Viral Gastroenteritis

What is Viral Gastroenteritis?

Viral gastroenteritis is also known as the stomach flu. This condition is caused by certain germs (viruses). These germs can be passed from person to person very easily (are very contagious). This condition can cause sudden watery poop (diarrhea), fever, and throwing up (vomiting).

Having watery poop and throwing up can make you feel weak and cause you to get dehydrated. Dehydration can make you tired and thirsty, make you have a dry mouth, and make it so you pee (urinate) less often. Older adults and people with other diseases or a weak defense system (immune system) are at higher risk for dehydration. It is important to replace the fluids that you lose from having watery poop and throwing up.

Follow these instructions at home:

Follow instructions from your doctor about how to care for yourself at home.

Eating and drinking

Follow these instructions as told by your doctor:

• Take an oral rehydration solution (ORS). This is a drink that is sold at pharmacies and stores.
• Drink clear fluids in small amounts as you are able, such as:
  • Water.
  • Ice chips.
  • Diluted fruit juice.
  • Low-calorie sports drinks.
• Eat bland, easy-to-digest foods in small amounts as you are able, such as:
  • Bananas.
  • Applesauce.
  • Rice.
  • Low-fat (lean) meats.
  • Toast.
  • Crackers.
• Avoid fluids that have a lot of sugar or caffeine in them.
• Avoid alcohol.
• Avoid spicy or fatty foods.

General instructions

• Drink enough fluid to keep your pee (urine) clear or pale yellow.
• Wash your hands often. If you cannot use soap and water, use hand sanitizer.
• Make sure that all people in your home wash their hands well and often.
• Rest at home while you get better.
• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your doctor.
• Watch your condition for any changes.
• Take a warm bath to help with any burning or pain from having watery poop.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your doctor. This is important.

Contact a doctor if:

• You cannot keep fluids down.
• Your symptoms get worse.
• You have new symptoms.
• You feel light-headed or dizzy.
• You have muscle cramps.

Get help right away if:

• You have chest pain.
• You feel very weak or you pass out (faint).
• You see blood in your throw-up.
• Your throw-up looks like coffee grounds.
• You have bloody or black poop (stools) or poop that look like tar.
• You have a very bad headache, a stiff neck, or both.
• You have a rash.
• You have very bad pain, cramping, or bloating in your belly (abdomen).
• You have trouble breathing.
• You are breathing very quickly.
• Your heart is beating very quickly.
• Your skin feels cold and clammy.
• You feel confused.
• You have pain when you pee.
• You have signs of dehydration, such as:
  • Dark pee, hardly any pee, or no pee.
  • Cracked lips.
  • Dry mouth.
  • Sunken eyes.
  • Sleepiness.
  • Weakness.

Viral Gastroenteritis in Children

Diarrhea and vomiting can make your child feel weak and cause him or her to become dehydrated. Your child may not be able to keep fluids down. Dehydration can make your child tired and thirsty. Your child may also urinate less often and have a dry mouth. Dehydration can happen very quickly and can be dangerous.

It is important to replace the fluids that your child loses from diarrhea and vomiting. If your child becomes severely dehydrated, he or she may need to get fluids through an IV tube.

What are the causes?

Gastroenteritis is caused by various viruses, including rotavirus and norovirus. Your child can get sick by eating food, drinking water, or touching a surface contaminated with one of these viruses. Your child may also get sick from sharing utensils or other personal items with an infected person.

What increases the risk?

This condition is more likely to develop in children who:

• Are not vaccinated against rotavirus.
• Live with one or more children who are younger than 2 years old.
• Go to a daycare facility.
• Have a weak defense system (immune system).

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of this condition start suddenly 1–2 days after exposure to a virus. Symptoms may last a few days or as long as a week. The most common symptoms are watery diarrhea and vomiting. Other symptoms include:

• Fever.
• Headache.
• Fatigue.
• Pain in the abdomen.
• Chills.
• Weakness.
• Nausea.
• Muscle aches.
• Loss of appetite.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed with a medical history and physical exam. Your child may also have a stool test to check for viruses.

How is this treated?

This condition typically goes away on its own. The focus of treatment is to prevent dehydration and restore lost fluids (rehydration). Your child’s health care provider may recommend that your child takes an oral rehydration solution (ORS) to replace important salts and minerals (electrolytes). Severe cases of this condition may require fluids given through an IV tube.

Treatment may also include medicine to help with your child’s symptoms.

Follow these instructions at home:

Follow instructions from your child’s health care provider about how to care for your child at home.

Eating and drinking

Follow these recommendations as told by your child’s health care provider:

• Give your child an ORS, if directed. This is a drink that is sold at pharmacies and retail stores.
• Encourage your child to drink clear fluids, such as water, low-calorie popsicles, and diluted fruit juice.
• Continue to breastfeed or bottle-feed your young child. Do this in small amounts and frequently. Do not give extra water to your infant.
• Encourage your child to eat soft foods in small amounts every 3–4 hours, if your child is eating solid food. Continue your child’s regular diet, but avoid spicy or fatty foods, such as french fries and pizza.
• Avoid giving your child fluids that contain a lot of sugar or caffeine, such as juice and soda.

