What is stomach flu

Stomach flu is commonly known as viral gastroenteritis or ‘gastro’ – is not a type of flu (influenza) at all (flu viruses do not cause gastroenteritis), but a common illness that affects your gut (stomach and intestines) that can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the lining of your stomach and intestines caused by a virus, bacteria or parasites. Viral gastroenteritis is the second most common illness in the U.S. The cause is often a norovirus infection. Gastroenteritis is easily spread through contaminated food or water, and contact with an infected person (or their vomit or poop). The best prevention is frequent hand washing. Good hand washing with soap and water before food preparation and eating; and after going to the toilet, changing nappies, and handling any ill person is important in helping to stop the spread of infection.

Symptoms of gastroenteritis include diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, headache, fever and chills. Gastroenteritis is not usually serious but it can make you very dehydrated. Milder forms can be managed at home by drinking fluids. Most people recover with no treatment.

Stomach flu (gastroenteritis) may be caused by:

• viruses (such as rotavirus or norovirus infections)
• bacteria (including salmonella)
• toxins produced by bacteria
• parasites (such as giardia)
• chemicals (such as toxins in poisonous mushrooms)

Gastroenteritis should only last for a few days. Stomach flu doesn’t usually require medication.

The most common problem with gastroenteritis is dehydration. This happens if you do not drink enough fluids to replace what you lose through vomiting and diarrhea. Dehydration is most common in babies, young children, the elderly and people with weak immune systems. Older people, young children and those with a weakened immune system are at risk of developing more serious illnesses.

It is very important to drink plenty of fluids. See a doctor immediately if your child cannot keep down a sip of liquid or has dehydration (dry mouth, no urine for 6 hours or more, or lethargy). If you are unwell with diarrhea or vomiting, you could have gastroenteritis. A doctor can diagnose gastroenteritis after talking to and examining you. If you’re not getting better, the doctor may want to do stool (poop) tests to find out what’s making you ill.

Stomach flu or viral gastroenteritis key points:

• Viral gastroenteritis is an infection of the stomach and intestines, caused by a virus.
• The main symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting.
• Diarrhea and vomiting can cause a loss of fluids, also called dehydration.
• If dehydration is severe, patients may have to be given fluid intravenously (IV) at the hospital.
• Viral gastroenteritis can spread by sharing food, water and utensils. Frequent hand washing can help prevent the spread of infection to others.
• Viral gastroenteritis is usually not a serious illness. However, people who have weak immune systems are at risk for more serious infection.

Viral gastroenteritis is NOT caused by any of the following, although the symptoms may be similar:

• bacteria such as salmonella or E. coli
• parasites such as Giardia
• medications
• other medical conditions

Flu shot, will it prevent the stomach flu?

The flu shot protects against influenza, which isn’t the same thing as the stomach flu (gastroenteritis). Gastroenteritis is an infection caused by a variety of viruses, including rotaviruses and noroviruses. Although it is often called the stomach flu, gastroenteritis is not caused by influenza viruses.

Influenza attacks your respiratory system — your nose, throat and lungs. Signs and symptoms of influenza may include:

• Coughing
• Congestion
• Fever
• Muscle aches

Gastroenteritis, on the other hand, attacks your intestines, causing signs and symptoms such as:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Chills
• Headache
• Body aches

You can reduce your risk of influenza and gastroenteritis by washing your hands often with soap and water, as well as disinfecting contaminated and frequently touched surfaces.

The annual flu vaccine is the most effective way to reduce your risk of getting influenza or reducing its severity, if you do. Two oral rotavirus vaccines are available for young infants — RotaTeq and Rotarix, to protect against rotavirus gastroenteritis.

Food poisoning vs stomach flu

Food poisoning comes from eating foods that contain germs like bad bacteria or toxins. Bacteria are all around us, so mild cases of food poisoning are common. These can cause diarrhea and an upset stomach. When this happens, you might hear people calling it a stomach bug or stomach virus.

Bacteria are all around us, including in food, and sometimes they can be good for you (e.g., probiotics). You can learn how to avoid bad germs in food.

What are the signs of food poisoning?

Someone who has food poisoning might have:

• an upset stomach (called nausea)
• vomiting
• stomach cramps
• diarrhea, which may contain blood
• a fever of 100.4° F (38 °C) or above
• feeling generally unwell – such as feeling tired or having aches and chills

Sometimes feeling sick from food poisoning shows up within hours of eating the bad food. At other times, someone may not feel sick until several days later. With mild cases of food poisoning, you will not feel sick for very long and will soon be feeling fine again.

