Gastroenteritis Definition
Viral gastroenteritis (often called stomach flu) is an intestinal infection characterized by runny diarrhea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, and occasionally fever.
The most common way to develop stomach flu is through contact with an infected person or by ingesting contaminated food or water. If the patient is otherwise healthy, they will recover without complications. But for infants, older adults and people with compromised immune systems, viral gastroenteritis can be deadly.
There’s no effective treatment for viral gastroenteritis, so prevention is key. In addition to avoiding food and water that may be contaminated, thorough and frequent hand-washing before cooking and eating food is the best defense.
Gastroenteritis Symptoms
Although it’s commonly called stomach flu, gastroenteritis isn’t the same as influenza. Real flu (influenza) affects only the respiratory system – the nose, throat and lungs. Gastroenteritis, on the other hand, attacks the intestines, causing signs and symptoms, such as:
· Watery, usually non-bloody diarrhea – bloody diarrhea usually indicates more severe infection
· Abdominal cramps and pain
· Nausea, vomiting or both
· Occasional muscle aches or headache
· Low-grade fever
Depending on the cause, viral gastroenteritis symptoms may appear within one to three days after the patient is infected and can range from mild to severe. Symptoms usually last just a day or two, but occasionally they may persist as long as 10 days.