Stomach flu, also known as gastroenteritis is caused by any of the many different types of virus that affect the digestive system. While there are many different strains which affect different age groups in a variety of ways the main symptoms are generally the same and are luckily very easily treated.

A person suffering with stomach flu symptoms is likely to feel lethargic and run down because their immune system is working hard to fight the virus. If the immune system fails then other stomach flu symptoms may emerge, namely vomiting and diarrhea. There is no definition of stomach flu symptoms which says whether a person will start vomiting or start having diarrhea first, so the best thing to do if a family member has the virus is to stay at home or somewhere there are toilet facilities in easy reach. Unfortunately for sufferers, stomach flu is notorious for being unpleasant and sometimes with hours of vomiting and/or diarrhea. If it affects a whole family the effects can be quite horrible so if one or two members are suffering it's best to try and isolate them to one part of the house or one bathroom, so that not all members are ill at the same time.

One of the secondary stomach flu symptoms is dehydration which comes as a result of lost fluid through vomiting and diarrhea. Anyone with gastroenteritis should always keep very well hydrated, even if they feel they can't keep water down. Of course the symptoms of dehydration are harder to diagnose in infants who cannot talk, so you will need to take note of their physical signs. For instance, a dehydrated child will have sunken eyes, increased thirst and will be irritable. You can test their dehydration by pinching the skin on the back of their hand. If the skin fold is visible for 2 seconds or longer then the child is dehydrated and appropriate action should be taken. If the child loses interest in drinking water and/or becomes unusually sleepy then they may be severely dehydrated and should be taken to hospital. Please also note that the elderly are at risk of dehydration also if they are unable to fetch themselves water.

Stomach flu symptoms can also include stomach ache, cramps, excess wind, a headache and a fever. These can be treated with small doses of painkillers for older children and adults and should subside along with the main symptoms. The primary aim of someone with or caring for someone with stomach flu symptoms is to make them as comfortable as possible, keep them hydrated and sanitize all toilet areas once they have been used to stop the spread of the virus to others. If you are caring for someone with stomach flu symptoms and haven't experienced any yet yourself then it's a good idea to eat foods high in vitamin C (fruit and vegetables) and perhaps take zinc and echinacea tablets to give your immune system a boost to fight off the virus if you do happen to catch it.

Stan Tian

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