Stomach virus: symptoms and treatment

Although a stomach virus can be contracted at any time of the year, it is true that cases increase alarmingly during the summer, months during which it is common for the heat to negatively affect the quality of certain foods.

As you surely know, the heat becomes in fact one of the biggest enemies for the good state of food, as this is quite dangerous when decomposing.

However, although many people call it as stomach virus, it is not the same virus that causes the flu. Usually this condition is known by the name of stomach flu, and indeed it is caused by a virus.

Causes of the stomach virus

The cause is obvious: a virus (norovirus, rotavirus, astrovirus or enteric adenovirus) affects a person or a group of people who have ingested the same food, or have taken the same contaminated water.

Stomach virus symptoms

Abdominal pain.
Sickness.
Diarrhea.
Vomiting

The following symptoms may also appear:

Fever.
Chills and cold or wet skin feeling.
Muscle pain or stiffness
Weightloss.
Little desire to eat.

When do the symptoms appear?

Symptoms appear one or two days after exposure to the stomach virus (or between 4 to 48 hours later), and can last up to 10 days.

Stomach virus treatment

One of the main objectives of treatment is to prevent dehydration due to diarrhea or vomiting, so that the different liquids, salts and minerals that have been lost must be replaced by drinking plenty of fluids (water above all else, or the doctor can prescribe the consumption of serum).

You can also take small amounts of food: cereals, bread, potatoes, lean meats, vegetables, fruits (bananas and fresh apples) and plain yogurt.

Image | celinecelines This article is published for informational purposes only. It can not and should not replace the consultation with a Physician. We advise you to consult your Trusted Doctor. ThemesInfections Gastrointestinal disorders