu incubation period is one to two days. What differentiates this infection from the previous one (caused by norovirus) is that the ill person becomes contagious even before the symptoms start showing up. Post-recovery, the patient may still be contagious for about two weeks or so and children tend to be more so, in most cases.

As cited above, other viruses such as the adenovirus are also responsible for causing the illness. In this case, the stomach flu incubation period is typically one week. If astrovirus is the cause of it, then a period of one to three days can be attributed to be the incubation period for stomach flu. More on stomach flu duration.

Stomach Flu Symptoms
Main symptoms of stomach flu include watery diarrhea and nausea. Vomiting may last more than 48 hours and blood may be evident in the vomit or stool. The person typically suffers from stomach ache and abdominal pain, apart from dehydration. There might also be a low-grade fever accompanied by headaches, chills and general tiredness. Know more on stomach flu symptoms and remedies.

Stomach Flu Treatment and Prevention
Treatment for stomach flu mainly aims at taking care of the symptoms; more particularly towards preventing dehydration. There will be routine treatments for diarrhea and vomiting. For young children and infants, oral rehydration solution (ORS) is recommended to be kept available if they are suffering from stomach flu.

Keeping your hands clean, especially after using the toilet, changing a baby's diaper and the like, can keep you from getting infected with stomach flu. Not to mention, get your hands thoroughly clean before meals. Refrain from coming in contact with people who are suspected to be suffering from this illness and avoid sharing any items with them. You can also check with your local health department or child's pediatrician for information about any vaccination.

Along with the stomach flu incubation period, you also had a brief overview on the types of viruses causing the illness. The symptoms of this disease may be annoying and irritating for adults, at the most. However, stomach flu in children becomes a reason of great discomfort for the little ones. So, better than suffering from such uncomfortable illnesses, why not take a little pain to keep ourselves and our surroundings clean and free of any bacteria, virus and the likes?...