Stomach Flu Symptoms and its Remedies

Stomach flu or gastroenteritis is a pathological disturbance of the gastrointestinal tract, which includes irritation of the stomach and the small intestine. It is also referred to as intestinal flu. Generally, it is caused by viral infection; other causes include infection by bacteria, parasites, and biotoxins (toxins produced by organisms).

Virus that causes stomach flu includes norovirus (RNA virus), rotavirus (double-stranded RNA virus), adenovirus (non-enveloped, double-stranded linear DNA virus) and astrovirus (non-segmented, single-stranded RNA virus). In fact, norovirus causes approximately 90% of the epidemic non-bacterial gastroenteritis of the world. About 20% of the cases and major severe infections in children are due to rotavirus. Some of the species of bacteria that cause gastroenteritis are Escherichia coli, Clostridium, Staphylococcus, Salmonella, etc. Parasites such as Giardia also cause stomach flu.

Most of the infections are caused due to consumption of contaminated food and beverages. Also, drinking of polluted water can lead to stomach flu. Other non-infectious causes of stomach flu are poisoning due to heavy metals (Lead, Arsenic, etc.), seafood or mushrooms.

Stomach Flu: Symptoms

Symptoms of stomach flu depend upon the type of casual organism. However, its major symptom is diarrhea. Gastroenteritis may be viral or bacterial. In viral, a patient suffers from frequent watery stools, whereas bacterial stomach flu is characterized by blood in the stools. Some people may suffer from vomiting along with diarrhea. Other symptoms may include nausea, headache, fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, and abdominal pain, inflammation of the colon (colitis) and large intestine. In children the most notable signs are fatigue, low fever, dehydration, pale skin color, and dark eye circles.

Diagnosis of gastroenteritis is done by physical examination and other lab tests. In order to confirm stomach flu, stool analysis is done to test the presence of pathogens, white blood cells and food toxins.

Stomach Flu: Remedies

Stomach flu may last for an average of about 2-4 days. There is no cure for stomach flu; the best way is to take rest until one feels better. However, there are certain home remedies that can be followed to shorten the duration of stomach flu. Let’s see some of the common remedies that will help you in reducing the intensity of the symptoms.

In order to prevent dehydration, one can drink a solution containing a mixture of salt and sugar in water. He/she can drink plenty of lime juice for replenishing the lost body fluids. One can have herbal tea such as ginger and peppermint tea, but coffee is not recommended. Also, drinking flavored soda drinks such as ginger ale in small quantities could be helpful in overcoming nausea.

In case of a person suffering from vomiting, it is recommended to have liquid food and juices instead of normal solid food. In the following days, he/she can have non-spicy and semi-liquid food. One can resume his/her normal diet after being recovered from stomach flu.

Eating apples in any form such as applesauce, baked or fresh apples, helps in the healing process of the stomach mucus lining. Another very important fruit, which has been commonly used as a remedy for gastroenteritis is banana. It is easy to digest and is also a rich source of potassium and magnesium.

Due to diarrhea, the body may lose many of the useful bacteria. Consuming yogurt helps in retrieving the lost bacteria to some extent and also helps in soothing the upset stomach.

Stomach flu is contagious and can be spread from one person to another. Personal hygiene and keeping oneself away from the body fluids of an infected person can help in prevention of the disease. Precautions such as washing hands before and after having food and after going to bathroom are prescribed, so as to avoid getting stomach flu.