Surviving The Stomach Problems

What You Need To Know

Information technology's BAAAAAACCKKK!!! Cipher conjures up feelings of fearfulness, dread and empathy similar hearing that thestomach issuesis going around!  If you live in Richmond Colina, Bryan Canton, or anywhere in the greater Savannah, GA area, information technology is a pretty adept bet that y'all know someone who has recently suffered with this unpleasant illness or take been infected yourself.  What do you lot need to know to protect yourself, your family unit and your community from getting SICK????

The stomach bug is also known equally the stomach flu or in medical circles, viral gastroenteritis. Information technology is non actually a "flu" at all and is unrelated toinfluenza viruses which cause respiratory illness every bit opposed to gastrointestinal.  For this reason, almanac flu shots do not protect against the "stomach flu."

WhatIS the "tum bug" then?

Gastroenteritis simply means inflammation of the tummy and intestines. The most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the Us is Norovirus, bookkeeping for xix-21 meg cases annually. To keep information technology interesting, there are many, many other types of viruses that tin cause gastroenteritis including Rotavirus and Astrovirus, which predominantly affect children but can infect adults as well, and Adenoviruses and Enteroviruses, which infect children and adults. Each of these viruses has numerous strains that take been identified, and countless that are yet to be discovered. And just considering viruses don't play fair, the strains nosotros know about are constantly mutating and changing.  So while you may accept been infected past one particular strain of a virus and so developed antibodies confronting it, you will not always be protected against a new version of the same virus.

How does viral gastroenteritis make you feel?

The most common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, breadbasket cramps and diarrhea. It is too common to experience fatigue and loss of ambition. 1 may also experience balmy fever, headache, chills and muscle aches.

norovirus on head of pin

How do yous get the "stomach flu"?

The stomach bug is extremely contagious. Information technology spreads easily and chop-chop.  These viruses are transmitted through what is known equally the fecal-oral route (YUCK!), meaning the virus is institute in the feces and vomit of those infected. Fifty-fifty microscopic amounts may incorporate thousands to millions of particles of the virus, and it takes as few equally 18 norovirus particles in your nutrient or on your hands to make you sick. Viruses can as well be transmitted by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated liquids, touching contaminated objects and then putting them in your oral cavity, and sharing utensils or cups with infected individuals. If that isn't enough to give you the heebie-jeebies, consider the fact that norovirus can survive on household surfaces for up to 2 weeks and tin can survive some disinfectants, such as alcohol-based hand-sanitizers. This makes it difficult to eradicate.

Is in that location a season for the "stomach flu?"

Co-ordinate to the CDC, rotavirus technically occurs from November through April. All the same, we do see illnesses occur outside of this timeframe. Norovirus gastroenteritis occurs all twelvemonth circular with 80% of the outbreaks occurring betwixt November and April.

How do I know if I have the "tummy flu" or nutrient poisoning?

Often when you lot or a loved-one starts having symptoms of an upset stomach, such equally nausea, airsickness and diarrhea, you wonder if y'all caught a stomach problems or if you lot but ate something bad. Typically this is as well to decide whether or not you lot are contagious. Non-contagious nutrient poisoning occurs when we eat something that has not been properly stored, allowing bacteria to abound in it. The bacteria produces toxins that make you lot ill, even if the food is reheated. When trying to determine the cause of your symptoms, think back to what y'all've done in the past days. If you have been effectually someone in the by couple of weeks who had vomiting and/or diarrhea illness that is the most probable culprit. If you haven't been around anyone sick (that you lot know of), but ate tater salad and a sandwich that had been on a party buffet all afternoon, restaurant food such equally rice, salad or dipping sauce, you got sick within vii hours of eating the suspected food and got well before long later, you probably accept non-contagious food poisoning. If information technology has been 24 hours or more than since you ate the suspected nutrient, it is unlikely you lot have food poisoning and most likely you take viral gastroenteritis and are contagious. It tin can be extremely difficult to know for sure which illness you accept, then it is best to be cautious and assume you are contagious.

How is the "stomach issues" diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will discuss your history and volition review your symptoms. They volition perform a physical exam to rule out other more than serious causes of your symptoms, such as appendicitis, pancreatitis or cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder). They volition also evaluate for complications of airsickness and diarrhea such as dehydration. Typically this is what is known as a clinical diagnosis meaning your healthcare provider tin make the diagnosis based on the history and physical test without bloodwork or additional lab testing. At that place are instances, nonetheless, when symptoms are unclear or prolonged, and boosted lab testing may exist recommended.

How is it treated?

