How to treat intestinal flu: useful tips. Stomach flu: symptoms and treatment

20-30 years ago, intestinal flu was not identified as a separate disease at all. It was a simple intestinal infection, one of many. However, in the 70s of the twentieth century, rotavirus, the causative agent of intestinal flu, was discovered, after which the disease received its name.

What is it? Intestinal flu is a simplified name for gastroenteritis or rotavirus infection, the causative agent of which is rotavirus. Its reproduction leads to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. In this article we will talk about when a diagnosis of “intestinal flu” is made, the symptoms and treatment of this unpleasant disease, and we will also talk about how the disease is dangerous for adults and children.

Why do children get sick more often than adults?

The fact that intestinal flu occurs much more often in children than in adults is a consequence of the peculiarity child's body, consisting in a low level of acidity gastric juice. The body of adults is to some extent protected from rotaviruses due to higher acidity, as well as a sufficient amount of IgA immunoglobulin production.

• Children’s habit of putting toys and other objects in their mouth also plays a certain role.

Antiviral drugs are powerless against rotavirus. Stomach flu in children can be very dangerous. The appearance of diarrhea and frequent vomiting should be a reason for immediate appeal to the pediatrician. An important point Protecting babies from infection is prevention.

How can you get infected?

Why does intestinal flu occur and what is it? The causative agent of the disease is rotavirus. The causative agent of the disease was first discovered in 1973 in a biopsy of the small intestine in children with gastroenteritis. The main source of infection is a sick person or a virus carrier. Microbes entering the human body multiply in the cells of the mucous membrane digestive tract and are output to environment along with feces. Virus shedding occurs immediately after infection.

The main route of infection is through eating food that is contaminated with the virus, is not well processed during preparation, and when basic rules of personal hygiene are ignored. This is also a “disease of dirty hands”, like most intestinal diseases. A good environment for the development of rotavirus infection is water and dairy products.

Most often, children from six months to 3 years old get sick with intestinal flu. Older children do not get sick often; they develop relatively stable immunity.

Symptoms of intestinal flu

In the case of intestinal flu in adults, symptoms can be divided into two groups. The first group includes those symptoms that are characteristic of a common cold or flu. The second group contains symptoms associated with stomach and intestinal disorders.

The main signs of intestinal flu in adults are:

• nausea, vomiting without blood and mucus;
• weakness, body aches, painful sensations in muscles;
• nasal congestion and runny nose;
• redness, soreness and;
• low-grade or high fever;
• gastrointestinal disorders, abdominal cramps, with frequent light
• foamy stool with an unpleasant odor;
• with severe development of the disease, signs of dehydration are noticeable.

Incubation period with intestinal flu it ranges from several hours to five days. It is during this time that the infection that has entered the body reaches gastrointestinal tract and begins to actively reproduce there. How quickly the infection takes hold of the body depends on the amount of the pathogen virus in it. The severity of gastroenteritis also depends on this factor. The disease is most difficult for children and the elderly.

The average duration of the disease in adults is a week, but complete recovery occurs only 5-7 days after the acute stage of the disease. However, a person can still be a carrier of the disease, so it is worth following strict rules personal hygiene, especially in public places.

Complications

Sometimes with intestinal flu, due to large loss of fluid, dehydration of the body may occur, which requires special attention and careful selection of medications. Dehydration may be indicated by sunken eyes, dizziness, thirst, sticky mouth, and dry skin.

Dehydration can be alleviated by offering the patient a warm drink and some diet food containing bananas, rice, Apple juice, crackers. This is an anti-inflammatory diet.

How to treat intestinal flu?

Antibiotics are not used due to ineffectiveness. In the case of intestinal flu, treatment is aimed at eliminating symptoms and has certain goals:

• elimination of dehydration;
• raising the body's immune forces;
• restoration of water and electrolyte balance;
• normalization of intestinal function;
• replenishment of enzyme deficiency.

To achieve the objectives, the following groups are used medicines:

• enterosorbents;
• astringents of plant origin;
• enzymatic drugs;
• drugs that normalize microflora (pro-, pre- and eubiotics);
• antipyretics;
• vitamin complexes.

Treatment regimen

There is no specific treatment for intestinal flu in adults yet. Therapy at home aimed at reducing intoxication, normalizing water-salt metabolism, which is disrupted by diarrhea and vomiting. That is, treatment is mainly symptomatic, aimed at reducing negative impact virus on the body.

