“It's resistant to many common disinfectants,” Hall said. CDC recommends using bleach to kill it, including chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide. That's why health departments often require restaurants to use bleach to clean countertops and kitchen surfaces. It's also able to survive being dried out.
In some cases, adults can take over-the-counter medicines such as loperamide link (Imodium) and bismuth subsalicylate link (Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate) to treat diarrhea caused by viral gastroenteritis.
However, antibiotics may treat bacterial forms of the stomach flu, such as Salmonella or Escherichia coli infections. If a person has a viral infection, a doctor may prescribe drugs to manage symptoms instead of antibiotics. These can include antinausea drugs such as ondansetron or metoclopramide.
Thanks to its antimicrobial properties, vinegar is most effective in bacterial gastroenteritis, where it helps fight the infection better.
Due to their acid content, lemons are a good home remedy for the stomach flu as they kill the bugs that cause the infection. They are also packed full of vitamin C, which has antimicrobial properties that can help to give the immune system a boost to fight off the virus.
Apple cider vinegar will also help relieve many of the symptoms of gastroenteritis. It will also promote the proper pH level of the stomach and then it also is good to remove the harmful toxins from the body.
The most important thing to do is to rest the stomach and intestine. You can do this by not eating solid food for a while and drinking only clear liquids. As your symptoms go away, you can start eating soft bland foods that are easy to digest.
Depending on the cause, viral gastroenteritis symptoms may appear within 1-3 days after you're infected and can range from mild to severe. Symptoms usually last just a day or two, but occasionally they may last up to 14 days.
Gastroenteritis typically lasts in the neighborhood of three to seven days, but sometimes it can be shorter and, unfortunately, sometimes it lasts longer.
The initial stages start with chills, fever, and nausea, which transition into vomiting, diarrhea, and aches and pains. It's awful, and there is no cure. Stomach flu has to run its course. The sickness usually passes in about 10 days without medication.
Your family will also need to keep an eye on the rest of your home; both Clorox and Lysol make products that can effectively kill traces of norovirus on surfaces when used according to manufacturer's directions, our Good Housekeeping Cleaning Lab experts say.
In many cases, throwing up is a protective reflex to rid your body of viruses, bacteria, or parasites in your digestive system.
Why does stomach flu hit at night? In some people, the stomach flu symptoms may be more pronounced at night due to their circadian rhythm. At night an increase in immune system activity releases infection-fighting chemicals. These can cause inflammation that make you feel worse as you battle your flu.
Yes, viral gastroenteritis is contagious. It is spread through close contact with infected persons (for example, by sharing food, water, or eating utensils) or by touching surfaces contaminated by an infected person and then touching one's mouth.
However, the key distinction is time: The symptoms of a stomach bug will take 12 to 48 hours to develop, while the symptoms of food poisoning typically develop much faster, usually with 6 hours of consuming an infected dish. Another common difference between the two is the length of illness.
Millions of friendly bacteria live in your intestines, and they're important for your digestion. But diarrhea can throw the microbes in your gut off balance. Probiotics may help get things back on track. You can find probiotics in certain foods, like yogurt, and they also come in the form of supplements.
Low-fat dairy products
In case you are suffering from stomach flu, we advise you to avoid fatty foods. Go for low-fat dairy products such as low-fat milk, yogurt, etc. which might be soothing.
Foods to eat include clear broths, crackers, toast, gelatin, bananas, rice and chicken. Avoid certain foods until you feel better. These foods include dairy products, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, processed foods, and fatty, spicy or highly seasoned foods. Be cautious with medications.
Also, while there's no medicine or treatment to prevent the stomach flu, you can boost your immune system by consuming vitamins like A, C, E and zinc to help you better fight off the infection. This can be done by eating whole foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.
Studies have confirmed that honey shortens the duration of diarrhea in patients with bacterial gastroenteritis through its antibacterial properties. In nonbacterial gastroenteritis, honey had the same effect as glucose on the duration of the diarrhea.
Due to their acid content, lemons are a good home remedy for the stomach flu as they kill the bugs that cause the infection. They are also packed full of vitamin C, which has antimicrobial properties that can help to give the immune system a boost to fight off the virus.