Gastroenteritis, also called stomach flu, is an intestinal infection, usually caused by a bacterial or viral stomach microbe, that causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines, as well as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, vomiting, as well as fever. The most common cause of gastroenteritis is contact with a previously infected person or eating or drinking contaminated food or water. If the person does not have any other disease, most of the time, this condition will heal on its own in a day or two. However, for infants, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, viral gastroenteritis can cause death.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF GASTROENTERITIS?

The most common symptoms of gastroenteritis are:

Diarrhea that is watery, usually not bloody (bloody diarrhea usually means there is a different, more severe infection.)
Abdominal cramps and pains
Nausea, vomiting, or both
Occasional muscle aches or headaches
low grade fever
Sometimes there may be loss of appetite, stomach discomfort, joint and headache.

WHAT CAUSES GASTROENTERIT?

There is a high risk of contracting viral gastroenteritis when eating or drinking contaminated food or water, or sharing utensils, towels, or food with an infected person. The most common causes are rotaviruses and noroviruses.

Noroviruses are among the most common causes of foodborne illness worldwide in both children and adults. It is most likely to spread between people, especially in confined spaces. In most cases, you get the virus from contaminated food or water, but person-to-person transmission is also possible.

Rotavirus: Children who become infected when they put their fingers or other virus-contaminated objects into their mouths are also the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis. Infection is more severe in infants and young children. Adults infected with rotavirus may not have symptoms, but they can still spread the disease. Fortunately, there is a vaccine for this infection.
Some shellfish, especially raw or undercooked oysters, can also make you sick. Although contaminated drinking water is a cause of viral diarrhea, in most cases the virus is transmitted by the fecal-oral route.

WHO HAS GASTROENTERITIS?

Gastroenteritis affects people of all ages and races. People who may be more susceptible to gastroenteritis include:

Children in daycare centers or elementary schools may be particularly vulnerable because it takes time for a child's immune system to mature.
Adult immune systems weaken later in life. Older adults in nursing homes are particularly vulnerable as their immune systems are weakened and they live in close contact with others.
Those who go to public places or live in dormitories.
If you have low resistance to infection, for example if your immune system has been suppressed by HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy or another medical condition.
Every gastrointestinal virus has a season when it is most active.

HOW IS GASTROENTERITIS DIAGNOSED?

In gastroenteritis, detailed histories should be taken from the patients, especially what they ate and drank should be asked. In suspected cases, values such as CRP and blood count, which indicate infection in the blood, should be checked and, if possible, stool examination should be performed. The patient should be diagnosed in this way, supportive treatment and, if necessary, medication should be given.

HOW IS GASTROENTERITIS TREATED?

There is no effective treatment for gastroenteritis, so the main treatment is to prevent the disease. In addition to avoiding contaminated food and water, frequent hand washing is a very good way to avoid this problem.

True flu (influenza virus) only affects the respiratory system (nose, throat and lungs). Although stomach flu is often called the stomach flu, it is not the same thing as the classic flu we know.

Stomach cold complaints usually occur within 1-2 days after the patient is infected with the microbe. Complaints usually last 1 or 2 days, but sometimes they can last up to 10 days. Because the symptoms are similar, it can be confused with diarrhea caused by bacteria such as Clostridium difficile, Salmonella and E. coli, or by parasites such as Giardia.

Fluids are critically important as the patient loses a lot of fluids through sweating, vomiting and diarrhea. If you have trouble keeping fluids in, it is helpful to take small sips at regular intervals or chew ice cubes. The best liquids to drink are;

Clean and known source bottled water.
Ready mixes bought from the pharmacy.
Real sports drinks that can help with electrolyte replacement.
Herbal teas, such as ginger and peppermint, that can help calm the stomach and relieve nausea (highly caffeinated teas should be avoided).

HOW LONG DOES GASTROENTERIT LAST? WHEN TO GO TO THE DOCTOR?

In gastroenteritis, symptoms usually appear within 1-3 days after the patient is infected. Complaints usually last for a day or two, but can sometimes last up to 10 days. Therefore, it is necessary to go to the doctor without wasting time.

If there is a problem of water-fluid retention in the body for 24 hours
If you have been vomiting for more than two days
If there is bloody vomiting
If you are dehydrated (excessive thirst, dry mouth, dark yellow urine or little or no urine, and severe weakness or dizziness)
If there is blood in the stool with diarrhea
If there is a fever above 38.8 C

If there is a gastroenteritis condition, the following should not be done;

Avoid caffeinated beverages such as coffee, strong black tea and chocolate, which can affect your sleep at a time when adequate rest is essential.
Alcohol, which acts as a diuretic, should never be used.

WHAT HAPPENS AS A RESULT OF GASTROENTERITIS?