General principles of treatment of rotavirus infection:

1. First of all, it is necessary rehydration therapy, for which 1 sachet is dissolved in a liter of boiled water and drunk every half hour during the day. Adults, regardless of the severity of the condition, drink 200 ml after vomiting or stool. solution, since fluid losses must be replenished in the first 6 hours. Children with frequent vomiting and diarrhea requires hospitalization.
2. Purpose of sorbents (
3. Semi-bed rest and isolation of the patient from healthy people are indicated.
4. After the acute phase of influenza, it is necessary to restore the intestinal microflora. For this - Bifiform, Hilak Forte, etc.
5. If the symptoms are pronounced, hospitalization in a hospital is indicated.

Since there is no etiotropic treatment for this disease, great importance has the prevention of intestinal flu. Preventive measures include the entire complex used for intestinal infections: regular hand washing, cleaning of premises with disinfectants and antiseptic solutions, handling dishes and food, isolating the sick from the healthy as much as possible. If these rules are followed, the spread of the disease can be stopped.

Nutrition

A diet for intestinal flu is mandatory: the patient should not eat spicy and fried foods throughout the entire course of treatment; they should eat more vegetable soups, drink jelly and compote.

With diarrhea and vomiting, the body becomes dehydrated, so you need to drink more fluid. To prevent gases from collecting in the intestines, you need to eat fermented milk products, croutons and crackers.

The danger of the disease is that people often confuse it with an intestinal infection and do not take necessary measures first aid. In adults with strong immunity, this form of influenza may be asymptomatic, but remains contagious.

Causes

How is stomach flu transmitted?

There are 3 ways:

• Food . The cause of the disease can be the consumption of unwashed vegetables and fruits, unboiled tap water, as well as failure to comply with hygiene rules (dirty hands, using someone else's dishes, etc.).
• Airborne . Viruses spread in the air when a sick person sneezes, coughs, or even talks. When you are near it, infection occurs.
• Contact and household . The virus is transmitted through the use of objects shared with a sick person: pencils, computers, door handles, etc. This method of transmission is typical for places large cluster people - schools, offices, shops.

People with reduced immunity are more susceptible to intestinal flu: those with chronic diseases, children, pregnant women, elderly. The causative agent of this infection has a very high vitality; it is not destroyed when exposed to regular soap, withstands freezing and heating up to 60° C. Perishes when boiled, processed disinfectants with chlorine.

What happens in the body during infection?

When infected, the virus enters the mucous membrane of the digestive tract. Begins incubation period intestinal flu, which lasts up to 5 days. How quickly the disease develops and how severe it will be depends on the concentration of the pathogen and the state of immunity.

30-40 minutes after infection, the virus is already in the mucous membrane of the small intestine and destroys its structure. As a result, the secretion of digestive enzymes that break down complex carbohydrates. These compounds accumulate, attract fluid, and diarrhea develops.

After 20 hours, the infected cells die and are desquamated. They then leave the digestive tract along with the feces, becoming an external source of infection.

Symptoms

Gastrointestinal flu begins acutely, symptoms appear after the end of the incubation period, on average after 2-3 days. Characterized by a sharp rise in temperature, the development of fever, vomiting and diarrhea. The stool can be of different colors, sometimes streaked with blood.

Acute period intestinal form flu lasts about 7 days and the following symptoms are observed:

• spasmodic abdominal pain of varying intensity;
• nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing;
• sore or sore throat;
• decreased appetite;
• weakness.

Often, intestinal flu precedes the usual one, and then the symptoms of the associated disease gradually increase: muscle pain, chills, a second wave of fever.

If the infection is severe, then by the time of recovery there is exhaustion of the body, sharpening of facial features, decreased blood pressure, mild anemia with dizziness and pale skin.

Diagnostics

Intestinal flu in adults with stable immunity manifests itself smoothly, in other categories of the population it is often similar to food poisoning, dysbacteriosis and other diseases of the digestive tract.

Therefore, the diagnosis of rotavirus infection requires laboratory tests:

• general blood test to determine the level of leukocytes, ESR;
• general urine test to detect erythrocyturia, leukocyturia;
• passive hemagglutination;
• RIF - immunofluorescence reaction or Koons method;
• RSK - complement fixation reaction.

List diagnostic procedures may be less or more, depending on the clinical picture of the disease. The last 4 analyzes are most often performed on a paid basis.

First aid for stomach flu

If you suspect intestinal flu in an adult, before visiting a doctor and starting treatment, you must take measures to prevent dehydration. Diarrhea and vomiting lead to rapid fluid loss.

What to drink if you have stomach flu? Tea, compote or just water are best. Meals should consist mainly of natural pureed dishes: porridges, purees, soups.

