Gastroenteritis Symptoms, Causes & Easy Home Treatments

What is Gastroenteritis?

Gastroenteritis is a common illness that causes your stomach and intestines to become inflamed. It’s often called the “stomach flu,” but it’s not the same as the flu virus. Gastroenteritis can make you feel sick, with symptoms like:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach cramps
• Fever

The most common causes are viruses, like norovirus and rotavirus, but bacteria and parasites can also be responsible. You might get it from eating food or drinking water that has germs, or by being around someone who’s sick.

Symptoms of Gastroenteritis

Here’s what you might feel if you have gastroenteritis:

1. Nausea (feeling like you want to vomit)
2. Vomiting (throwing up)
3. Diarrhea (frequent watery stools)
4. Stomach pain (cramps or aches)
5. Fever (feeling hot and sweaty)

These symptoms usually start a few hours to a couple of days after being infected. If you feel any of these symptoms, it’s important to drink lots of water because you lose fluids when you vomit or have diarrhea.

How Do You Get Gastroenteritis?

There are a few ways you can catch gastroenteritis:

• Touching dirty surfaces and then eating or touching your face.
• Eating food that wasn’t cooked or stored properly.
• Drinking contaminated water.
• Being close to someone who is sick with gastroenteritis.

Germs that cause gastroenteritis spread easily, so washing your hands is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick.

How to Treat Gastroenteritis

When you have gastroenteritis, it’s very important to focus on two things:

1. Stay hydrated. Drink water, clear soups, or oral rehydration solutions to replace fluids.
2. Eat simple foods like:
   • Bananas
   • Rice
   • Toast
   • Applesauce

These foods are gentle on your stomach. Avoid dairy, fatty, or spicy foods until you feel better.

You can also use over-the-counter medicine, but it’s best to ask a doctor before taking anything, especially for kids.

When to See a Doctor

Most cases of gastroenteritis will go away on their own, but sometimes you need to see a doctor. Call a doctor if:

• You can’t keep any fluids down.
• You have blood in your vomit or stool.
• Your fever is higher than 101°F (38.3°C).
• The symptoms last more than a couple of days.

Kids and elderly people are at higher risk of dehydration, so it’s important to get help if they’re not getting better quickly.

How to Prevent Gastroenteritis

Here are some easy ways to prevent getting gastroenteritis:

• Wash your hands with soap and water, especially before eating or after using the bathroom.
• Cook food well and store it safely.
• Drink clean water.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

For kids, there’s a vaccine for rotavirus, which is one of the main viruses that cause gastroenteritis.

Conclusion

Gastroenteritis can be unpleasant, but it usually goes away in a few days with rest and plenty of fluids. The best way to avoid it is through good hygiene and food safety. If symptoms become severe, it’s important to see a doctor right away to prevent dehydration and other complications.

By keeping these simple tips in mind, you can stay healthy and recover faster if you ever catch this common illness.