A Overview of the 24-Hour Stomach Flu

If you have ever come down with the stomach flu and have experienced episodes of crushing nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, someone probably told you that it's just a "24-hour bug."

Is there really such a thing? Can a stomach bug actually slip through your system as fast as that, leaving behind only a vague memory of the illness?

This article explains the symptoms, causes, and treatment of the stomach flu.

Understanding Stomach Flu

When describing a stomach bug, the word "flu" is not exactly correct. In purely medical terms, the flu (influenza) is a common viral infection that mainly affects the respiratory system. You usually have symptoms such as:

• Fever
• Chills
• Muscle aches
• Cough
• Congestion

On the other hand, the stomach flu is more accurately referred to as gastroenteritis. Unlike influenza, gastroenteritis can be triggered by any number of disease-causing pathogens including:

• Bacteria
• Viruses
• Parasites
• Fungi

It is commonly associated with the rotavirus in children and either the norovirus or Campylobacter bacteria in adults.

Here's a brief look at the main differences between stomach flu and seasonal flu.

Clearly, because lots of things can cause stomach flu, it may be overly optimistic to suggest that it will go away in 24 hours. It may do so, but it can also take up to 10 days for some to fully recover.

Stomach Flu Symptoms

Gastroenteritis, also known as infectious diarrhea, is characterized by the inflammation of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract.

It can lead to

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Fever
• Abdominal distress (pain, cramps)

In general, stomach flu appears suddenly. It hits hard. Then it gets better once the symptoms decrease.

Causes

The most common causes of stomach flu include:

• Viruses such as rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus, and astrovirus are known to cause viral gastroenteritis. These represent around 70% of stomach flu cases in children, especially the rotavirus. The norovirus represents around 60% of all cases in the United States. The viruses are extremely contagious and easily passed from person to person. They are also passed indirectly through contaminated food and water.
• Bacterial causes include Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Shigella, and Clostridium difficile. Bacteria-associated gastroenteritis is primarily related to something you ate. Of the possible bacterial causes, Campylobacter strains account for around one-third of all cases. Many of these infections are transmitted through contaminated poultry or other tainted foods, including meat, produce, and dairy products.
• Parasites are less common causes of gastroenteritis but still account for around 3% of all cases in children. The primary culprit is Giardia lamblia. It's spread through contaminated food, water, or by the fecal-oral route (poor hygiene).
  

Handwashing after using the restroom and practicing good hygiene helps prevent the transmission of stomach flu.

Treatment

Symptoms of gastroenteritis are usually acute and go away on their own without the need for a healthcare provider's visit. The main focus of treatment is the prevention of dehydration due to the severe loss of fluids.

Supportive therapies may include:

• Rehydration with water or electrolyte-rich sports drinks (sodas and any fruit juice high in simple sugar should be avoided)
• A BRAT diet (consisting of banana, rice, apple, and toast) to ease a queasy stomach and stop diarrhea
• Anti-nausea medicines like Reglan (metoclopramide) to reduce the incidence of vomiting and lessen the risk of dehydration
• Tylenol (acetaminophen) to relieve fever with fewer side effects and less stomach upset

When to Call a Healthcare Provider

Call your healthcare provider immediately or go to the emergency room if the following occurs:

• You have vomiting or diarrhea that continues for more than 24 hours
• You experience violent vomiting
• You have blood in your vomit
• You are having trouble keeping fluids down
• You are experiencing signs of severe dehydration

Severe dehydration symptoms include dizziness, weakness, confusion, fainting, or fever over 101 degrees F .

Summary

Stomach flu is transmitted by contaminated food or water. It's also transmitted through person-to-person contact. It is not the same as the flu, or influenza.

Common symptoms of the stomach flu include fever, abdominal distress, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, Sometimes, stomach flu may go away after 24 hours. But it may take up to 10 days before you fully recover.