Stomach Flu: Symptoms, Causes, And What To Do About It

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Stomach flu is the colloquial term for gastroenteritis, but it actually has nothing to do with the flu (influenza) virus. It’s most commonly caused by viruses, such as Norovirus and Rotavirus, less often – by bacteria, parasites, and certain drugs. Most people will have stomach flu at least a few times in their lives because it’s difficult to completely avoid germs that cause it.

Symptoms of stomach flu vary depending on the cause; the most common symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting – your body’s way of getting rid of harmful agents. Other signs and symptoms may include:

- abdominal pain and cramps;

- general weakness;

- loss of appetite;

- low-grade fever.

The symptoms usually develop within 1 to 3 days after you become infected, and disappear in a few days, in some cases a week or longer. In healthy adults, stomach flu caused by a virus usually resolves itself without treatment. If the cause of your stomach flu is bacteria, treatment with antibiotics may be required.

Call your doctor if:

- you can’t keep liquids down for 24 hours;

- you’re constantly vomiting;

- there’s blood in your vomit;

- you have the symptoms of dehydration (producing little to no urine, dark yellow color of urine, increased thirst, dry mouth, weakness, and dizziness)

- there’s blood in your stool;

- your body temperature is 104 F (40 C) and higher;

Call your doctor if your child has these symptoms:

- fever of 102 F (38.9 C) or higher;

- sleepiness and irritability;

- bloody diarrhea;

- signs of dehydration.

You are losing fluid because of vomiting and diarrhea when you’re sick with the stomach flu; if you’re a healthy adult, all you need to do to prevent dehydration is to drink more fluids (preferably water). Infants, young children, elderly people, and people with a compromised immune system are at a higher risk of dehydration and may sometimes require IV fluids for rehydration.

Here’s what you can do to help your child recover from stomach flu:

- make sure your child stays hydrated – the best option is oral rehydration solution, sold over-the-counter in most pharmacies;

- once his or her appetite comes back, give your child bland, easy-to-digest foods, such as rice, potatoes, bananas, and toast before getting back to the normal diet;

- don’t give your child dairy products and sugary foods while he or she is still sick;

- make sure your child gets enough rest;

- don’t give your child anti-vomiting or antidiarrheal medications without consulting a doctor.

If you’re the one sick with the stomach flu, you can do the following to ease your symptoms or prevent them from getting worse:

- drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration – for adults, plain water is best;

- get enough rest;

- when your appetite returns, eat plain foods, such as rice, pasta, soup, and bread until you recover;

- fatty and spicy foods, dairy products, caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine can make your symptoms worse – try to avoid them while you’re sick;

- take anti-vomiting and antidiarrheal medications if your doctor told you to do so.