It can be hard to tell if you have food poisoning or something else. You might do a little detective work and see who else gets the same sickness. Did they eat the same thing you did? If only people who ate that food got sick, food poisoning could be the problem.

Which germs are to blame?

Foods from animals, raw foods, and unwashed vegetables all can contain germs that cause food poisoning. The most likely source is food from animals, like meat, poultry (such as chicken), eggs, milk, and shellfish (such as shrimp).

Some of the most common bacteria are:

• Salmonella
• Listeria
• Campylobacter
• E. coli
• Norovirus

To avoid food poisoning, people need to prepare, cook, and store foods properly.

How you get food poisoning?

You can catch food poisoning if you eat something that has been contaminated with germs.

This can happen if food:

• isn’t cooked or reheated thoroughly
• isn’t stored correctly – for example, it’s not been frozen or chilled
• is left out for too long
• is handled by someone who’s ill or hasn’t washed their hands
• is eaten after its “use by” date

How to treat food poisoning

You can usually treat yourself or your child at home. Read about how to treat diarrhea and vomiting yourself below.

The symptoms usually pass within a week.

The treatment you’ll get for food poisoning will depend on the germ that is making you sick. The doctor might give you medicine, but most of the time someone who has food poisoning doesn’t need to take medicine.

It’s also rare that a person with food poisoning would need to go to the hospital. Usually, only people who get really dehydrated have to go to the hospital. Being dehydrated means your body has lost too much fluid due to diarrhea and vomiting. A dehydrated person can get fluids and medicine through an IV at the hospital. To keep from getting dehydrated, try to keep drinking liquids when you’re sick.

You may also need to go to the hospital if you have blood in your poop. If you do see blood in your poop, you should definitely tell your doctor about it.

How can I prevent food poisoning?

Many things can be done to prevent food poisoning. These precautions should be taken at every stage a food takes — from preparation to cooking to storing leftovers. One of the best ways is to wash your hands if you’re preparing and making foods.

Before you start making foods you should wash your hands before — so germs from your hands don’t get on the food — and after so you don’t pass along germs from the food to yourself or anyone else.

Other ways to keep your food safe include:

• Wash fruits and vegetables well before eating them.
• Only eat foods that are properly cooked. If you cut into chicken and it looks pink and raw inside, tell a grown-up.
• Look at what you’re eating and smell it too. If something looks or smells different from normal, don’t eat or drink it. Milk is a good example. If you’ve ever had a sip of sour milk, you know you never want to taste that again! Mold (which can be green, pink, white, or brown) is also often a sign that food has spoiled.
• If you’re going to eat leftovers, make sure you heat them up. By heating them, you can kill bacteria that grew while it was in the fridge.
• Check the date. Lots of packaged foods have expiration dates or “sell by” dates (which means that the food should leave store shelves by that time). Don’t eat a food if today’s date is after the expiration date. Use it before it expires.
• Cover and refrigerate food right away. Bacteria get a good chance to grow in foods that sit at room temperature. By putting food in the fridge, you’re putting the chill on those bad germs!

Stomach flu contagious

Stomach flu (gastroenteritis) spreads easily from having contact with an infected person (or their vomit or stools). Stomach flu (gastroenteritis) can also spread via contaminated food or water.

How long am I contagious if I have the stomach flu?

You can be contagious from a few days up to two weeks or more, depending on which virus is causing your stomach flu (gastroenteritis).

A number of viruses can cause gastroenteritis, including noroviruses and rotaviruses. The contagious period — the time during which a sick person can give the illness to others — differs slightly for each virus.

• Norovirus. With norovirus — the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in adults — you’re contagious when you begin to feel ill. Symptoms usually appear within one to two days of exposure. Although you typically feel better after a day or two, you’re contagious for a few days after you recover. The virus can remain in your stool for up to two weeks or more after recovery. Children should stay home from school or child care for at least 48 hours after the last time they vomit or have diarrhea.
• Rotavirus. Symptoms of rotavirus — the leading cause of viral gastroenteritis in infants and young children — usually appear one to three days after exposure. But you’re contagious even before you develop symptoms, and up to two weeks after you’ve recovered.

The viruses that cause gastroenteritis are spread through close contact with infected people, such as by sharing food or eating utensils, and by touching contaminated surfaces and objects. Eating contaminated food also can cause norovirus.

Washing your hands often with soap and water is the most effective way to stop the spread of these viruses to others. If you can’t wash your hands, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, which can reduce germs.

