Viral gastroenteritis

Viral gastroenteritis (Gastro-Enter-eye,tiss),[1] also called stomach flu,[2] gastric flu, and stomach virus, is an infection caused by a variety of viruses that results in vomiting & diarrhea.[3] Viruses that are known to cause gastroenteritis include the genus Rotavirus, the genus Norovirus, the genus Sapovirus, the family Adenovirus, and the family Astrovirus.[4][5] The genus Rotavirus is the most common cause of diarrhea and sickness among infants and children worldwide.[6] The genus Norovirus or the species Norwalk virus is the leading cause of gastroenteritis among adults in America, causing greater than 90% of outbreaks.[4] These localized epidemics typically occur when groups of people spend time in close physical proximity to each other, such as on cruise ships,[4] in hospitals, schools or in restaurants.[7] People may remain infectious even after their diarrhea has ended.[4]

The virus can be spread through close contact with an infected person such as with their vomit, faeces or contaminated skin or a contaminated surface, or through spoiled or poorly cooked or contaminated food or beverages/water as well as through aerosolised vomit particles. Symptoms begin 24 to 48 hours after infection and range from long-term and intense abdominal pain and nausea to vomiting and diarrhea. People typically recover in 24 to 72 hours and should rest, eat non-fatty foods that produce little gas, and drink plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration. Viral gastroenteritis is contagious. Until symptoms subside, the sick person should avoid contact with others as much as possible. It is not recommended that they take over-the-counter anti-nausea, anti-diarrhea, anti-inflammatory, or other common medicines (such as acetaminophen) as they can further irritate the stomach. Although frequent hand washing is recommended for all forms of gastroenteritis, and handwashing prevents transmission of some forms of gastroenteritis (norovirus), it does not necessarily prevent all forms (rotavirus).[8] If symptoms persist for more than 6 days, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.merriam-webster.com/
  2. ↑ "Gastroenteritis". www.webmd.com. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  3. ↑ Viral gastroenteritis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  4. 1 2 3 4 Eckardt AJ, Baumgart DC (January 2011). "Viral gastroenteritis in adults". Recent Patents on Anti-infective Drug Discovery 6 (1): 54–63. doi:10.2174/157489111794407877. PMID 21210762.
  5. ↑ Dennehy PH (January 2011). "Viral gastroenteritis in children". The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 30 (1): 63–4. doi:10.1097/INF.0b013e3182059102. PMID 21173676.
  6. ↑ Mayo Clinic Staff. "Rotavirus". www.mayoclinic.org. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  7. ↑ Singh, Amandeep (July 2010). "Pediatric Emergency Medicine Practice Acute Gastroenteritis—An Update". Emergency Medicine Practice 7 (7).
  8. ↑ Chin, James E., ed. (2000). Control of communicable diseases manual : an official report of the American Public Health Association (17 ed.). Washington, DC: American Public Health Association. pp. 26–27. ISBN 9780875531823.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, April 12, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.