If a child is sick, you should not leave him alone. It is necessary to ensure that the baby does not choke on vomit. To do this, during sleep you need to raise the upper end of the bed and turn your head to the side. At sharp increase temperatures can be given antipyretic drug(Paracetamol, Nurofen).

Treatment methods

Treatment for intestinal flu is always comprehensive. The first step is to eliminate dehydration. If there is a large loss of fluid, it is carried out infusion therapy: drugs are administered intravenously to restore water-electrolyte balance and normalize metabolic processes(Regidron, Oralit, colloidal solutions).

If dehydration is not severe, then drinking water is sufficient. The volume of fluid that needs to be taken is calculated by the doctor based on the patient’s body weight and the severity of symptoms: vomiting and diarrhea. You need to drink in small portions every 10-15 minutes.

There are no specific medications for intestinal flu. Treatment is aimed at reducing intoxication of the body and normalizing water-salt metabolism.

For this purpose they are appointed:

• Enterosorbents are drugs that bind toxins in the intestines and help remove them ( Activated carbon, Polysorb, Smecta).
• Antidiarrheal, antimicrobials(Enterofuril, Stopdiar, etc.);
• Enzymatic preparations (furazolidone).
• Probiotics (Bifiform, Bifidumbacterin, Linex).

Antibiotics are not prescribed for intestinal flu, since their action is aimed at eliminating bacteria, not viruses. In addition, drugs in this group lead to dysbiosis - an imbalance in the intestinal microflora, which only increases symptoms such as diarrhea and flatulence.

The doctor must decide how to treat intestinal flu in an adult. Sometimes this disease is associated with others, and then the list of medications will be wider.

Stomach flu during pregnancy

Intestinal flu often develops during pregnancy, as at this time there is a natural decrease in immunity. The difficulty in identifying the disease lies in the fact that often a woman mistakes its symptoms for toxicosis: nausea, vomiting, weakness, diarrhea.

The virus itself does not pose a threat to the fetus; it develops only in the woman’s intestines. But the danger is dehydration, general weakness body, anemia, low blood pressure. All this leads to a decrease in oxygen supply and nutrients to the unborn child.

Fetal hypoxia, intrauterine growth retardation occurs, and in severe cases– miscarriage, premature birth. Therefore, it is extremely important for expectant mothers to monitor their condition and consult a doctor at the first suspicion of infection.

Complications of intestinal flu

If you start fighting dehydration in time and take tablets, suspensions and powders , then the prognosis for intestinal flu is favorable. When the disease is severe, hypotension, anemia, and cardiovascular failure may develop. With absence medical care not excluded death. According to statistics, about 2.5% of cases of rotavirus infection result in death.

Having had the intestinal flu once, a person becomes less susceptible to the virus. If the disease re-develops, the symptoms are much less pronounced or completely absent.

Prevention

Exists specific prevention stomach flu – vaccination. The vaccine against rotavirus is called Rotarix. It comes in the form of drops for administration into the oral cavity. To develop immunity, it is necessary to use the drug in 2 stages, with a break of at least 4 weeks.

Nonspecific prevention of intestinal flu is as follows::

• compliance with personal hygiene rules, frequent and thorough hand washing, use of individual utensils, towels, brushes;
• drinking only purified and treated water;
• careful selection of products, washing fruits and vegetables, compliance with expiration dates and storage rules;
• When swimming, avoid accidental swallowing of water.

Prevention of intestinal flu after communicating with a patient is to increase the body's resistance to infectious agents. It is recommended to start taking immunostimulants, restore sleep and nutrition, and avoid physical and mental overload. But efficiency emergency measures lower than those carried out in advance.

Features of nutrition during and after illness

The diet for intestinal flu in adults and children involves a gentle and mild diet. From the daily diet you need to exclude all foods that irritate the intestines: spicy, sour, seasoned, fatty, smoked, as well as hot and cold. You will also have to give up milk and dishes made from it, fresh fruits and vegetables, confectionery and sweets.

What can you eat if you have stomach flu? The best option is slimy porridge in water, stewed and pureed vegetables, pureed soups, rice water, jelly, dry bread. To avoid overloading the digestive system, you need to eat small portions and often.

The diet after intestinal flu is based on the same principles. You should switch to your usual diet gradually, over 3-4 weeks.

Intestinal flu is an infectious disease that affects the digestive tract, mainly the small intestine. Manifested by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.

