Do You Get Diarrhea With The Flu

How Is It Treated

The most important thing to do is to rest the stomach and intestine. You can do this by not eating solid food for a while and drinking only clear liquids. As your symptoms go away, you can start eating soft bland foods that are easy to digest.

If you have been vomiting a lot, it is best to have only small, frequent sips of liquids. Drinking too much at once, even an ounce or two, may cause more vomiting.

Your choice of liquids is important. If water is the only liquid you can drink without vomiting, that is OK. However, if you have been vomiting often or for a long time, you must replace the minerals, sodium and potassium, that are lost when you vomit. Ask your healthcare provider what sport drinks or other rehydration drinks could help you replace these minerals.

Other clear liquids you can drink are weak tea and apple juice. You may also drink soft drinks without caffeine after letting them go flat . It may be easier to keep down liquids that are cold. Avoid liquids that are acidic or caffeinated or have a lot of carbonation. Do not drink milk until you no longer have diarrhea.

Sometimes treatment includes prescription medicine to prevent nausea and vomiting or diarrhea.

Nonprescription medicine is available for the treatment of diarrhea and can be very effective. If you use it, make sure you use only the dose recommended on the package. If you have chronic health problems, always check with your healthcare provider before you use any medicine for diarrhea.

Should I Call In Sick For A Cold Or Only The Flu

The CDC advises workers with flu symptoms to stay home until at least 24 hours after their fever is gone or at least four to five days after the onset of symptoms.

The CDC advises people who have a cold to stay home to help prevent spreading it to other people and recommends that parents keep children with colds home from school or day care.

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How Are Food Poisoning And Stomach Flu Treated

Basic treatment for food poisoning and the stomach flu is the same, but if you have a severe case of either, you might need to see a doctor.

Regardless of whether you have food poisoning or the stomach flu, the most important thing is to try to keep yourself hydrated, Dr. Adalja says. The vomiting, diarrhea, and inability to eat or drink much can dehydrate you. While water is great, an electrolyte solution like Pedialyte can help replace nutrients and electrolytes youve lost, so it isnt a bad option if you can handle it, Dr. Adalja says.

These illnesses typically pass with a lot of suffering but minimal complications. However, there are some signs that you need medical attention, according to the Mayo Clinic:

Depending on what youre dealing with, treatment might range from antibiotics to anti-nausea medications to replacing lost fluids via I.V.

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Protecting Yourself From Gastroenteritis

The viruses that cause gastroenteritis come from contact with an infected person’s stool. You may get it if a person with the virus didn’t wash their hands after using the bathroom and then touched the escalator at the mall — the same escalator you touched before eating lunch. Stomach flu viruses are tough, too. Some can live on surfaces such as counters for months.

It’s important to take steps to protect yourself and your family. Here’s some advice.

• Wash your hands. According to experts, this is still the best way to stop a stomach virus. One review of studies found that good hand-washing technique cut the rate of diarrhea by 40%. Make sure to use soap and water and do it thoroughly — wash your hands for as long as it takes to recite the alphabet. Always wash your hands after using the bathroom, before eating, and after changing a diaper.
• Use hand sanitizer. If you’re not near a sink to wash your hands, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Be aware that hand sanitizer may not be as effective as hand washing at preventing the stomach flu.
• Wipe down surfaces. If a family member has the stomach flu, wash off high-traffic areas — such as the bathroom, door knobs, phones, and TV remotes — with a diluted bleach solution. If it’s possible, keep healthy people out of the bathroom the sick person is using.
• Make sure your kids get their vaccines.Vaccines for rotavirus can protect children from some types of stomach flu. Kids usually get the vaccines before they are age 2.

Flu Shot Side Effects Diarrhea

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How To Treat Diarrhea And A Cold

The best way to treat diarrhea caused by a cold or the flu is often with plenty of rest. Diarrhea can lead to dehydration, so its also important to drink plenty of fluids and to replenish lost electrolytes. A few sources of electrolytes that are easy to digest include:

• soup broths
• prepackaged electrolyte mixes

Can You Prevent From Getting The Stomach Flu

There is no diet that will prevent gastroenteritis but food preparation plays a strong role in preventing gastroenteritis. In general, there are some actions people can do to prevent or reduce the chance of getting gastroenteritis, including:

