Viral gastroenteritis (gastro) is a common infection of the stomach and intestines that causes vomiting and diarrhoea. Gastro can be caused by many different viruses. Examples of viruses that cause gastro are rotavirus and norovirus.
The main symptoms of viral gastroenteritis are watery diarrhea and vomiting. The affected person may also have headache, fever, and abdominal cramps (“stomach ache”).
Most individuals with gastroenteritis will experience both diarrhea and vomiting, but some experience only one of these symptoms. Diarrhea is often very watery (type 7 on the Bristol stool chart), and can be bloody if the source of gastroenteritis is bacterial.
It's usually caused by a bacterial or viral tummy bug. It affects people of all ages, but is particularly common in young children. Most cases in children are caused by a virus called rotavirus. Cases in adults are usually caused by norovirus (the 'winter vomiting bug') or bacterial food poisoning.
Depending on the cause, viral gastroenteritis symptoms may appear within 1-3 days after you're infected and can range from mild to severe. Symptoms usually last just a day or two, but occasionally they may last up to 14 days.
Causes of diarrhea that are not due to acute illness include eating certain foods, food allergies and intolerances, some medications, caffeine intake, laxative use, alcohol use, digestive problems and diseases (celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome [IBS], Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, small intestinal ...
The most common causes of acute and persistent diarrhea are infections, travelers' diarrhea, and side effects of medicines. Viral infections. Many viruses cause diarrhea, including norovirus link and rotavirus link. Viral gastroenteritis is a common cause of acute diarrhea.
Try anti-diarrhea medications.
Some adults may find it helpful to take loperamide (Imodium A-D) or bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol, others) to manage their symptoms.
There are currently five genera of viruses recognized as established causes of gastroenteritis in humans, i.e. Rotavirus, Norovirus, Sapovirus, Astrovirus, and group F adenovirus.
One tried-and-true diet for diarrhea is the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Low in fiber, bland, and starchy, these foods can help replace lost nutrients and firm up your stools.
Since diarrhea is your body's way of getting rid of toxins, it is best to let it run its course. However, you may use over-the-counter antidiarrheal remedies for convenience, including: Attapulgite (Kaopectate) Loperamide (Imodium)
Many viruses can cause diarrhea. One of the more common causes is norovirus. It has also been a symptom of the COVID-19 virus. Another way you can get diarrhea is from food poisoning or after taking antibiotics.
The infected person may feel very sick and vomit often, sometimes without warning, many times a day. Sometimes people infected with norovirus have no symptoms at all, but can still pass the virus to others.
While most of us know some of the common symptoms of COVID-19—such as fever, shortness of breath, and a dry cough—it's quite common to experience gastrointestinal distress, such as diarrhea. That's because diarrhea is the body's way of quickly disposing of viruses, bacteria, and toxins from the digestive tract.
Speak to your GP if: You or your child has diarrhoea and: it's particularly frequent or severe. it lasts for more than 7 days.
A rapid stool test can be used to detect the rotavirus or norovirus but it is not readily available at most clinics. There are no quick tests for other viruses. A stool sample can also be used to rule out bacterial or parasitic infection.
Norovirus is the most common viral cause. It is responsible for 90% of epidemic diarrheal cases worldwide and approximately 50% of all viral gastroenteritis cases.
The CDC recommends bleach to kill the stomach bug-causing norovirus on surfaces. But if that will damage your counter or you'd rather not use it, look for “phenolic solution” on the label of a concentrated disinfectant. To kill the germs, the EPA suggests you use 2 to 4 times the recommended amount.
People infected with norovirus are contagious from the moment they begin feeling ill to at least 3 days after recovery. Some people may be contagious for as long as 2 weeks after recovery. Therefore, good hand washing is important.
Norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhea, is on the rise in the U.S. according to CDC data.
Share on Pinterest Causes of explosive diarrhea can include viral infections, bacterial infections, and food allergies. The viruses most often responsible for diarrhea include norovirus, rotavirus, or any number of the viruses that cause viral gastroenteritis. This condition is what many people call the “stomach flu.”
Food Allergy or Sensitivity. If you are regularly experiencing diarrhea that is not accompanied by a fever or other symptoms, consider doing some food allergy testing and/or an elimination diet. Certain sensitivities are not picked up on allergy food testing so both can be helpful to uncover underlying intolerances.
Norovirus and rotavirus share many similarities. They cause many of the same symptoms, affect people of any age, and have a similar duration of symptoms. Often, the only means of diagnosis is through a stool sample test.
Schedule a doctor's visit for an adult with these symptoms:
Diarrhea lasts more than two days without improvement. Excessive thirst, dry mouth or skin, little or no urination, severe weakness, dizziness or lightheadedness, or dark-colored urine, which could indicate dehydration.