Top 10 Symptoms of Viral Gastroenteritis

Norovirus:  This type of virus is highly contagious and can affect anyone at any age. It is spread by contaminated food, water and surfaces, or by infected people. This type of virus is common in crowded spaces such as nursing homes, day care centers and schools. Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea , fever, and body aches. Most norovirus outbreaks in Brazil occur between November and April.

Causes of Viral Gastroenteritis: Viral  Gastroenteritis is caused by several different viruses. People at higher risk of  Viral Gastroenteritis  are:

• Children under five years old
• Older adults, especially if they live in nursing homes
• Children and adults with weakened immune systems

It is easy for this virus to spread among people in group situations such as in schools, dormitories, hospitals and cruise ships. Some of the ways the virus is transmitted include:

• Inadequate hand washing, especially by food handlers
• Sewage contaminated water
• Consuming raw or undercooked crustaceans from contaminated water

Symptoms of Viral Gastroenteritis:  Symptoms of Viral Gastroenteritis  usually start a day or two after infection and include:

•  watery diarrhea
• nausea and vomiting
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• joint pain
• fever, chills
• Sweat, damp skin
• Abdominal cramps and pain
• loss of appetite
• Weight loss

Symptoms can last from one to 10 days.

Complications of Viral Gastroenteritis:  The main complication of Viral Gastroenteritis  is dehydration, which can be quite serious in babies and young children. Dehydration can be fatal. Call your doctor if you or your child has these symptoms:

• Diarrhea  that lasts more than a few days
• blood in the stool
• confusion, lethargy
• Feeling weak or dizzy
• Nausea
• Dry mouth
• Unable to produce tears
• No urine for more than eight hours or urine that is dark yellow or brown
• Deep eyes
• Sunken fontanelle (the weak spot in a baby’s head)

Viral Gastroenteritis Treatments:  The main focus of  Viral Gastroenteritis treatment  is to prevent dehydration by drinking lots of fluids. In severe cases, hospitalization and intravenous fluids are necessary. The CDC recommends that over-the-counter oral rehydration solutions (OHS), such as Pedialyte, be kept in the homes of families with young children (CDC). OHS are specially made to be easy on the child’s stomach, and they contain a balanced mix of water and salts to replenish essential fluids and electrolytes.

These solutions are available from local pharmacies and do not require a prescription. However, the instructions must be followed carefully. Antibiotics have no effect on viruses. Check with your doctor before taking any over the counter medication. If you have Viral Gastroenteritis , there are some self-care steps you can take:

• Drink extra fluids with and between meals. If you have difficulty drinking, try very small amounts of water or suck on ice chips.
• Avoid fruit juices as these do not replace minerals and can actually increase diarrhea .
• Children and adults can use sports drinks to replenish electrolytes. Younger children and babies should use products formulated for children, such as oral rehydration solutions.
• Eat food in small amounts and let your stomach recover.
• Have a lot of rest. You may feel tired or weak.
• Check with your doctor before taking medications or giving them to children. Never give aspirin to children or teenagers with a viral illness. This can cause Reye’s syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition.

Prevention of Viral Gastroenteritis: Viral  gastroenteritis is easily spread. There are a few things you can do to reduce your chances of contracting the virus or spreading it to others.

• Wash your hands thoroughly, especially after using the bathroom and before preparing food. If necessary, use hand sanitizer until you can access soap and water.
• If someone in your household is sick, don’t share kitchen utensils, dishes, or towels.
• Do not eat raw or undercooked foods.
• Carefully wash fruits and vegetables.
• Take special precautions to avoid contaminated food and water when traveling. Avoid ice cubes and use bottled water whenever possible.
• There are two vaccines for rotavirus. These are usually started when a baby is two months old. Ask your doctor if you should have your baby vaccinated.