Along with the regular flu, the stomach flu usually makes its rounds this time of year. However, as influenza describes a specific type of illness, the term “stomach flu” is often a blanket term for any problem with the GI tract.
The proper medical term given to this is gastroenteritis which means non-specific inflammatory problems of the gut. You should know that the stomach flu and the regular flu are NOT the same illness. Influenza is a disease of the lungs and respiratory system. Stomach problems are usually short-lived with a range of signs. Although symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, fever, and vomiting can be difficult to bear, they often hit like a tornado: extremely intense, but usually only lasting for a short period of time.
Stomach bugs can be both viral or bacterial in nature. The underlying nature of the sickness often determines how contagious it can become. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to tell whether the stomach bug is viral or bacterial in nature, thus, it is safe to assume that any stomach ailment is highly contagious.
The most common viral infections are the Norovirus and Rotavirus. Most of the time these are spread through person-to-person contact via the (yuck!) fecal-to-oral route. Usually, this is because someone failed to wash their hands and the germs were allowed to spread. Living with infants or children only makes the problem worse.
There are no specific tests for gastroenteritis, thus gastroenteritis is most often diagnosed by the symptoms it produces, mainly diarrhea. Because gastroenteritis is usually a self-limited disease, most people are never seen or diagnosed by a doctor. However, during outbreaks like those seen on cruise ships, viral and bacterial cultures and other immunologically-based tests can eventually identify the causative pathogen. By the time this identification occurs, most of the individuals with gastroenteritis have begun to recover.
If you believe that you have the gastroenteritis, many health experts recommend the “BRAT” diet. This consists of foods that are not usually irritating, but rather soothing for the GI tract. BRAT stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. This is also helpful for transitioning into a normal diet after the stomach flu has passed.
You might also consider drinking clear liquids to avoid dehydration. Clear liquids you can drink are water, weak tea, bouillon, apple juice, and sport drinks. You may also try soft drinks without caffeine (such as 7-UP) after letting them go flat (lose their carbonation). It may be easier to keep down liquids that are cold. Suck on ice chips or Popsicles if you feel too nauseated to drink fluids.
During this time, it is important not to take aspirin, ibuprofen, or other NSAIDs without first checking with your doctor. These drugs may make an upset stomach worse. Also, avoid drinking milk as it too produces a sour stomach. Be sure to go to your doctor if you have a fever higher than 102, a severe headache or neckache, have severe abdominal pain, or the vomiting or diarrhea lasts longer than a day or so.
Also, keep a check on your urine output. The kidneys are critical to maintaining our internal pH as well as filtering out wasteful byproducts. If your episodes last longer than a week or two, you might be dealing with a chronic problem that will require evaluation by your physician.
Stay safe out there.
M. Eric Williams, MS, NR-P is a Mississippi native and Instructor of Emergency Medicine. He is a Doctoral Candidate and has 15 years’ experience in healthcare. If you have questions or comments, you may contact him at eric.williams@jcjc.edu.