To help keep others from getting sick, disinfect contaminated surfaces immediately after someone vomits or has diarrhea. Wear disposable gloves, and use a bleach-based household cleanser or 2 cups (0.5 liters) of bleach in a gallon (3.8 liters) of water. Norovirus can survive for months on surfaces not adequately disinfected with bleach solution.

Also wear disposable gloves to immediately wash clothes or linens that might be contaminated.

How long does stomach flu last?

Depending on the cause of the gastroenteritis, symptoms may last from one day to more than a week.

Common causes of gastroenteritis are:

• Viruses (rotaviruses and noroviruses).
• Food or water contaminated by bacteria or parasites.
• Reaction to a new food. Young children may develop signs and symptoms for this reason. Infants who are breast-fed may even react to a change in their mothers’ diets.
• Side effect from medications.

How to treat diarrhea and vomiting yourself

You can usually treat yourself or your child at home.

The most important thing is to have plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

DO

• stay at home and get plenty of rest
• drink lots of fluids, such as water and squash – take small sips if you feel sick
• carry on giving breast or bottle feeds to your baby – if they’re being sick, try giving small feeds more often than usual
• for babies on formula or solid foods, give small sips of water between feeds
• eat when you feel able to – you don’t need to have or avoid any specific foods
• take paracetamol if you’re in discomfort – check the leaflet before giving them to your child

DON’T

• have fruit juice or fizzy drinks – they can make diarrhea worse
• make baby formula weaker – use it at its usual strength
• give young children medicine to stop diarrhea
• give aspirin to children under 16

How to treat diarrhea and vomiting in children

The main treatment is to give enough fluids to prevent your child becoming dehydrated. Babies and children below 3 years old are most at risk and may need to be checked by a doctor. Give small amounts of fluids frequently as they can usually tolerate this better than large volumes at a time. You should continue to give fluids even if they are vomiting. Many common medicines to reduce vomiting or diarrhea are often not helpful and may instead be harmful in children. Antibiotic treatment is also unnecessary and unhelpful in most cases because the infection is usually caused by viruses which do not respond to this treatment.

If you’re breast-feeding, let your baby nurse. If your baby is bottle-fed, offer a small amount of an Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS) or regular formula.

Consider acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) for relief of discomfort, unless your child has liver disease. Don’t give your child aspirin.

What fluids to use

The best fluids to use are Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS), e.g., CeraLyte, Enfalyte, Pedialyte, Hydralyte, Gastrolyte, Repalyte etc., which are available from your local chemist. They contain glucose and different salts which tend to be lost from the body during vomiting or diarrhea. Make them up EXACTLY as it says on the packet. Breast fed babies should continue to be breastfed but may need to be fed more frequently. Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS) or water (boiled if the baby is less than 6 months old) may be offered to babies in addition to breast feeds. Bottle fed babies may need to have both Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS) and their formula at normal strength.

What can I do if my child refuse to take the oral rehydration solution?

Chilling the fluids or making them into iceblocks may help your child to take them. Some children may still refuse to drink. In this situation water or other fluids such as diluted juice or soft drinks may be given, although they are not as good as Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS) because they don’t have all the extra salts in the right amounts and have sugars which are not as well absorbed.

DO NOT GIVE UNDILUTED juice, sodas, sports drinks or other soft drinks as they have too much sugar and may make the diarrhea worse. Chicken broth is also not recommended as it has too much salt and no sugar.

How much fluid does my child need?

This depends on the age and size of the child and also how dehydrated they are.

The minimum daily requirements in children are:

• 3-10kg (1-12months): 100ml/kg
• 10-20kg (1-5yrs): 1000ml + 50ml/kg for each kg over 10kg
• >20kg: 1500ml + 20ml/kg for each kg over 20kg

You may also need to give an extra 2ml/kg for every vomit and 10ml/kg for each diarrheal stool in addition to the maintenance amount of fluids required.
Give small volumes frequently, e.g. 5ml (1tsp) every 5 minutes, is better tolerated than 60ml all at once every hour.

What about eating food?

Doctors no longer recommend restricting food intake during gastroenteritis. Your child may not feel like eating initially but should be allowed to eat once they feel hungry. Gradually introduce bland, easy-to-digest foods, such as toast, rice, bananas and potatoes. Avoid giving your child full-fat dairy products, such as whole milk and ice cream, and sugary foods, such as sodas and candy. These can make diarrhea worse.