Treatment for the "stomach bug" is initially focused on resting the stomach and intestines. At first, you lot should not try to eat anything and only beverage very small amounts of articulate liquids. It is much improve to drink small amounts of liquid, frequently than big volumes of liquid, as large volumes can induce more than airsickness. Your healthcare provider can prescribe medication to decrease the symptoms of nausea, airsickness and diarrhea if indicated. It is important to drink plenty of clear liquids to replace fluid loss and prevent dehydration. Don't forget that popsicles count and are a great fashion to become little ones to take fluids when they aren't feeling like eating. In one case airsickness is under command, one tin can advance their diet slowly from clear liquids to a bland diet meaning eating things that are easy to digest. Y'all often hear almost Brat diet, Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast, all things that are easy to digest. Some sources suggest avoiding dairy every bit information technology can exist more difficult to assimilate, merely it does not bother others. Boiled chicken has also been plant to exist like shooting fish in a barrel to digest and when added to the bland nutrition as a source of protein, has been shown to improve recovery times.

What potential complications should I be looking for?

The most mutual complication is dehydration. Children can get dehydrated very quickly so it is of import to stay on top of how much they are drinking and to get creative near replacing lost fluids, such as with popsicles.   Be aware of signs of extreme thirst, dry mouth and less frequent, drier diapers. It is also common for diaper-wearing children who have diarrhea to get a diaper rash. Y'all tin forestall this painful rash by checking and changing diapers frequently and by using a barrier cream (such every bit Desitin) at the first sign of diarrhea. The key is to keep the poop off of the skin and it is important to reapply a thick coat at every diaper change once you have thoroughly cleaned the diaper area. If whatever symptoms persist longer than a couple of days, seem to be getting worse instead of improve, or if abdominal hurting becomes more full-bodied in 1 area, it is of import to contact your healthcare provider sooner rather than subsequently.

When tin can I send my child back to school or daycare after having the "stomach bug?"

Since people are still contagious with the "stomach bug" for three days after symptoms have stopped, ideally your child should be well for 3 days earlier you ship them back to schoolhouse or day intendance. That means it should take been 72 hours since they last vomited or had diarrhea. If they are not eating normally and do non have normal poop, then they are still sick and still contagious. Parents are often unsure nigh how long to keep a child habitation subsequently a vomiting disease, and commonly send their kids back as soon every bit they are feeling improve. 48 hours is the minimum amount of time to wait to ensure your child is over the illness. At that place is oftentimes a delay between the vomiting and diarrhea segments of the illness.

My daughter experienced this during her most recent illness a couple of weeks ago. She first became sick on Thursday morning and vomited several times that day, Thursday evening and into very early Friday morning. She did not vomit again all day Fri and seemed "back to normal" Friday afternoon, with the exception of not eating well. Most of the 24-hour interval Saturday she had normal energy levels and seemed to be improving but belatedly in the day Saturday she vomited again (SERIOUSLY?! Hither nosotros get again….) and Sunday she experienced significant fatigue and her get-go bout of diarrhea. This is just an instance of why it is of import to wait at least 48 hours to ensure your kid is indeed over the illness and to minimize exposure to others during the time in which they are contagious.

How tin can I avoid getting the "tummy problems"?

Launder Your Hands

The unmarried most effective manner to foreclose the spread of viral gastroenteritis is frequent, thorough mitt-washing with soap and water. Always wash your easily Afterwards using the toilet and changing diapers and Earlier eating, preparing, or handling food. Alcohol-based mitt sanitizers tin can be used in improver to hand washing, but non as a substitute. Many hand-sanitizers are Not effective in killing norovirus! (YIKES!)

Stay Habitation if You lot Are Sick

Avoid contact with infected individuals and stay dwelling if you lot are ill. When you are sick, y'all should not prepare nutrient for others or care for others for AT LEAST ii to 3 days after yous recover. This applies to ill workers in schools, daycares, healthcare facilities, and other places where they may betrayal others. Keep sick infants and children out of areas where nutrient is being handled and prepared. Don't share food when y'all are sick.

Clean and Disinfect Contaminated Surfaces

After throwing up or having diarrhea, immediately clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces. Use a chlorine bleach solution with a concentration of 1000-5000 ppm (5-25 tablespoons of 5.25% household bleach per gallon of water). You can too use another disinfectant registered as effective confronting norovirus by the Ecology Protection Agency (EPA).  It is important to notation that all household cleaners are not effective at killing Norovirus!

Thoroughly Launder Laundry

Immediately remove and wash clothes or linens that may be contaminated with vomit or stool (poop). You should handle soiled items advisedly and without agitation, clothing disposable gloves while handling and wash easily thoroughly after. Wash the items with detergent at the maximum bachelor cycle length and motorcar dry them.

Wash Fruits and Vegetables and Cook Seafood Thoroughly

Carefully wash fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating them. Cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly earlier eating them. Be aware that Norovirus is fairly resistant and can survive temperatures often used to quick steam shellfish.