Due to the similarity with other diseases of the digestive tract, data are needed to make an accurate diagnosis laboratory diagnostics: general analysis blood and urine, PCR, etc. Treatment is based on eliminating symptoms and dehydration. Prevention can be specific (vaccine) and nonspecific (prevention of infection).

Useful video about the treatment of intestinal flu

Intestinal flu got its name due to the characteristics of its symptoms. The disease is caused by rotavirus infection and initial stage resembles a cold: the patient develops catarrhal symptoms on the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and oropharynx, pain in the larynx, nasal discharge, and body temperature rises. On days 2-3, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract occurs, and the signs of the disease resemble clinical picture digestive disorders. One of the manifestations of intestinal flu is viral gastroenteritis - a pathological inflammatory process that occurs in the lining of the small intestine and stomach.

Severe dehydration can be a complication of stomach flu. If this condition is not eliminated in a timely manner, the patient’s death may occur, so treatment of rotavirus infection must begin when the first symptoms appear. typical symptoms. There is no special therapy to destroy the causative agent of the disease, and treatment in adults is aimed at eliminating intoxication, rehydrating the body and getting rid of unpleasant symptoms. After suffering from intestinal flu, the patient will have to follow therapeutic diet and gentle regime physical activity within another 7-10 days.

Adults get stomach flu quite rarely compared to children preschool age. This is due to the fact that adults pay more attention to personal hygiene, follow cooking standards and heat treatment food, more often monitor expiration dates food products. While children become infected primarily through dirty hands or toys touched by a sick person, in adults the main source of rotavirus is usually poor-quality food.

This could be food that has been stored incorrectly or is past its expiration date, or undercooked meat. Fans of rare steaks need to be especially careful when choosing meat, since poorly processed meat and fish are considered the leaders among products that lead to poisoning. To especially dangerous products This also applies to dairy products (including fermented milk drinks). Under no circumstances should you consume dairy products with a suitable expiration date, even if they look quite edible in appearance.

Tap water can also become a source of contamination, so it must be boiled, even if a purifying filter is installed at home. To those who boiled water does not like it, it is better to use spring water sold in stores for drinking.

You can become infected with rotavirus in other ways. The most common of them:

Important! Rotavirus actively multiplies in the mucous membranes of the digestive tract and is excreted from the body with feces. If there is a person with an intestinal infection in the house, it is necessary to clean the toilet and disinfect the toilet every day to prevent infection of other family members.

How can you tell if a person has intestinal flu?

Diagnosing the disease at the initial stage is a rather difficult task, since the only symptoms in the first days of the disease are signs respiratory diseases. The incubation period of rotavirus infection can range from 4-6 hours to 5 days. Its duration depends on the condition immune system person, the amount of pathogen and the degree of its activity.

On the first day of the disease, the patient may notice the following symptoms:

• an increase in temperature to 38°C or higher, accompanied by fever and chills;
• headache;
• pain in the throat when swallowing;
• dry cough of moderate intensity (usually not painful);
• discomfort in muscles and large joints;
• redness and looseness of the tissues of the oropharynx;
• sore throat.

In older people, as well as in people with reduced immunity, smokers, patients with alcohol addiction All of the above symptoms usually appear. The signs are of high intensity, intoxication of the body develops rapidly, worsening the condition and well-being of the patient. In patients over 55 years of age, discomfort and muscle discomfort can develop into pain.

What happens on days 2-3?

Approximately 2 days from the onset of the disease, the virus enters the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines, causing characteristic intestinal symptoms. The patient begins frequent diarrhea, the stool is very liquid, watery, and has a foamy consistency. Repeated vomiting may occur. Vomit has the color of food consumed, without impurities of bile acids, blood and mucous streaks. The smell of the masses is normal, not offensive.

Abdominal pain with intestinal flu is acute and may resemble intestinal cramps. In addition to pain, the patient complains of flatulence, bloating and heaviness in the stomach (regardless of food intake).

Note! In about a third of patients, conjunctivitis appears within 2-3 days, a disease characterized by inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye. Signs viral conjunctivitis are transparent discharge from the eyes, redness of the eye sclera, itching and burning.

How to treat stomach flu in adults?

Treatment of rotavirus infection in adult patients is symptomatic and can take place in outpatient setting, if such a possibility is allowed by the doctor who examined the patient. The main goal of intestinal flu therapy is to eliminate signs of intoxication and dehydration. To cleanse the blood and intestines of toxins released by rotavirus, the patient is prescribed sorbents. These are drugs that selectively absorb gases, solid and liquid substances and harmful vapors from the surrounding space.

