Viral gastroenteritis is a type of intestinal infection. This can be caused by different viruses, known as ‘Norovirus’, ‘Adenovirus’, ‘Rotavirus’ and ‘Astrovirus’. Norovirus is known to cause intense gastroenteritis problems and other diseases that arise from unclean food and Rotavirus is known to be the leading cause of diarrhea problems in infants and toddlers.
The symptoms of all the diseases caused by these viruses are more or less the same, but the gestation period differs from the virus attack.
Who is prone to viral gastroenteritis?
- Infants, toddlers, and kids under 5 years
- Adults with a weak immune system
- Older adults
Victims falling under the above categories should seek medical care as soon as possible to prevent worsening the condition.
Causes:
Since the virus can live in any unhygienic place, it can easily attack when you come into contact with any unclean surface. However, there are a few leading causes of this virus which are listed below.
- Can be caused by contact with an infected person’s stool or vomit.
- Due to food and water contamination
- Improper cleaning of utensils
- Getting into close contact with someone already suffering from it, such as eating or drinking from the same vessels.
Symptoms:
When the virus first attacks the intestine, the symptoms usually take a couple of hours to surface. In most cases, the first symptom that shows up is nausea. The following are the most common symptoms.
- Nausea or vomiting or both
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Acute headache
- Mild fever
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Body aches
- Dizziness
Diet:
Since your stomach is now infected, and your digestive system cannot function effectively, go for a plain and a bland diet until you recover completely. This includes curds, rice, banana, etc. Spicy and oily foods should be avoided as this trigger the pain in the stomach and may increase the bowel movements. Viral gastroenteritis dehydrates you. In order to rehydrate yourself and to ease your symptoms, have plenty of fluids.
What are the preventive measures?
Though medication can help alleviate the symptoms to a great extent, certain preventive measures can enhance your recovery process. Listed below are a few preventive measures. These will also aid in preventing the spreading of the disease.
- Wash your hands before consuming anything
- Make sure you don’t share food items with others
- Keep taking electrolytes to prevent dehydration
- Minimize contact with others.
When should you see a doctor?
This disease is not a deadly condition, but at the same time, it is not something which you can overlook, because of its pestering symptoms. In most cases, the symptoms clear up in two or three days and people recover by themselves without the necessity of medical help or sometimes they recover with the help of OTC medicines. But, if the symptoms are intense, or if the symptoms do not subside in a couple of days, you should consider seeing a doctor.
When you consult a General Physician to treat you, the doctor will analyse your symptoms. Based on them, he will prescribe you antibiotics, probiotics, and other required medicines. He will also advice you to use them without any gaps to eliminate the virus completely from the stomach. For continual usage of these medicines, you can order online medicines and get medicine delivery at doorstep.
Viral Gastroenteritis in children:
Viral gastroenteritis in children can be caused by various viruses but the leading cause can be Rotavirus.
Symptoms include:
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Stomach pain
- Watery stools
When should you take your child to a pediatrician?
For infants
In infants, since it is difficult to analyse the symptoms at home and difficult to treat them without any medical help, they should be taken to a paediatrician at the earliest. Prescribed medicines should be taken regularly. Wet diapers indicate that the child’s condition is improving. So, keep an eye on his diapers. Remember to breastfeed often to prevent dehydration.
Among children
Young children should be given plenty of fluids and oral rehydration solutions to prevent dehydration. Let the child take enough rest. If the symptoms persist, they should be taken to a doctor and get treated. To help them recover soon, do not skip the medicines prescribed by the doctor. For continual usage, order medicines online and get medicine delivery at home. Make sure the child and the surroundings are clean.