• Hand washing, especially before eating and after any close association with an infected person or items they have touched
• Launder items daily that infected persons wear
• Avoid direct contact with infected individuals when possible
• Do not eat undercooked foods, especially meats
• Do not eat raw foods or drink untreated water
• Do not drink untreated or unpasteurized fluids, especially milk
• Thoroughly wash any produce, especially in third world countries, before eating
• While traveling, avoid all raw foods and ice drink only from sealed bottled products and use bottled water for tooth brushing

There is a vaccine available against rotavirus that has reduced this infection in children. Also, there is a vaccine available against cholera-causing bacteria , but it is not widely available. A clinical trial of a Norovirus vaccine was done with some success. It is likely in the near future commercial vaccines against some causes will be available.

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What Is Food Poisoning

Food poisoning is an infection or irritation of your digestive tract that you get from having infected food and drinks, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases . Its usually acute , and most people get better on their own without treatment, the NIDDK says.

Having food poisoning means your body is rebelling against viruses, bacteria, or other harmful substances in something you ate, Benjamin Chapman, Ph.D., an assistant professor and food-safety extension specialist at North Carolina State University, tells SELF. These pathogens can lurk in a wide variety of foods. You may also come down with food poisoning after reheating old food and drinking or eating something that has expired .

Food poisoning isnt a rare thingabout 48 million people in the U.S. have food poisoning each year, the NIDDK says.

Who Should Avoid Ketogenic Diets

Although the ketogenic diet may be helpful for many people, its not suitable for everyone.

For example, the ketogenic diet may not be appropriate for pregnant or breastfeeding women, children and teens, unless its being used therapeutically under medical supervision.

Furthermore, this diet should be avoided by those with certain health conditions like kidney disease, liver disease or pancreatic conditions.

Also, those with diabetes who are interested in following a ketogenic meal plan should consult their doctor to determine if this diet is safe and suitable for their specific needs.

Lastly, this diet may not be appropriate for individuals who are hypersensitive to dietary cholesterol, who account for around one-quarter of the worlds population .

Summary

The ketogenic diet may not be safe for pregnant women, children, people with kidney, liver or pancreatic disease and those who are sensitive to dietary cholesterol.

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How To Avoid Spreading The Flu

Flu is very infectious and easily spread to other people. You’re more likely to give it to others in the first 5 days.

Flu is spread by germs from coughs and sneezes, which can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.

To reduce the risk of spreading flu:

• wash your hands often with warm water and soap
• use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze
• bin used tissues as quickly as possible

People At Higher Risk From Flu

Anyone can get sick with flu, even healthy people, and serious problems related to flu can happen to anyone at any age, but some people are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick. This includes people 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions , pregnant people and children younger than 5 years, but especially those younger than 2 years old.

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How Is The Flu Diagnosed

Based on your symptoms and how you look, your doctor usually can tell if you have the flu. Most people who have it look ill and miserable.

Other infections can cause symptoms similar to the flu. So if a doctor needs to be sure that someone has the flu, they might do a test. They’ll take a sample of mucus by wiping a long cotton swab inside the nose or throat. Results might be ready quickly, or can take longer if the test is sent to a lab.

You may feel miserable if you get the flu, but it’s unlikely to be serious. It’s rare that healthy teens get other problems from the flu. Older adults , young kids , and people with ongoing medical conditions are more likely to become seriously ill with the flu.

How Can I Get Rid Of Stomach Flu

The most important things you can do to feel better faster are rest and staying well hydrated. Between diarrhea and vomiting, your body loses a lot of water and electrolytes. If your belly is still upset, you can take small, frequent sips of water, sports drinks, juice or broth, or chew on ice chips. It is important to know that water alone may not be enough to keep you hydrated in severe cases of diarrhea so make sure to take in electrolyte balance hydration . Eat a normal diet when you feel hungry again.

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How Can I Treat Viral Gastroenteritis

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.

If your child has symptoms of viral gastroenteritis, such as vomiting or diarrhea, dont hesitate to call a doctor for advice.

Flu Vaccine: Dr Hilary Warns Of Logistical Challenge On Gmb

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The NHS is aiming to vaccinate 35 million Brits against flu, as warnings from the Academy of Medical Science have forecast 15,000 to 60,000 deaths from flu this winter, making this flu season twice as deadly as an average year. Whether you are eligible for a free vaccine from the NHS, or youre considering paying for your own protection, heres everything you need to know about the flu vaccine side effects.

