Sunday 12 May 2013

Is Stomach Flu Contagious?

Not only is stomach flu contagious but can also be the second most common illness in the usa. Although most people recover with no complications, stomach flu could be serious when people do not drink enough fluids to exchange the water content in the body that's lost through vomiting and diarrhea. This is often especially serious in infants, seniors, and people with a weak defense mechanisms.

What Causes Stomach Flu?

The most typical type of viruses causing this stomach disorder are:
Rotavirus: Rotavirus may be the leading cause of gastroenteritis among children which are 3 to 15 months old. They're also responsible for causing diarrhea in youngsters under the age of 5 years. This virus causes the individual being infected by it to need to deal with symptoms like vomiting and watery diarrhea for 3 to eight days. This may sometimes be combined with fever and abdominal pain. Adults in close connection with infected children can also be affected. However, the signs and symptoms are usually milder in adults.

Adenovirus: Affecting children younger than 2 years, this strain from the existing 49 types of adenoviruses causes vomiting and diarrhea.

Norovirus: The noroviruse fit in with the family of caliciviruses which are usually accountable for epidemics of viral gastroenteritis. These virus attacks tend to be more frequent from October to April using the infected people experience vomiting and diarrhea, fatigue, headache, and often muscle ache. These symptoms will also be similar to a condition known as gastritis or burning stomach, that is primarily a food borne condition.

Astrovirus: Infants, young kids, and the elderly are more prone to this virus being most active throughout the winter season which displays symptoms for example vomiting and diarrhea, One to three days from exposure.

Transmission of Stomach Flu
With respect to the type of virus, stomach flu can be quite contagious and spread quickly for every person.

Once a person is exposed to herpes, the symptoms usually appear within 4 to Two days and last for 1 to 2 days. In a few severe cases the duration may include as long as 10 days. Some people may remain contagious till as much as 2 weeks of being infected by norovirus gastroenteritis. Similarly, the contagious period for rotavirus also is a common cause of stomach flu can be 2 days before you start displaying symptoms and as much as 10 days after you recover.

The viruses are generally transmitted by people with unwashed hands or by arriving close contact with infected individuals. Sharing food, drink, eating within the same utensils, or when you eat food or drinking beverages which are contaminated with the virus can result in a stomach infection.

Noroviruses typically spread with other people by contact with stool or vomit of infected people and thru contaminated water or food poisoning. The typical outbreaks are in households, day care settings, schools, nursing homes, restaurants, along with other places where people gather in groups.

Treating Viral Gastroenteritis
Because of the stomach flu being the result of a virus, antibiotics will not work on all. However, due to the dehydration brought on by the vomiting and diarrhea, the very best treatment is to intake plenty of fluid. To provide the body using the appropriate nutrition and to ensure that it stays well hydrated, you can also check out a bland diet of rice, dry toast, applesauce and bananas. Should there be signs of severe dehydration then hospitalization are usually necesary, especially in infants, children, individuals with a lowered immunity and also the elderly. Oral rehydration fluids and solutions are generally advised to replenish the body fluids and electrolytes. The best way to avoid the infection is by maintaining hygiene. Washing both hands before and after eating, before food preparation, and after using the restroom and changing soiled clothing and diapers can help to eliminate the transmission of the virus, and stop the spread of the illness.

No comments:

Post a Comment