How is viral gastroenteritis treated? Specific treatment is usually not needed. In most cases, you simply need to drink plenty of fluids and rest at home until the virus leaves your system. In rare cases, you may need treatment for severe dehydration with IV (intravenous) fluids.
There's often no specific medical treatment for viral gastroenteritis. Antibiotics aren't effective against viruses. Treatment first involves self-care measures, such as staying hydrated.
If you're an adult, call your health care provider if: You're not able to keep liquids down for 24 hours. You've been vomiting or having diarrhea for more than two days. You're vomiting blood.
Treatment for gastroenteritis
Oral rehydration drinks, available from your pharmacist. Admission to hospital and intravenous fluid replacement, in severe cases. Antibiotics, if bacteria are the cause. Drugs to kill the parasites, if parasites are the cause.
Viral gastroenteritis is common in children and adults. In most cases, the disease is not serious and will run its course in a few days.
How is gastroenteritis diagnosed? Your healthcare provider will perform an exam and ask about your medical history. Your healthcare provider will likely ask for a stool sample to determine the source of your illness and whether it's bacterial or viral.
In most cases, viral gastroenteritis is not harmful. However, viral gastroenteritis can become dangerous if it leads to dehydration. Anyone with signs or symptoms of dehydration should see a doctor right away. A person with severe dehydration may need treatment at a hospital.
The main symptoms of viral gastroenteritis are watery diarrhea and vomiting. The affected person may also have headache, fever, and abdominal cramps (“stomach ache”).
Viral gastroenteritis can be highly infectious so it can spread very easily. It spreads when a person comes in contact with the vomit or faeces (poo) of an infected person, including: person-to-person contact, for example shaking hands with someone who has been sick and has the virus on their hands.
Most individuals with gastroenteritis will experience both diarrhea and vomiting, but some experience only one of these symptoms.
Seek medical attention if:
Vomiting persists more than two days. Diarrhea persists more than several days.
Adults should call a doctor if they have not been able to keep liquids down for 24 hours, have a fever of 104 or higher, are vomiting blood or have bloody stool, or show signs of excessive dehydration.
Norovirus is the most common viral cause. It is responsible for 90% of epidemic diarrheal cases worldwide and approximately 50% of all viral gastroenteritis cases.
Take things slowly – if your digestion is still quite sensitive after the main symptoms have subsided, reintroduce foods slowly and stick to bland foods for a while until you feel better. Try little and often rather than large meals, unless you feel better by not eating too regularly.
Most of the time, diarrhea is simply your gut's way of getting rid of a harmful invader, like a bacteria or virus.
Symptoms of gastroenteritis usually last 24 to 72 hours. However, they can last up to 10 days if the stomach flu began while you were travelling abroad or upon your return. Persons with gastroenteritis are usually contagious when showing symptoms, and most particularly so when symptoms are severe.
Nausea. Diarrhea (watery or bloody in dysentery) Vomiting. Abdominal pain.
A person can be infected with norovirus more than once. Although there is a short period of time (likely a few months) immediately following infection with Norovirus that a person is protected from reinfection, it is only a temporary protection.
People with weak immune systems may have a harder time fighting the virus than normal. Their symptoms may last longer than normal, and they also have a high risk for complications. Talk to a healthcare provider if you have any of those conditions and develop viral gastroenteritis.
Although you typically feel better after a day or two, you're contagious for a few days after you recover. The virus can remain in your stool for up to two weeks or more after recovery. Children should stay home from school or child care for at least 48 hours after the last time they vomit or have diarrhea.
What are the symptoms of bacterial gastroenteritis? Symptoms can range from mild pain to life-threatening. Each person may experience symptoms differently.