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How To Know Its Gastroenteritis

Symptoms include three or more loose stools per day, stomach pain and nausea. Some people experience vomiting, and about half will have a fever. Thats a much different slate of symptoms from influenza, which often involves congestion, runny nose, cough, muscle aches, chills and fever.

Gastroenteritis can be viral or bacterial. It is hard to tell which one you have because the symptoms are similar for both, says Amy Shipley, MD, a family medicine doctor with UNC Physicians Network. Unless you do stool studies and cultures, you cant differentiate bacteria from a virus in most situations.

Most people will have symptoms for one to three days, but symptoms can last up to two weeks. Salmonella, an infection caused by bacteria called salmonellosis, can last a week, and the rotavirus, a highly contagious viral infection, can last even longer.

Which Specialties Of Doctors Treat The Stomach Flu

Most individuals with viral or mild bacterial caused gastroenteritis require no treatment or can be treated by the patient’s primary care provider or pediatrician. For more patients with more severe gastroenteritis, such infectious disease specialists, gastroenterologists, emergency medicine specialists, allergists, critical care physicians, and hematologists may be consulted.

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How Can I Protect Myself And My Family From Getting Sick With Viral Gastroenteritis

People can reduce their chance of getting infected by frequent hand-washing, prompt disinfection of contaminated surfaces, prompt washing of soiled articles of clothing and avoiding food or water that is thought to be contaminated. Persons who have viral gastroenteritis should not prepare food for other people while they have symptoms and for 48 hours after recovery from illness.

The Keto Flu: Symptoms And How To Get Rid Of It

The ketogenic diet has gained popularity as a natural way to lose weight and improve health.

The diet is very low in carbohydrates, high in fat and moderate in protein.

While the diet is considered safe for most people, its associated with some unpleasant side effects.

The keto flu, also called the carb flu, is a term coined by followers to describe the symptoms they experience when beginning the diet.

This article investigates what the keto flu is, why it happens and how to ease its symptoms.

The keto flu is a collection of symptoms experienced by some people when they first start the keto diet.

These symptoms, which can feel similar to the flu, are caused by the body adapting to a new diet consisting of very little carbohydrates.

Reducing your carb intake forces your body to burn ketones for energy instead of glucose.

Ketones are byproducts of fat breakdown and become the main fuel source when following a ketogenic diet.

Normally, fat is reserved as a secondary fuel source to use when glucose is not available.

This switch to burning fat for energy is called ketosis. It occurs during specific circumstances, including starvation and fasting (

However, ketosis can also be reached by adopting a very low-carb diet.

In a ketogenic diet, carbohydrates are typically reduced to under 50 grams per day .

This drastic reduction can come as a shock to the body and may cause withdrawal-like symptoms, similar to those experienced when weaning off an addictive substance like caffeine .

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Is The Stomach Flu Worse In Some People

In general, most people recover quickly from the stomach flu. Symptoms can be worse in babies, young children, older adults or anyone of any age that is immune-compromised. Vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration within just a short period of time, depending on the circumstances. Signs of dehydration include:

• Extreme thirst.
• General weakness.

Are There Home Remedies To Help Me

While the last thing you probably want to do when you have diarrhoea is to eat and drink, remember that severe diarrhoea can cause you to become very weak and dehydrated. It is important to drink plenty of water as you are losing a lot of fluid through bouts of diarrhoea.

Even if you have very little appetite during the first couple of days, try to eat a little dry bread or toast, to keep your blood sugar levels up. Some plain yoghurt should not aggravate your condition, and may even reduce symptoms of diarrhoea. It is important not eat sugary foods, fatty foods, or those which will aggravate an already sensitive digestive system.

Give yourself plenty of rest, as diarrhoea can cause you to feel weak. Exerting yourself while you are suffering from flu and diarrhoea will slow down your recovery.

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Flu Symptoms In Children

Flu symptoms in children are similar to those in adults, although children are more likely to experience vomiting and diarrhea, according to the CDC.

Babies who have the flu seem sicker, fussier, and seem more uncomfortable and unhappier than babies who have a cold, according to the March of Dimes.

Babies and children under age 5 are especially at risk for serious flu-related complications. Children with chronic health problems, such as asthma, are at greatest risk of complications.

Emergency warning signs that should prompt immediate medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish lips or face