The most effective sorbents to eliminate intoxication during intestinal infections are:

You need to take them several times a day, while simultaneously increasing the amount of liquid you drink. This is also necessary to eliminate dehydration. For this purpose, rehydration therapy is selected for the patient. saline solutions. They normalize water-salt balance, support kidney function and help restore normal level moisture in the body. The most popular product in this group is “Regidron” in the form of a powder for preparing a solution. The contents of one package must be dissolved in a liter of boiled water and drunk in small sips throughout the day. If severe dehydration occurs, the patient will be hospitalized, and therapy will be supplemented with intravenous infusion of glucose and saline.

The medications listed in the table below may also be used to restore the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Note! After completion of treatment, the patient is given a course of vitamin maintenance therapy. It is important that the complex of vitamins and minerals be selected by a doctor, since an excess of some elements is just as harmful as their lack. For example, in case of illness thyroid gland you should choose drugs that do not contain iodine. If the patient suffers from hyperkalemia or hypermagnesemia, it is necessary to refrain from taking complexes containing magnesium and potassium.

Basics of symptomatic therapy in adults

Medicines to reduce fever are prescribed if the thermometer rises above 38°C. At lower values, the use of antipyretics is not advisable, since most rotaviruses die at this temperature, and its decrease may delay recovery. If the temperature has risen too high, you can take medications based on paracetamol or ibuprofen: Paracetamol, Nurofen, Ibufen. In some cases, your doctor may recommend combination drugs, for example, “Next”: they act faster and have a more pronounced therapeutic effect.

If the patient is bothered by a cough, therapy is supplemented with antitussive medications that act on the cough center and suppress the functioning of cough receptors.

These include:

Drinking plenty of fluids will also help relieve a cough and prevent irritation of the throat lining.

Important! In some cases, histamine blockers (Loratadine, Diazolin, Claritin) are used to treat intestinal flu. They are necessary for prevention allergic reactions and possible adverse reactions against the background of multicomponent therapy.

Are antiviral agents needed?

Most infectious disease specialists believe that the use of antiviral drugs does not give a pronounced therapeutic effect, and the rotavirus dies on its own after 5-7 days. However, drugs in this group can weaken the activity of the virus during acute infection and activate cells of the immune system.

Purpose antiviral drugs and immunomodulators are necessary for people with weakened immune systems, as well as those who suffer bad habits or does not receive full balanced nutrition, since their immunity is not able to independently fight pathogenic microorganisms.

The role of therapeutic nutrition in treatment

During acute course pathology (and this is approximately 5-7 days), the patient must follow a diet excluding drinks and foods based on milk protein. This is whole and pasteurized milk, kefir, cottage cheese, yoghurts and other products, the basis of which is any type of milk. Such a restriction is necessary since most microorganisms develop faster in a dairy environment. In addition, fermented milk products and whole milk can increase intestinal symptoms and lead to a decrease in the effectiveness of treatment.

To reduce the load on the inflamed intestines, it is important to consume all products in pureed or highly crushed form in the first 3-4 days. It is advisable to pass meat and fish through a meat grinder, grind vegetables and fruits to a pulp. Useful during this period are rice and oat infusions– they contain a lot of starch, due to which they envelop the walls of the gastrointestinal tract and protect it from damage. Fresh bread need to be replaced with rye crackers.

Until complete recovery and for another 7-10 days after past illness The following are completely excluded from the patient’s diet:

Important! It is necessary to gradually introduce raw vegetables and fruits, as well as dairy products, into the diet. It is recommended to start with a small amount low-fat cottage cheese(no more than 50-60 g). On the third day, you can give the patient 100 ml of natural yogurt without additives. If everything is normal, the amount of dairy products is increased to the usual norm. Cow's milk is entered into the menu last.

Stomach flu - enough rare disease in adults, but effective protection there is no cure for rotavirus infection at any age. To reduce the likelihood of infection, it is necessary to carefully monitor the quality of food consumed and personal hygiene. Hand washing should be a mandatory procedure after returning from the street, visiting the restroom, and other actions related to unsanitary conditions.

In order for the immune system to fight viruses on its own, it is necessary to carry out general strengthening measures, eat right, and walk more. fresh air and provide the body with sufficient motor activity. If a person does become infected, it is necessary to strictly follow all the doctor’s recommendations and not refuse hospitalization if necessary, as there is a risk of dehydration.

