Stomach flu, medically known as gastroenteritis, is the inflammation of the intestines. The condition is caused by a microbial attack that triggers symptoms like watery diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting. These are sometimes accompanied by chills and fever. Every episode of stomach flu runs its course and there is nothing much that can be done to cure or shorten it. However, stomach flu treatment and remedies provide relief from major symptoms, making the condition tolerable.
Causes of Stomach Flu
Stomach flu is typically caused due to microbial exposure caused by consuming contaminated food or water. While bacteria, parasites, toxins and viruses; all can trigger a stomach infection, viruses are the most common cause of stomach flu.
Norovirus is responsible for causing viral gastroenteritis symptoms in adults, while rotavirus triggers stomach flu symptoms in children. Bacteria like Clostridioides difficile, salmonella and Escherichia coli, and parasites like giardia can also trigger gastroenteritis.
Risk Group for Stomach Flu
While anyone can get infected with stomach flu, some people are at higher risk of coming down with the infection. These are:
- Infants and young children
- Elderly people
- People with other medical issues
- People with a compromised immune system
Stomach Flu Symptoms
Stomach flu affects the intestines. The signs and symptoms of the infection include:
- Watery stools
- Bloody or non-bloody stool
- Nausea, vomiting or both
- Stomach cramps
- Abdominal pain
- Muscle ache
- Headache
- Fever and chills
Complications of Stomach Flu
A stomach infection will typically last for up to 72 hours. Stomach flu is a self-limiting condition and gets corrected automatically. However, people who experience acute symptoms or are immune-compromised may be left dehydrated. Fluid loss due to acute vomiting and diarrhoea can cause dehydration. Signs of dehydration to watch out for include:
- Extreme thirst
- Reduced urine output
- Dark-coloured urine
- Sunken cheeks and eyes
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- General weakness
- Dry, stretchy skin
Is Stomach Flu Contagious?
Viral gastroenteritis can spread easily. Also, the infection is seasonal and is at its peak during the rainy and autumn season, when the temperatures are perfect for the infection to thrive.
Viral stomach flu spreads when a person comes in contact with a sick person’s stool or vomit.
Is Stomach Flu Preventable?
As stomach flu infection is contagious and spreads through multiple factors, it can also be prevented. The basic precautions to take are:
1. Hand Hygiene
Good hand hygiene is the first step to preventing stomach flu. Practise good hand-washing habits to stop the spread. Wash your hands well with soap and water after using the washroom. Do not eat food with unwashed hands.
2. Be Careful with Food
Viruses spread from contaminated food and water. Do not consume raw or undercooked food. Boil water and store it in a clean container.
3. Clean Patient Area
The patient area must be thoroughly cleaned every day. Make sure to disinfect everything that is touched by the patient. Disinfect the washroom and living spaces. Wash laundry with hot water and dry clothes in bright sunlight. Wash the patient’s utensils separately.
How is Stomach Flu Diagnosed?
Although the early signs of the condition are adequate to diagnose a stomach flu infection, the doctor may recommend a stool test to look for the presence of bacteria, viruses or parasites in the stool. Depending upon the cause of the stomach flu, a treatment plan is laid out.
Stomach Flu Treatment
The choice of medicines to be administered will depend upon the cause of the stomach flu, e.g. stomach flu antibiotics are prescribed in case of bacterial infection.
However, the basic line of treatment includes:
- Analgesic medicines to reduce fever
- Rehydration fluids to restore electrolyte loss
Dos and Don’ts for Stomach Flu
Once you are down with stomach flu, it will take a week to recover completely. The stomach flu treatment will help settle symptoms. A few dos and don’ts and home remedies can help you feel better and recover faster. These include:
1. Take Adequate Rest
To fight off a stomach flu infection the body requires a prolonged resting phase. During this time, the body fights off infection and repairs internal cell damage. So, make sure you cut down on all physical activity for a quicker recovery.