Dehydration, which is the main complication of viral gastroenteritis; It is a serious loss of water, salt and minerals. Dehydration is not a problem if you are healthy and drink enough to replace the fluids you lose from vomiting and diarrhea. But babies, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems can become severely dehydrated when they lose too much fluid. Hospitalization may be required for intravenous administration of lost fluids. Fatal consequences can occur if dehydration is not taken care of.

OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT GASTROENTERIT

What should be done for gastroenteritis?

The first thing to do is to prevent the spread of intestinal infections.

Get your child vaccinated. In some countries, including our country, there is a vaccine against gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus. The vaccine given to children in the first year of life appears to be effective in preventing severe symptoms of this disease.
Wash your hands thoroughly and make sure your kids do too. If your children are older, teach them to wash their hands, especially after using the toilet. It is best to use warm water and soap and rub the hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds, remembering to wash around the cuticles, under the nails and in the folds of the hands. Then rinse thoroughly. Carry disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer for when soap and water are not available.
Use your own personal items outside of your home. Avoid sharing utensils, glasses and plates. Use separate towels in the bathroom.
Keep your distance. If possible, avoid close contact with people who have the virus.
Disinfect hard surfaces. If someone in your household has viral gastroenteritis, disinfect hard surfaces such as counters, faucets, and doorknobs with a mixture of bleach and water.

When traveling to other countries, you can get sick from contaminated food or water.

Only drink well-sealed bottled or carbonated water.
Avoid ice cubes as they may be made from contaminated water.
Use bottled water to brush your teeth.
Do not consume raw foods, peeled fruits, raw vegetables and salads that have been touched by human hands.
Avoid undercooked meat and fish.

What is good for gastroenteritis?

It can be difficult to keep food in the body due to nausea and vomiting. Just the thought of eating can cause nausea. When you finally start to feel comfortable, it's best to start slowly and with simple foods. Bananas, rice, mashed potatoes and toast and toast can be eaten. These four foods are easy to digest, contain carbohydrates to give you energy, and replenish nutrients:

Banana: Banana is easy to digest, it replaces the potassium you lost from vomiting and diarrhea and strengthens the stomach lining.

Rice: White rice is easy for your body to process and provides energy from carbohydrates. Brown rice contains a lot of fiber and can cause excess gas.

Applesauce: Applesauce provides an energy boost thanks to carbohydrates and sugars and contains pectin, which can cause diarrhea. It is also easy to digest.

In general, dairy products, fibrous foods, and fatty or spicy foods should not be consumed.
Dairy products: Difficult to digest and can worsen gas and diarrhea.
Fiber: You don't need extra fiber as the intestines are already loose.
Foods containing tallow: Avoid fatty and salty foods such as bacon and ham.
Spices: Stay away from tomato-based dishes, curries, and hot sauces.
Avoid blackberries, grapes, dates, pears and dried fruits
Nuts should be avoided

In general, it is good to apply hot water to the abdominal region for stomach cold. This application is done with hot water bags.

What drugs are used for gastroenteritis?

A stomach flu cannot be treated with medication, and antibiotics are useless when the culprit is a virus. You can use over-the-counter medications to treat symptoms. For fever or aches, ibuprofen may help as long as it doesn't cause your stomach to upset more. If you become dehydrated, it can be harmful to your kidneys. Take a small amount and with food. Medicines containing paracetamol are often recommended for stomach flu unless you have liver disease. It relieves fever and aches, has fewer side effects than ibuprofen, and is less likely to irritate the stomach.

He may use anti-nausea medications such as promethazine, prochlorperazine, metoclopramide, or ondansetron to stop nausea or diarrhea. You can also try over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications such as loperamide or bismuth subsalicylate. Probiotics such as Reflor can also be useful for rapid relief of diarrhea.

What should be done if pregnant women have gastroenteritis?

Those who are pregnant and have stomach flu can use drugs containing probiotics and paracetamol. In general, these patients are also not given antibiotics, but if the complaints last more than 3-4 days, it may be necessary to have a blood test and start antibiotics. Endoscopy and colonoscopy may be required in some cases of prolonged nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

What is the relationship between gastroenteritis and colitis The most common problem in gastroenteritis is diarrhea due to stomach upset. Colitis means intestinal infection and related diarrhea. There are similar findings in both diseases. The difference between the two diseases and the severity of the disease will be solved by the specialist.

Does gastroenteritis go viral?

Most cases of gastroenteritis are already viral. A few of them develop due to bacterial infections. Antibiotics may be required for these, but those due to viral causes usually heal spontaneously with supportive treatment.

Can children get gastroenteritis?

Gastroenteritis is more common in children. While adult patients can protect themselves from dehydration and kidney failure due to diarrhea by drinking water or at least forcing themselves, children are less vulnerable to this problem. Particular attention should be paid to kidney failure.