Bottle fed babies on infant formula should be given their formula at normal strength and not diluted down. The only foods to avoid are those with high sugar content such as undiluted juice, cordials, soft drinks, jelly, jam, sweets, chocolate etc. as they may make the diarrhea worse.

Lactose intolerance is uncommon in young American children but may occur temporarily after a bout of gastroenteritis. This may be suspected if their diarrhea worsens and is watery, frothy and explosive after drinking milk or formula. If this occurs, then a lactose free or soy formula may be used for a few weeks until the gut recovers.

Viral gastroenteritis

Viral gastroenteritis is an intestinal infection marked by watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea or vomiting, and sometimes fever.

The most common way to develop viral gastroenteritis — often called stomach flu — is through contact with an infected person or by ingesting contaminated food or water. If you’re otherwise healthy, you’ll likely 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-washings are your best defense.

Although viral gastroenteritis is commonly called stomach flu, gastroenteritis isn’t the same as influenza. Real flu (influenza) affects only your respiratory system — your nose, throat and lungs. Gastroenteritis, on the other hand, attacks your intestines, causing signs and symptoms, such as:

• Watery, usually nonbloody diarrhea — bloody diarrhea usually means you have a different, 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 you’re 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.

Because the symptoms are similar, it’s easy to confuse viral diarrhea with diarrhea caused by bacteria, such as Clostridium difficile, salmonella and E. coli, or parasites, such as giardia.

Viral gastroenteritis causes

You’re most likely to contract viral gastroenteritis when you eat or drink contaminated food or water, or if you share utensils, towels or food with someone who’s infected.

A number of viruses can cause gastroenteritis, including:

• Noroviruses. Both children and adults are affected by noroviruses, the most common cause of foodborne illness worldwide. Norovirus infection can sweep through families and communities. It’s especially likely to spread among people in confined spaces. In most cases, you pick up the virus from contaminated food or water, although person-to-person transmission also is possible.
• Rotavirus. Worldwide, this is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in children, who are usually infected when they put their fingers or other objects contaminated with the virus into their mouths. The infection is most severe in infants and young children. Adults infected with rotavirus may not have symptoms, but can still spread the illness — of particular concern in institutional settings because infected adults unknowingly can pass the virus to others. A vaccine against viral gastroenteritis is available in some countries, including the United States, and appears to be effective in preventing the infection.

Some shellfish, especially raw or undercooked oysters, also can make you sick. Although contaminated drinking water is a cause of viral diarrhea, in many cases the virus is passed through the fecal-oral route — that is, someone with a virus handles food you eat without washing his or her hands after using the toilet.

Risk factors for getting gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis occurs all over the world, affecting people of every age, race and background.

People who may be more susceptible to gastroenteritis include:

• Young children. Children in child care centers or elementary schools may be especially vulnerable because it takes time for a child’s immune system to mature.
• Older adults. Adult immune systems tend to become less efficient later in life. Older adults in nursing homes, in particular, are vulnerable because their immune systems weaken and they live in close contact with others who may pass along germs.
• Schoolchildren, churchgoers or dormitory residents. Anywhere that groups of people come together in close quarters can be an environment for an intestinal infection to get passed.
• Anyone with a weakened immune system. If your resistance to infection is low — for instance, if your immune system is compromised by HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy or another medical condition — you may be especially at risk.

Each gastrointestinal virus has a season when it’s most active. If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, for instance, you’re more likely to have rotavirus or norovirus infections between October and April.

Viral gastroenteritis complications

The main complication of viral gastroenteritis is dehydration — a severe loss of water and essential salts and minerals. If you’re healthy and drink enough to replace fluids you lose from vomiting and diarrhea, dehydration shouldn’t be a problem.

Infants, older adults and people with suppressed immune systems may become severely dehydrated when they lose more fluids than they can replace. Hospitalization might be needed so that lost fluids can be replaced intravenously. Dehydration can be fatal, but rarely.

Viral gastroenteritis prevention

The best way to prevent the spread of intestinal infections is to follow these precautions:

• Get your child vaccinated. A vaccine against gastroenteritis caused by the rotavirus is available in some countries, including the United States. Given to children in the first year of life, the vaccine appears to be effective in preventing severe symptoms of this illness.
• Wash your hands thoroughly. And make sure your children do, too. If your children are older, teach them to wash their hands, especially after using the toilet. It’s best to use warm water and soap and to rub hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds, remembering to wash around cuticles, beneath fingernails and in the creases of the hands. Then rinse thoroughly. Carry towelettes and hand sanitizer for times when soap and water aren’t available.
• Use separate personal items around your home. Avoid sharing eating utensils, glasses and plates. Use separate towels in the bathroom.
• Keep your distance. Avoid close contact with anyone who has the virus, if possible.
• Disinfect hard surfaces. If someone in your home has viral gastroenteritis, disinfect hard surfaces, such as counters, faucets and doorknobs, with a mixture of two cups of bleach to one gallon of water.
• Check out your child care center. Make sure the center has separate rooms for changing diapers and preparing or serving food. The room with the diaper-changing table should have a sink as well as a sanitary way to dispose of diapers.

