Diseases, especially contagious ones, increase not because of cold weather but because people spend more time indoors. This increases the contagiousness of infections and diseases, which are more common among children, especially during daycare and school. One of the diseases we have started to hear more about this year is norovirus.
This condition, known as stomach flu, occurs when noroviruses settle in the stomach and manifests itself with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, joint and muscle pain. Norovirus is a highly contagious infection that causes inflammation of the stomach, small and large intestines.
What is stomach flu?
Stomach flu is a disease that occurs when the stomach and intestines become inflamed, which is called gastroenteritis in the medical literature. This disease can be triggered by viruses, bacteria, or parasites, but the most common causes are viral infections. Norovirus and rotavirus are among the most common causes of viral gastroenteritis.
Symptoms of infection usually appear 24 to 48 hours after contact with the virus and usually last 1 to 3 days. However, symptoms may last longer and be more severe in people with weakened immune systems.
How is stomach flu transmitted?
Stomach flu is spread through contaminated water, contaminated food, or direct contact with infected individuals. This infection causes inflammation in the stomach and intestines, causing a range of symptoms that affect the digestive system.
What are the symptoms of stomach flu?
Stomach flu symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach ache
These symptoms usually appear a few hours to a few days after infection. They may also be accompanied by abdominal cramps, bloating, fatigue and fever.
How is stomach flu treated?
There is no specific treatment for stomach flu. If stomach flu is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not be effective.
What should people with stomach flu eat?
In the treatment of stomach flu, it is important to consume plenty of fluids; beverages such as water, broth, apple juice, cranberry juice and grape juice can be helpful in this regard. In addition, herbal teas such as chamomile, mint or ginger teas are preferred for their relaxing effect.