2. Switch to a BRAT Diet
A BRAT diet – banana, rice, applesauce, and toast, are the best foods when it comes to treating an upset stomach. These foods contain easy-to-digest carbohydrates, which give adequate nutrition and energy to help you recoup better.
3. Foods to Avoid
Limit the intake of dairy products, high-fibre foods like whole-grain cereals and bread, and oily and spicy foods. As these foods irritate the lining of the intestine, they aggravate the symptoms of gas and diarrhoea. Also, abstain from tomato-based food preparations as the acidic content of the vegetable can trigger digestive problems.
4. Level Up Your Fluid Intake
Acute fluid loss due to vomiting and diarrhoea causes electrolyte imbalance and can result in dehydration. Drinking adequate water is the key. If you cannot hold water, talk to your doctor for an anti-vomit medicine.
While drinking water is important, avoid drinking coffee and alcohol. Both are diuretics that increase water loss. Furthermore, alcohol causes irritation and inflammation of the stomach lining, increasing the production of gastric acids that cause nausea. Also, avoid caffeinated drinks as they are acidic and can irritate the stomach lining.
5. Avoid Excess Sugar
While sugar is important to restore electrolyte balance, taking an excessively high intake of sugar can cause nausea and other symptoms of stomach flu to aggravate. Make sure you keep your sugar intake low.
6. Include Probiotics
Probiotics are healthy stomach bacteria. During a stomach flu infection, the count of good bacteria in the stomach reduces. Replenishing it with probiotic drinks can help correct watery diarrhoea and rebuild healthy stomach flora.
7. Zinc Supplement
A low dose of zinc supplements is a globally recognised stomach flu treatment. Zinc supplements help reduce the duration and severity of diarrhoea.
8. Acupressure
Acupressure is an alternative therapy that is a proven relief for nausea caused due to stomach flu. Pressing points P-6 on the wrist with the fingers of the other hand or wearing a sea band on the wrist can provide relief.
9. Use Heating Pad
Using a heating pan can prove effective against muscle pains and stomach cramps. Hot pads help relax tensed muscles, relieving muscle pain.
10. Suck on Ice Cubes
If you are facing difficulty keeping water down, suck on ice chips to help prevent dehydration.
Home Remedies for Stomach Flu
A few kitchen and herbal remedies prove helpful in correcting symptoms. The most effective home remedies for stomach flu are:
1. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) helps restore the acid levels in the stomach. Dilute it in water to make it palatable. Also, drink ACV with the help of a straw as it is high acidic and can erode the teeth enamel.
2. Carom Seeds
Carom seeds or ajwain (as they are popularly known in Hindi) are a proven remedy for indigestion and stomach bloating. Mix a tbsp of ajwain with a tsp of salt and gulp it down with a glass of warm water.
3. Peppermint Tea
While peppermint is typically used as a mouthwash and breath freshener, adding peppermint leaves to tea can prove to be an effective home remedy for nausea.
4. Baking Soda
Baking soda is a chemical leavener which reacts with stomach acids to produce carbon dioxide. Take half tsp of baking soda with warm water to get rid of stomach bloating.
5. Lemon Water
The alkaline effect of lemon helps in normalising the high acidity levels in the stomach. This provides relief from stomach flu symptoms.
6. Ginger
Ginger is a popular spice that helps alleviate symptoms of nausea and vomiting. You can try ginger lozenges, tea, or cookies for effective stomach flu treatment.
Conclusion
Stomach flu refers to an upset stomach. Medically termed gastroenteritis, it is marked by the inflammation of the intestines which triggers symptoms like diarrhoea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. While the condition is self-limiting and recovery happens within seven days, dehydration caused due to acute water loss can spur complications. Thus, stomach flu treatment revolves around managing symptoms and restoring water loss.
Home remedies for stomach flu can help manage symptoms naturally. However, consult your doctor in case the symptoms worsen.