Video - Intestinal flu in adults

Stomach flu, intestinal flu is a simplified name for the disease, which in medicine is called gastroenteritis or, since this disease is not essentially the flu. The causative agent of gastroenteritis is various viruses, most often this is a virus of the Rotavirus order, as well as astroviruses, caliciviruses, noroviruses and adenoviruses, which, when multiplied, lead to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.

Children are mainly susceptible to this disease; intestinal flu in children lasts longer and is more severe, as well as older people. Symptoms of the stomach flu are pronounced, but at the same time, in adults with a strong immune system rotavirus infection can occur in a latent form, asymptomatic, while an apparently healthy person can be a carrier of the pathogen. Usually within a week the acute period of the disease ends and after 5-7 days complete recovery occurs; during this period the patient is still contagious.

How can you get the stomach flu?

The virus enters the human body through the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. The incubation period of this disease is from 16 hours to five days. The rate of development and severity of stomach flu depends on the concentration of the pathogen that has entered the body and the state of the person’s immune system.

• One type of transmission of infection is foodborne. That is, the infection enters the body through unwashed fruits, vegetables, and low-quality dairy products. Gastrointestinal flu can rightfully be called the “disease of dirty hands.” It is also possible to become infected through unboiled tap water, even during simple bathing.
• The second route of infection is airborne. When speaking loudly, sneezing, or coughing, germs from a sick person spread into the air.
• It is not excluded contact-household method transmission of the pathogen, especially in crowded places: in offices, kindergartens, schools, shops.

The causative agent of stomach flu is very viable, common detergents are unable to destroy it. It is quite resistant to freezing and high temperatures, can withstand heating up to 60 C. The intestinal virus is destroyed only with concentrated chlorine-containing disinfectants.

What happens in the body during infection?

When rotavirus enters the body, within half an hour the pathogen can be detected in the cells of the small intestine. Due to the attack of the virus, the structure of the intestinal mucosa is disrupted. This in turn leads to disruption of the production of digestive enzymes responsible for the breakdown of complex sugars. Thus, in small intestine Unbroken carbohydrates accumulate and attract excess fluid, causing diarrhea or watery diarrhea.

Symptoms of gastrointestinal flu

If a child falls ill, a pediatrician must be called to determine the possibility of treatment at home or hospitalization. As a rule, if vomiting is observed no more than 5 times, and stool no more than 10 times a day, then it is acceptable ambulatory treatment. The incubation period for stomach flu lasts about 5 days. Its symptoms appear quite acutely and violently.

The easiest way to avoid getting the stomach flu is to wash your hands thoroughly.

Literally a few hours before the onset of dyspepsia (gastrointestinal disorder), a slight cough, runny nose, and sore throat first appear, which quickly disappear. From others infectious diseases This is what distinguishes the gastrointestinal tract from intestinal flu, the symptoms of which begin not with indigestion, but with quickly passing catarrhal symptoms.
Main signs of stomach flu:

• Sore throat when swallowing, redness in the throat
• Catarrhal phenomena - slight runny nose, cough, sneezing, which quickly pass
• Loose stools up to 5-10 times a day, stools are copious, gray-yellow, clay-like, with a pungent odor, but without mucus and blood
• Abdominal pain, rumbling
• Nausea, vomiting
• High fever or low-grade fever
• Growing weakness
• With severe development of stomach flu, it is possible).

Treatment of gastrointestinal flu

There is no specific treatment for rotavirus yet. The main treatment is aimed at reducing intoxication and normalizing water-salt metabolism, which is disrupted by diarrhea and vomiting. That is, treatment is mainly symptomatic, aimed at reducing the negative impact of the virus on the body: preventing dehydration, reducing toxicity, restoring the functioning of the urinary and cardiovascular systems, prevent the development of secondary bacterial infection.

• First of all, rehydration therapy is necessary, for which 1 sachet of Regidron is dissolved in a liter of boiled water and drunk every half hour during the day. If desired, you can make such a rehydration solution yourself - 700 ml boiled water (or weak chamomile infusion) + 300 ml decoction of dried apricots (carrots or raisins) + 4-8 teaspoons of sugar + 1 teaspoon table salt+ 1/2 teaspoon of soda. Indicated for repeated vomiting and diarrhea, drink in small sips. Adults, regardless of the severity of the condition, drink 200 ml after vomiting or stool. solution, since fluid losses must be replenished in the first 6 hours. Hospitalization is indicated for children with frequent vomiting and diarrhea.
• When you can eat food, you must strictly follow a gentle diet and exclude all dairy and fermented milk products from your diet, as they contribute to rapid reproduction pathogenic bacteria in the intestines.
• The patient should also take sorbents, such as Activated carbon, Enterosgel,.
• At severe diarrhea with fever, doctors usually prescribe (70 rubles) (300 caps. 500 suspension) or, their use helps stop the protracted course of diarrhea.
• You should also take medications with digestive enzymes - Creon, Pancreatin, Mezim forte. IN in rare cases Fthalazol may be prescribed, but it can be used for no more than 3 days.
• When will it pass acute phase diseases, it is necessary to restore the intestinal microflora. There are many medicines for this, such as Linex, RioFlora-Balance, Bifidumbacterin Forte, etc. (see full).

