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When you
have diarrhea and vomiting, you
may say you have the "stomach flu." These symptoms often are due to a
condition called gastroenteritis.
With
gastroenteritis, your stomach and intestines are
irritated and inflamed. The cause is typically a viral or bacterial infection.
Symptoms
of Gastroenteritis
With gastroenteritis,
the main symptoms you probably have are watery diarrhea and vomiting. You
might also have stomach pain,
cramping, fever, nausea, and a headache.
Because of
diarrhea and vomiting, you also can become dehydrated. Watch for signs of dehydration,
such as dry skin and
a dry mouth,
feeling lightheaded, and being really thirsty. Call your doctor if you have any
of these symptoms.
Stomach
Flu and Children
Children can
get dehydrated quickly, so if your child has the stomach flu, it's important
that you look for signs that he is very thirsty or has dry skin or
a dry mouth. If
you have a baby, look for fewer, drier diapers.
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children and adults.
Keep
children with gastroenteritis out of day care or school until all symptoms are gone.
Check with your doctor before giving your child any medicine. Drugs used to
control diarrhea and vomiting aren't usually given to children younger than 5.
What
Causes Gastroenteritis
There are
many ways gastroenteritis can be spread:
- Contact
with someone who has the virus
- Contaminated
food or water
- Unwashed
hands after going to the bathroom or changing a diaper
The most common cause of gastroenteritis is a virus. Gastroenteritis flucan be caused
by many different kinds of viruses. The main types are rotavirus and norovirus.
Rotavirus is
the world's most common cause of diarrhea in infants and young children.
Norovirus is the most common cause of serious gastroenteritis and also
foodborne disease outbreaks in the U.S.
Although
not as common, bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella can
also trigger the stomach flu. Salmonella and
campylobacter bacteria are the most common bacterial causes of gastroenteritis
in the U.S. and are usually spread by undercooked poultry, eggs, or poultry
juices. Salmonella can also be spread through pet reptiles or live poultry.
Another
bacteria, shigella, is often passed around in day care centers. It typically is
spread from person to person, and common sources of infection are contaminated
food and drinking water.
Parasites
can also cause gastroenteritis, but it's not common. You can pick up organisms
such as giardia and cryptosporidium in contaminated swimming pools
or by drinking contaminated water.
There
are also other unusual ways to get gastroenteritis:
- Heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, or mercury) in
drinking water
- Eating a lot of acidic foods, like citrus fruit and
tomatoes
- Toxins that might be found in certain seafood
- Medications such
as antibiotics,
antacids, laxatives,
and chemotherapy drugs
Source: https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/gastroenteritis#1
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