Stomach Virus Definition
Although the symptoms related to a stomach virus are referred as "the stomach flu," the virus that causes the pain, cramping, vomiting and diarrhea is not influenza. In fact, there are several viruses that cause the infection and discomfort. The disease that is caused by infection is called viral gastroenteritis, and it is usually self-limiting, clearing up within three days. The organs affected by gastroenteritis are the stomach and small intestine.
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Infection
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There are three main viruses that cause gastroenteritis. Rotaviruses, adenoviruses and the Norwalk virus enter the gastrointestinal tract through the mouth. The virus enters the mouth through activities such as kissing or shaking hands with an infected person. The virus infects the tissue lining of the stomach and intestines, disabling digestion activity.
Symptoms
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Symptoms are painful and uncomfortable during infection. Symptoms of the virus are mainly vomiting, stomach cramps, nausea and severe diarrhea. Some patients may have a slight fever, chills and night sweats. Because of the vomiting, patients lose their appetite. It's still important to keep the patient consuming liquids to avoid dehydration.
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Diagnosis
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Diagnosis is done by a doctor. The doctor may take blood tests and examine the patient to rule out any other serious infection possibilities. If the patient is dehydrated, intravenous fluid intervention may be needed. The doctor may prescribe treatments to help with the symptoms, but viral infections are not cured with any medication.
Care
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The patient may be bedridden, but care is necessary to treat the symptoms. The most important part of care is fluids. Vomiting causes severe dehydration, and after a day or two of vomiting, fluid loss is increased. Fluids with electrolytes are more beneficial to replace any ions needed by tissue. A doctor may prescribe over-the-counter diarrhea and vomiting treatments to help reduce the frequency.
Recovery
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The symptoms of a stomach virus last only a few days, but recovery may be slow, since the loss of fluids and food causes the body to become weak. Return to eating foods that are bland and easy on sensitive stomachs, like crackers, soup, noodles and bananas. Avoid harsher foods like dairy and meats.
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