General instructions

• Have your child rest at home until his or her symptoms have gone away.
• Make sure that you and your child wash your hands often. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
• Make sure that all people in your household wash their hands well and often.
• Give over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s health care provider.
• Watch your child’s condition for any changes.
• Give your child a warm bath to relieve any burning or pain from frequent diarrhea episodes.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your child’s health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your child has a fever.
• Your child will not drink fluids.
• Your child cannot keep fluids down.
• Your child’s symptoms are getting worse.
• Your child has new symptoms.
• Your child feels light-headed or dizzy.

Get help right away if:

• You notice signs of dehydration in your child, such as:
  • No urine in 8–12 hours.
  • Cracked lips.
  • Not making tears while crying.
  • Dry mouth.
  • Sunken eyes.
  • Sleepiness.
  • Weakness.
  • Dry skin that does not flatten after being gently pinched.
• You see blood in your child’s vomit.
• Your child’s vomit looks like coffee grounds.
• Your child has bloody or black stools or stools that look like tar.
• Your child has a severe headache, a stiff neck, or both.
• Your child has trouble breathing or is breathing very quickly.
• Your child’s heart is beating very quickly.
• Your child’s skin feels cold and clammy.
• Your child seems confused.
• Your child has pain when he or she urinates.

Viral Gastroenteritis, Infant

Diarrhea and vomiting can make your infant feel weak and cause him or her to become dehydrated. Your infant may not be able to keep fluids down. Dehydration can make your infant tired and thirsty. Your child may also urinate less often and have a dry mouth. Dehydration can develop very quickly in an infant and it can be very dangerous.

It is important to replace the fluids that your infant loses from diarrhea and vomiting. If your infant becomes severely dehydrated, he or she may need to get fluids through an IV tube.

What are the causes?

Gastroenteritis is caused by various viruses, including rotavirus and norovirus. Your infant can get sick by eating food, drinking water, or touching a surface contaminated with one of these viruses. Your infant can also get sick by sharing utensils or other items with an infected person.

What increases the risk?

This condition is more likely to develop in infants who:

• Are not vaccinated against rotavirus. If your infant is 2 months old or older, he or she can be vaccinated.
• Are not breastfed.
• Live with one or more children who are younger than 2 years old.
• Go to a daycare facility.
• Have a weak defense system (immune system).

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of this condition start suddenly 1–2 days after exposure to a virus. Symptoms may last a few days or as long as a week. The most common symptoms are watery diarrhea and vomiting. Other symptoms include:

• Fever.
• Fatigue.
• Pain in the abdomen.
• Chills.
• Weakness.
• Nausea.
• Loss of appetite.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed with a medical history and physical exam. Your infant may also have a stool test to check for viruses.

How is this treated?

This condition typically goes away on its own. The focus of treatment is to prevent dehydration and restore lost fluids (rehydration). Your infant’s health care provider may recommend that your infant takes an oral rehydration solution (ORS) to replace important salts and minerals (electrolytes). Severe cases of this condition may require fluids given through an IV tube.

Treatment may also include medicine to help with your infant’s symptoms.

Follow these instructions at home:

Follow instructions from your infant’s health care provider about how to care for your infant at home.

Eating and drinking

Follow these recommendations as told by your child’s health care provider:

• Give your child an ORS, if directed. This is a drink that is sold at pharmacies and retail stores. Do not give extra water to your infant.
• Continue to breastfeed or bottle-feed your infant. Do this in small amounts and frequently. Do not add water to the formula or breast milk.
• Encourage your infant to eat soft foods (if he or she eats solid food) in small amounts every few hours when he or she is already awake. Continue your child’s regular diet, but avoid spicy or fatty foods. Do not give new foods to your infant.
• Avoid giving your infant fluids that contain a lot of sugar, such as juice.

General instructions

• Wash your hands often. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
• Make sure that all people in your household wash their hands well and often.
• Give over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your infant’s health care provider.
• Watch your infant’s condition for any changes.
• To prevent diaper rash:
  • Change diapers frequently.
  • Clean the diaper area with warm water on a soft cloth.
  • Dry the diaper area and apply a diaper ointment.
  • Make sure that your infant’s skin is dry before you put on a clean diaper.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your infant’s health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your infant who is younger than three months has diarrhea or is vomiting.
• Your infant’s diarrhea or vomiting gets worse or does not get better in 3 days.
• Your infant will not drink fluids or cannot keep fluids down.
• Your infant has a fever.

Get help right away if:

• You notice signs of dehydration in your infant, such as:
  • No wet diapers in six hours.
  • Cracked lips.
  • Not making tears while crying.
  • Dry mouth.
  • Sunken eyes.
  • Sleepiness.
  • Weakness.
  • Sunken soft spot (fontanel) on his or her head.
  • Dry skin that does not flatten after being gently pinched.
  • Increased fussiness.
• Your infant has bloody or black stools or stools that look like tar.
• Your infant seems to be in pain and has a tender or swollen belly.
• Your infant has severe diarrhea or vomiting during a period of more than 24 hours.
• Your infant has difficulty breathing or is breathing very quickly.
• Your infant’s heart is beating very fast.
• Your infant feels cold and clammy.
• You cannot wake up your infant.