Explain what it feels like to have stomach flu.



It may be quite debilitating to suffer from the stomach flu.

While being ill is unpleasant for anybody, the stomach flu symptoms are particularly unwelcome. If you're not prepared, it may strike at any time, leaving you altogether incapacitated and unpleasant (i.e., lying on the bathroom floor within constant reach of the sink or toilet).


Chills, fever, and nausea are the first symptoms, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, and severe pain. There is currently no treatment for this dreadful condition. The stomach bug needs to take its course.





However, the treatments listed below may help alleviate the worst symptoms and get you back on your feet after the worst is through.


Sweating, throwing up, and having diarrhea all cause significant fluid loss; therefore, replacing these is essential. You might try taking frequent little sips or chewing on ice chips if you're having difficulties keeping drinks down


 The healthiest drinks to consume are:


Water, broth, and other transparent liquids


drugs available without a prescription, such as Pedialyte (a good choice for any age)


Electrolyte replacement aiding beverages, such as sports drinks (this should be reserved for older children and adults)


Some herbal drinks, including ginger and peppermint, have been shown to settle the stomach and reduce nausea (avoid highly caffeinated teas)


Avoid these beverages


Caffeinated liquids, such as coffee, strong black tea, and chocolate, might disrupt sleep when it's essential to get enough shut-eye.





Alcoholic beverages are diuretics.


Additionally, your stomach might be irritated by all of these things.


Try out the BRAT diet


When you have stomach flu, it might be hard to keep food down. If the notion of eating makes you uncomfortable, you shouldn't force yourself to eat. Take things slowly and quickly when you feel like you've reached a point where you can get anything down.


If you're feeling queasy, you might try the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast). Simple carbs in these four meals provide sustained energy while other nutrients are replenished.


Bananas are simple to break down, replenish potassium lost via vomiting and diarrhea, and fortify the stomach lining.






White rice is a good source of carbohydrate-based energy and is simple for the body to digest. Because of its high fiber content, brown rice may cause bloating and gas in some people.






Applesauce: The sugars and carbohydrates in applesauce give you energy, while the pectin in applesauce can treat diarrhea. It's also relatively simple to absorb.


If you're having toast, use white bread instead of whole wheat because the extra fiber may cause stomach upset. White bread is more digestible since it is pasteurized.






The Bad Foods to Avoid


Don't eat anything with dairy, fiber, or hot or fatty flavors.


Milk: Some people can drink milk even when they have stomach flu. However, it may be difficult to digest and worsen gas and diarrhea symptoms.






Extra fiber isn't necssary if you're already passing water effortlessly.


Grease: Stay away from bacon and other fatty, salty meals.


 Avoid spicy foods like curry, chili sauce, and meals prepared with tomatoes.


Third, acupressure can be used to alleviate motion sickness






Acupressure


Has been proven to help with nausea. To locate pressure point P-6, as the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center recommended, one must first measure the distance across three fingers from the palm's base.


With your thumb, you can feel a tender region between two tendons if you press just below that width. Two or three minutes of thumb massage.






You can wear Sea-Bands on your wrists. These could be effective if pressing the P-6 acupressure point helps with your nausea.


Make sure you get enough sleep.


To recover from the stomach flu, you need to get enough sleep. Reduce your typical daytime activities and get plenty of rest. This entails spending most of your time not in bed sitting on the sofa.


While you snooze, your cells are busy mending themselves and fighting off the illness.


Exercise caution when using medication.






If it is due to virus, stomach flu symptoms, no amount of treatment can help.


You can treat the symptoms with over-the-counter medicine, but you should only use it as directed. If it doesn't make your stomach feel worse, ibuprofen (Advil) can help reduce your heat and pain. Kidney damage is another possible complication of dehydration. Try to limit your intake and take it during mealtimes.


Unless you have liver illness, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a standard recommendation for treating stomach flu. Fever and pains are reduced, and there is less risk of stomach irritation than when using ibuprofen.


There are pharmaceutical drugs available to help with nausea and diarrhea. Your doctor may recommend an antiemetic medication to help with nausea and vomiting.


Over-the-counter antidiarrheal medications, such as loperamide hydrochloride (Imodium) or bismuth subsalicylate, may also be helpful (Pepto-Bismol). Before relying on anything sold in a store, see your doctor. Pepto-Bismol is not safe for use in youngsters.


Treatments for Children


If you think getting the stomach flu is bad, imagine how difficult it is to see your child suffer through it. Take your infant to the doctor if the symptoms persist for more than two days.


Your child's doctor can ensure a speedy and problem-free recovery. They can also ensure that their symptoms aren't due to anything else.


Preventing dehydration in children requires constant encouragement to drink water (or, in the case of newborns, breast milk or formula). An electrolyte solution, such as Pedialyte, can also be given to all newborns and toddlers.


The origins of the stomach flu


Stomach flu, also known as gastroenteritis, can be brought on by various viruses. The influenza virus, which typically causes the seasonal flu, is not to blame.


Microorganisms might be blameless frequently, usually because of unclean water or food preparation methods.


How to Avoid Getting the Stomach Bug


Taking extra safety measures is warranted when the stomach flu is prevalent. Wash your hands often and try to limit your contact with sick persons.


Regular hand washing and rest are two of the most fundamental strategies to avoid catching the stomach flu or any other disease. Additional preventative measures include the following:


When the dishwasher is available, use it instead of hand cleaning the dishes.


If you need to clean your hands, use soap and water instead of antibacterial hand gel.






When someone in your family is unwell, they must be kept in isolation. If you can, try to keep them confined to one bathroom while the rest of the family uses the others.


The handles of the shopping carts should be cleaned.


Use a disinfectant spray to clean the counters and other surfaces, and wash all linens and clothing.


Can one person infect another with the stomach flu?


Yes! The common cold is often brought on by bacteria, but viruses can cause stomach flu. As the symptoms don't manifest until one to three days after exposure, you're still infectious throughout that time.





It takes 14 days for the virus infection to complete its course, and during that time, you might still be infectious even if you feel better. In children, the incubation time is extended.


Do not contact other people at work or school if you are sick. Wait 24 hours after a fever has subsided before resuming normal activities.


Paths to health and happiness


Although stomach flu is fun, most individuals recover fully without lasting effects. The most significant difficulty may lie in maintaining enough fluid intake during the length of the illness.


The only natural treatment for the stomach flu is time and the therapies mentioned above.


If you haven't been able to keep anything down for 24 hours, are dehydrated, have a temperature above 102 degrees Fahrenheit, are vomiting blood, or have bloody diarrhea, you should get medical help immediately.