A few facts about stomach flu

Does the flu shot help with stomach flu?

Don't confuse the two completely various diseases, two different pathogens. Of course, some signs of the common flu resemble symptoms gastrointestinal flu- headache, symptoms of general intoxication, joint pain, fever. However, ordinary flu does not cause severe intestinal disorder and vaccination against it cannot in any way protect against infection with rotavirus infections.

Stomach flu is highly contagious

In the warm season, when there is a maximum spread of viral gastroenteritis, you should carefully observe the hygiene regime. Stomach flu enters the body through the fecal-oral route, that is, from a sick person through contaminated vomit or feces when touched healthy person with a contaminated surface. Moreover, often wastewater, bodies of water where vacationers swim, contaminated food and dishes prepared by an infected person contribute to the transmission of the intestinal flu pathogen. Only thorough hand washing before any food intake can protect against the development of gastroenteritis.

The gastrointestinal flu virus is quite resilient in the external environment

The causative agent of intestinal flu (norovirus) can remain alive for several hours on any surfaces in everyday life, even after cleaning, and even a very small amount of it is enough to infect a child. It is better to wash your hands with soap and running water; this is more effective than using other hand products (wipes, spray).

Symptoms of GI flu do not appear immediately

Intestinal symptoms such as abdominal cramps, diarrhea and vomiting occur only 1-2 days after the infection enters the body, since the virus must reach the gastrointestinal tract and multiply in it. However, pathogens such as salmonellosis, etc. can cause symptoms food poisoning just a few hours later.

The most serious danger in children and adults is dehydration.

This is especially dangerous for children, since vomiting and diarrhea cause fluid loss that must be replenished. Moreover, with liquid the body is deprived of potassium, sodium and other minerals. Therefore, rehydration therapy (rehydron) is indicated. Best to drink mineral water without gases, green tea, chamomile decoction. Not worth it acute period consume milk, dairy products, bread and sweets. During the recovery period, you should replenish potassium reserves by adding foods such as bananas and rice porridge to your diet.

Stomach flu is not treated with antibiotics

Since this intestinal disorder is caused by a virus, antibiotics cannot help, contrary to the beliefs of many. Intestinal flu is treated symptomatically and antibacterial drugs not shown.

An infectious disease that is accompanied by acute inflammatory processes in the stomach and small intestine called the stomach flu.

Symptoms of stomach flu generally appear the same, regardless of which virus causes the disease.

Factors provoking infection

Viruses that cause inflammatory processes, can enter the stomach in several ways:

1. Viruses that cause stomach flu live and multiply in meat and dairy products, as well as in water. The greatest danger to humans is water. Because it is precisely because of it that mass poisonings occur.
2. Viruses enter the body through contact and household contact. This occurs during common consumption of food, when using joint hygiene products.

A person encounters these microorganisms every day, but the immune system instantly eliminates almost everything foreign that enters the body. But if the immune system is weakened, then any virus easily enters the internal environment of a person. Therefore, people with a weakened immune system get stomach flu much more often than those with a healthy one.

Symptoms and treatment of gastrointestinal flu

When infection does occur, symptoms of stomach flu can be observed within a few hours. In rare cases, they appear after a couple of days. In this case, the following are observed:

• headache;
• lack of appetite;
• weakness;
• elevated temperature;
• painful sensations in the abdominal area;
• vomit;
• frequent diarrhea.

With this disease, symptoms may also be present that indicate a flu-like condition:

• stuffy nose;
• redness of the throat;
• hoarseness in the voice;
• dry cough;
• dyspnea;
• pain in the chest.

When long time If you experience diarrhea and vomiting, you should Special attention, as this can threaten the body with dehydration. To avoid this, you need to use a large number of purified water or black tea. In this situation, it is best to abstain from milk, fermented milk products, sweet juices.

Fever and frequent attacks vomiting, even empty stomach, are also characteristic feature stomach flu.

