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General Health Articles
Stomach Flu Symptoms
Stomach flu or gastroenteritis
is an infection of stomach and small intestine
caused by different viruses, bacteria, and
sometimes it is caused by ingestion of infected
food and water by parasites, and by toxic
substances present in some plants or seafoods.
Usually, the ailment lasts for 1-3 days but
in severe cases the problem may persist for
6-7 days.
General symptoms of stomach
flu are stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea,
fever, vomiting, and dehydration. There is
no vaccine or cure for gastroenteritis but
it will be cured by itself in 1-2 days, provided
care must be taken not to get dehydrated complete.
Dehydration can cause serious problems, and
it may lead even to death. Therefore, oral
rehydration of your body with plain water,
electrolytes, during the infection period
is very important.
The different microorganisms
which are responsible for the outbreak of
disease include bacteria like Salmonella enteritidis
and Escherichia coli and parasites like Giardia
and virus involved is Rotavirus.
Outbreak is more common in
dry season and is very contagious because
the causal organisms are present in plenty
amounts in the stool and vomit of infected
person. Easy way of its transmission is by
touching contaminated surfaces or objects
and having close contact with the infected
person. And there is possibility of airborne
and waterborne infection as well.
There is an estimated report
of 30 percent to 50 percent of severe diarrhea
cases by Rotavirus, and according to the report
of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), in the United States alone, about 55,000
children are hospitalized every year due to
rotavirus, and 600,000 children worldwide
die annually due to diarrhea, particularly
in developing countries with poor nutrition.
“Prevention is better
than cure”. To prevent the infection
following measures can be adopted:
- Wash hand and mouth properly after
coming home from outside and do the same
after visiting toilet and before preparing
and eating food.
- Vegetables, fruits, meats and seafoods
must be washed properly before cooking
or eating.
- Stool and vomits of infected person
must be flushed properly and disinfectant
should be put in toilets and floors.
- In hospitals, care must be taken taken
by staffs by washing the linen of infected
person in hot water.
- If a person is infected, he/she must
not involve equally in household chores,
so that there is less chance of contamination
to other family members.
- Keeping the child indoor without sending
to daycare centers if he/she is infected.
If the above-mentioned measures
are taken up seriously, we can check the outbreak
of stomach flu and lead the life with an ease.
Wash your hand and mouth properly every time
you come home from outside, and do the same
after visiting.
