Gastroenteritis Causes and Symptoms

Tuesday, November 8, 2011, 10:30

Gastroenteritis is an inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract which involves the stomach, intestines or both. It usually results in diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting. This infection is also known as stomach flu or gastric flu.

Symptoms: The infection is for a short term and can last for 2- 5 days. Non-bloody diarrhea, nausea, vomiting for less than 48 hours and abdominal pain are common symptoms of gastroenteritis. Fever, mild chills, headaches, tiredness and muscle pain are also symptoms of gastroenteritis.

Causes: Apart from viral infections, bacteria, parasites and food-borne illness or allergies also causes gastroenteritis. The severity of this infection depends on the immune system's ability to resist and fight over the infection. The affected loses sodium and potassium from the body due to diarrhea and vomiting as a result of which weakness and low glucose level reduces stamina.
Parasites like giardia (common source of diarrhea from contaminated water), cryptospordium (found in food and water, source of diarrhea) and entamoeba (found in contaminated water) are considered as one of the reasons behind this infection.

Other causes of gastroenteritis can be from food allergy due to eggs, nuts, milk or shellfish. Even medications have side effects and the most common is diarrhea.

Cure: Generally people do not require formal treatment to cure gastroenteritis. Home remedies for stomach flu consist of drinking fluids and taking light food which is easily digestible and does not give pressure on the digestive system. However, dehydration is a major problem for the affected individual so drinking lots of water is a must. Fruit juices or milk should be avoided at this time. Avoid spicy and oily food as they are heavy on the digestion process. Once the infection reduces, doctors recommend a BRAT diet consisting of bananas, rice, apples and toast for 1-2 days before the affected starts getting back to normal diet.

Home remedies: Electrolyte solutions available in the chemist shop is an oral re hydration solution to fluid loss and electrolytes.
Having curd is also a home remedy to cure stomach flu as it will soothe the stomach. Carrot juice or ginger ale are considered useful home remedy to cure stomach flu. Rest is very important as the illness makes the affected very weak at this time due to loss of energy levels in the body.

The illness lasts for 2-5 days depending on the care taken at this time. Consult a doctor if the infection is severe.