In children, the disease is much more severe than in adults, so it can be especially dangerous for them. The following symptoms of stomach flu are typical for a child:

• lethargy, and in some cases excessive activity;
• increased moodiness;
• categorical reluctance to eat;
• frequent regurgitation;
• bad dream.

If a person is diagnosed with intestinal flu, then its course is divided into three stages:

1. The incubation period when the disease is hidden. The main symptom at this time can only be increased body temperature.
2. Acute stage, which lasts about a week. All the main symptoms of the disease are already observed here.
3. Recovery stage.

The incubation period lasts about five days, but even with a latent form, some signs should be alarming: sour smell from oral cavity, periodic rumbling in the abdomen, mild pain in the abdominal area, discharge of a large amount of watery feces.

When on inner wall If any inflammation occurs in the intestines, the process of digesting food is disrupted. As a result, the bowel movements become mushy.

When dehydrated, signs of intoxication are observed: inflammation in the throat, redness eyeballs, stomach ache. When does stomach flu strike? acute stage, symptoms of a cold are observed.

The last stage occurs in adults after about a week, in young children - in some cases much later.

Stomach flu can be detected by laboratory tests feces, urine and blood.

How to treat the disease? Unfortunately, there are no medications to treat stomach flu. In this case use symptomatic therapy, aimed at mitigating the consequences of a viral infection.

When any infectious process, which is accompanied by the presence of diarrhea and vomiting, the patient should first of all be provided with plenty of fluid intake. This will help avoid dehydration. Contacting a specialist is necessary, since the symptoms of this disease may actually hide more serious infectious diseases. For example, salmonellosis or cholera, which should be treated under the supervision of specialists.

When vomiting occurs for a long time, you should definitely consult a doctor so that he can prescribe the appropriate pharmaceuticals. Under no circumstances should you do this yourself. Recommend: Prifinium bromide, Cerucal.

Antipyretic medications should be prescribed only after the patient has had a high temperature for three days in a row. Mainly taken: Paracetamol, Panadol and others.

Dysbacteriosis is one of the consequences of stomach flu. To prevent this, prebiotics are included in the course of treatment. Thanks to them beneficial bacteria V upper section intestines spread quickly. Natural microflora is restored much faster. For this, Duphalac is prescribed.

Treatment at home

You can also treat stomach flu at home. In this case, take the following actions:

1. To restore water balance body, drink large amounts of boiled water. It is better not to drink carbonated liquid at this time.
2. Various decoctions are also used to combat dehydration:

• One of the most popular decoctions is chamomile. To prepare it, you need to brew a liter of boiling water tea bag chamomile, add a couple of tablespoons of raisins or dried apricots and a teaspoon of kitchen salt. Let it brew for half an hour, then strain the infusion and drink 0.5 cups every hour;
• For intoxication, make an infusion of marshmallow root. You should add two teaspoons of crushed plant root per liter of water. Leave for 30 minutes. Take small doses throughout the day;
• at the slightest symptoms helps stomach flu great ginger tea. To prepare it, you need to pour a tablespoon of finely chopped root into 500 milliliters of boiling water. Leave for 30 minutes. Drink approximately 5-6 times a day, 0.5 cups;
• To eliminate intoxication, use a decoction of dill. Pour a glass of boiling water over a teaspoon of seeds and leave for 15 minutes. Take a tablespoon every 30 minutes;
• This drink is used against viruses that cause stomach flu. Add half a tablespoon to a glass of warm boiled water natural honey and freshly squeezed juice from half a lemon. Take 250 milliliters up to 4 times a day;
• a healing decoction is made from rose hips, linden flowers and chamomile. All necessary ingredients are taken in equal quantities. From the resulting medicinal composition you need to measure out a tablespoon and brew it in half a liter of boiling water. After this, leave it for another 30 minutes and drink half a glass a day. If desired, you can add a teaspoon of honey;
• to strengthen the immune system, a decoction of raspberry, currant and cranberry leaves, to which a small amount of honey is added, is suitable;
• To eliminate diarrhea, use a strong rice broth. To prepare it, you need to pour half a glass of rice with a liter of boiling water, simmer over low heat for five minutes and strain. Take 50 milliliters of the decoction every 30 minutes.

Regardless of how stomach flu is treated, you should definitely consult your doctor.

Prevention of infection

To prevent intestinal flu, you must adhere to the following preventive measures:

• maintain personal hygiene;
• strengthen the immune system;
• thoroughly wash vegetables and fruits, subject other products to thorough heat treatment;
• use only boiled water or water that has undergone a filtration process;
• do frequent wet cleaning, and when there is a sick person in the house, then disinfect it.