Take precautions when traveling

When you’re traveling in other countries, you can become sick from contaminated food or water. You may be able to reduce your risk by following these tips:

• Drink only well-sealed bottled or carbonated water.
• Avoid ice cubes, because they may be made from contaminated water.
• Use bottled water to brush your teeth.
• Avoid raw food — including peeled fruits, raw vegetables and salads — that has been touched by human hands.
• Avoid undercooked meat and fish.

Gastroenteritis prevention

To reduce your risk of catching or spreading gastroenteritis, wash your hands well after using the bathroom or changing nappies, and before preparing or eating food.

If you have gastroenteritis, it’s important to stay home (away from work, school or childcare) until the symptoms have been gone for at least 24 hours. If your work involves handling food or looking after children, the elderly, or patients, do not return to work until 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped.

Rotavirus spreads easily among infants and young children. The virus can cause severe watery diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain. Children who get rotavirus disease can become dehydrated and may need to be hospitalized.

Two oral rotavirus vaccines are available for young infants — RotaTeq® (RV5) and Rotarix® (RV1). Vaccines for norovirus are in clinical trials.

Rotavirus vaccines

The best way to prevent rotavirus in children is to have them vaccinated. Rotavirus vaccine is the best way to protect your child against rotavirus disease. Most children (about 9 out of 10) who get the vaccine will be protected from severe rotavirus disease. About 7 out of 10 children will be protected from rotavirus disease of any severity.

Two rotavirus vaccines are currently licensed for infants in the United States:

• RotaTeq® (RV5) is given in 3 doses at ages 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months
• Rotarix® (RV1) is given in 2 doses at ages 2 months and 4 months

Both vaccines are given by putting drops in the child’s mouth. Each requires multiple doses.

The first dose of either vaccine should be given before a child is 15 weeks of age. Children should receive all doses of rotavirus vaccine before they turn 8 months old.

There is a very small risk that babies may develop a bowel problem called intussusception after receiving the vaccine.

Possible side effects of Rotavirus vaccine

Most babies who get rotavirus vaccine do not have any side effects. However, some babies can have side effects that are usually mild and go away on their own. Serious side effects are possible but rare.

Side effects or problems that have been associated with rotavirus vaccine include:

• Mild problems: Being irritable, or having mild, temporary diarrhea or vomiting after getting a dose of rotavirus vaccine.

• Serious problems: There is a small risk of intussusception, a type of bowel blockage that is treated in a hospital, and could require surgery. Intussusception happens in some babies every year in the United States, and usually there is no known reason for it. Intussusception from rotavirus vaccination usually occurs within a week of receiving a dose of vaccine. The risk of intussusception from rotavirus vaccination is estimated to range from about 1 in 20,000 to 1 in 100,000 US infants who get rotavirus vaccine. Your doctor can give you more information.

• Problems that could happen after any vaccine: Any medication can cause a severe allergic reaction. Such reactions from a vaccine are very rare, estimated at less than 1 in a million doses, and usually happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination. As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a serious injury or death.

Who should NOT get Rotavirus vaccine?

Your healthcare provider is the best source of information on the benefits and risks of vaccines. Before your child receives any vaccine, discuss with your healthcare provider:

• health problems that your child may have
• medications that your child is currently taking
• concerns you might have about vaccination

Infants should NOT get rotavirus vaccine if they have any of the following:

• a severe (life-threatening) allergic reaction to an earlier dose of rotavirus vaccine,
• a severe (life threatening) allergy to any component of rotavirus vaccine. Tell your doctor if your baby has any severe allergies that you know of, including a severe allergy to latex,
• severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), a condition in which a child’s immune system cannot fight infections, or
• a previous episode of a type of bowel blockage called intussusception.

Infants who are moderately or severely ill should wait to get the vaccine until they recover. This includes infants with moderate or severe diarrhea or vomiting. Babies who are mildly ill can get the vaccine.

