Intestinal flu virus treatment

In more severe cases, a doctor might prescribe antiviral medications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC recommend that anyone at high risk of complications takes antiviral treatment within 2 days of flu symptoms first appearing. Getting the yearly flu vaccine is also an important measure to prevent flu and its complications.

People with stomach flu should contact their doctor straight away if they have the following symptoms :. Stomach flu is an infection of the stomach and intestines. Viruses, such as norovirus, are usually the cause of stomach flu.

Symptoms of stomach flu include vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. Influenza is a respiratory infection. It is the result of influenza viruses, which cause symptoms that include a sore throat, runny nose, and sometimes a fever.

Both conditions require resting at home and drinking plenty of fluids. In severe cases, medical treatment is necessary and may include antiviral medications or antibiotics. Flu is a respiratory illness that a virus causes. It is highly contagious and can be life threatening for some people. Learn more about how to…. The symptoms of the flu and the coronavirus are similar, but there are differences. What are the differences between a cold and the flu?

Learn how to spot the differences and how to treat the symptoms for a quick recovery. The stomach flu usually lasts for only a few days but symptoms can be highly unpleasant. We discuss how to avoid catching this flu and when to see a…. In most cases, people with viral gastroenteritis get better on their own without medical treatment.

You can treat viral gastroenteritis by replacing lost fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration. In some cases, over-the-counter medicines may help relieve your symptoms. Research shows that following a restricted diet does not help treat viral gastroenteritis. When you have viral gastroenteritis, you may vomit after you eat or lose your appetite for a short time. When your appetite returns, you can most often go back to eating your normal diet, even if you still have diarrhea.

Find tips on what to eat when you have viral gastroenteritis. When you have viral gastroenteritis, you need to replace lost fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration or treat mild dehydration.

You should drink plenty of liquids. If vomiting is a problem, try sipping small amounts of clear liquids. If your child has viral gastroenteritis, you should give your child an oral rehydration solution—such as Pedialyte, Naturalyte, Infalyte, and CeraLyte—as directed to replace lost fluids and electrolytes. Oral rehydration solutions are liquids that contain glucose and electrolytes. Preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time with your doctor.

Some questions you might want to ask your or your child's doctor include:. Drink plenty of fluids. Stick with bland foods to reduce stress on your digestive system. If your child is sick, follow the same approach — offer plenty of fluids and bland food. If you're breast-feeding or using formula, continue to feed your child as usual.

Ask your child's doctor if giving your child an oral rehydration solution, available without a prescription at pharmacies, would help. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. The most common way to develop viral gastroenteritis — often called stomach flu —is through contact with an infected person or by ingesting contaminated food or water.

If you're otherwise healthy, you'll likely recover without complications. But for infants, older adults and people with compromised immune systems, viral gastroenteritis can be deadly. There's no effective treatment for viral gastroenteritis, so prevention is key. In addition to avoiding food and water that may be contaminated, thorough and frequent hand-washings are your best defense.

The stomach, small intestine and large intestine colon are part of your digestive tract, which processes the foods you eat. Viral gastroenteritis is an inflammation of these organs caused by a virus. Although it's commonly called stomach flu, gastroenteritis isn't the same as influenza. Real flu influenza affects only your respiratory system — your nose, throat and lungs. Gastroenteritis, on the other hand, attacks your intestines, causing signs and symptoms, such as:.

Depending on the cause, viral gastroenteritis symptoms may appear within one to three days after you're infected and can range from mild to severe. Symptoms usually last just a day or two, but occasionally they may persist as long as 10 days.