Check with your doctor before vaccinating if your baby’s immune system is weakened because of:

• HIV/AIDS, or any other disease that affects the immune system
• Treatment with drugs such as steroids
• Cancer, or cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs

Can Rotavirus vaccine be given with other vaccines?

Rotavirus vaccine can be safely given during the same doctor’s visit with DTaP vaccine, Hib vaccine, polio vaccine, hepatitis B vaccine, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

Stomach flu symptoms

Someone with gastroenteritis may have:

• vomiting
• diarrhea
• nausea (feeling sick in the stomach)
• stomach pains
• low grade fever
• headaches
• no appetite

Vomiting often occurs at the start of the illness and may last 2-3 days. Diarrhea, which is often runny may last up to 10 days. Your child may also have a fever and abdominal (tummy) pains with the illness.

Gastroenteritis diagnosis

Your doctor will likely diagnose gastroenteritis based on symptoms, a physical exam and sometimes on the presence of similar cases in your community. A rapid stool test can detect rotavirus or norovirus, but there are no quick tests for other viruses that cause gastroenteritis. In some cases, your doctor may have you submit a stool sample to rule out a possible bacterial or parasitic infection.

How to treat stomach flu

There’s no specific medicine for stomach flu (gastroenteritis). Antibiotics aren’t effective against viruses, and overusing them can contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. The most important treatment for gastroenteritis is to drink fluids. Frequent sips are easier for young children than a large amount all at once. Keep drinking regularly even if you are vomiting.

If you have a baby or young child with gastroenteritis, it’s a good idea to have them checked by a doctor for dehydration. You can get rehydration fluids from a pharmacy. These are the best fluids to use in cases of gastroenteritis, especially for children.

If you can’t get any, or your child refuses to drink it, giving diluted fruit juice (one part juice to four parts of water) is reasonable. You could try a cube of ice or an iceblock if your child won’t drink. Avoid milk and other dairy products and do not give juice, sodas, sports drinks or other soft drinks as the sugar may make the diarrhea worse. It is fine to eat once you feel like it.

Babies can continue milk feeds throughout the illness, with rehydration fluid between feeds. Medication for nausea or diarrhea can be useful for adults, but may not be safe for kids. Antibiotics are rarely helpful.

If you are very sick with gastroenteritis, you may need to go to hospital where you may be put on a drip.

Home remedies

To help keep yourself more comfortable and prevent dehydration while you recover, try the following:

• Let your stomach settle. Stop eating solid foods for a few hours.
• Try sucking on ice chips or taking small sips of water. You might also try drinking clear soda, clear broths or noncaffeinated sports drinks. Drink plenty of liquid every day, taking small, frequent sips.
• Ease back into eating. Gradually begin to eat bland, easy-to-digest foods, such as soda crackers, toast, gelatin, bananas, rice and chicken. Stop eating if your nausea returns.
• Avoid certain foods and substances until you feel better. These include dairy products, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and fatty or highly seasoned foods.
• Get plenty of rest. The illness and dehydration may have made you weak and tired.
• Be cautious with medications. Use many medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), sparingly if at all. They can make your stomach more upset. Use acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) cautiously; it sometimes can cause liver toxicity, especially in children. Don’t give aspirin to children or teens because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a rare, but potentially fatal disease. Before choosing a pain reliever or fever reducer discuss with your child’s pediatrician.

For infants and children

When your child has an intestinal infection, the most important goal is to replace lost fluids and salts. These suggestions may help:

• Help your child rehydrate. Give your child an oral rehydration solution, available at pharmacies without a prescription. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about how to use it. Don’t give your child plain water — in children with gastroenteritis, water isn’t absorbed well and won’t adequately replace lost electrolytes. Avoid giving your child apple juice for rehydration — it can make diarrhea worse.
• Get your child back to a normal diet slowly. Gradually introduce bland, easy-to-digest foods, such as toast, rice, bananas and potatoes.
• Avoid certain foods. Don’t give your child dairy products or sugary foods, such as ice cream, sodas and candy. These can make diarrhea worse.
• Make sure your child gets plenty of rest. The illness and dehydration may have made your child weak and tired.
• Avoid giving your child over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications, unless advised by your doctor. They can make it harder for your child’s body to eliminate the virus.

If you have a sick infant, let your baby’s stomach rest for 15 to 20 minutes after vomiting or a bout of diarrhea, then offer small amounts of liquid. If you’re breast-feeding, let your baby nurse. If your baby is bottle-fed, offer a small amount of an oral rehydration solution or regular formula. Don’t dilute your baby’s already-prepared formula.