Stomach flu, medically known as gastroenteritis, can make you sick for several days. Although often harmless, the disease is difficult to cure if not treated properly. If you want to recover and recover as quickly as possible, take steps to treat your symptoms and keep yourself hydrated and get plenty of rest.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Watch Out for Symptoms
Step 1. Understand the symptoms of gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis affects all parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms of the disease can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and not feeling well. One or all of the symptoms may occur with gastroenteritis.
The disease is self-limited, meaning that viral gastroenteritis usually clears up on its own within 2-3 days. So, physical symptoms should only last less than a week
Step 2. Understand the transmission of gastroenteritis
The disease is transmitted by contact with a gastroenteritis patient, eating food prepared by the patient, or touching objects, such as bathroom doorknobs, that the patient has recently touched. These simple actions leave virus particles that can be transmitted to other people.
Step 3. Notice if you have gastroenteritis
Have you been in contact with someone who has gastroenteritis? Are you experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis? If your symptoms include mild-to-moderate nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, you are most likely experiencing a very common type of gastroenteritis that can be caused by one of the three most common viral pathogens: norwalk, rotavirus, or adenovirus.
- Patients with this type of gastroenteritis usually don't need medical treatment for recovery unless two things happen: severe or localized abdominal pain (which could be an indication of appendicitis, pancreatitis, or another serious medical condition) or signs of dehydration, i.e. near fainting or fainting of the head. feeling lightheaded, especially when standing up, or an increased heart rate.
- In infants and children, reduced tear production, less wet diapers, sunken skull, and skin that doesn't return to its original shape after pinching are signs of dehydration.
Step 4. Call your doctor if symptoms are very severe or last a long time
It's important to see a doctor, especially if your symptoms don't improve over time. Call your doctor or go to a clinic if any of the following symptoms occur:
- Frequent or persistent vomiting for more than one day
- Fever over 38 degrees Celsius
- Diarrhea for more than 2 days
- Weight loss
- Decreased urine production
- Confused
- Weak
Step 5. Know when to go to the emergency room
Dehydration can be a serious medical problem. If you experience any of the following symptoms of severe dehydration, go to the emergency department immediately or call the emergency number.
- Fever over 39 degrees Celsius
- Confused
- Weak (lethargic)
- Seizure
- Hard to breathe
- Chest or stomach pain
- Faint
- Not urinating for 12 hours
Step 6. Realize that dehydration can be more life-threatening for some people
Infants and young children are at higher risk of complications such as from dehydration as well as diabetes, old age, or having HIV. Infants and children are at a higher risk of severe dehydration than adults. If you suspect your child is dehydrated, seek medical attention immediately. Some common symptoms include:
- Dark urine
- Mouth and eyes are drier than usual
- No tears when crying
Step 7. Try not to pass on gastroenteritis to other people
Wash your hands frequently. Prevent the flu from spreading to all family members by washing your hands frequently. Research has shown that washing hands with plain soap (no need antibacterial) and warm water for 15-30 seconds is very effective at killing germs on hands.
- Don't touch people if you don't have to. Don't hug, kiss, or shake hands if you don't have to.
- Try not to touch frequently touched objects, such as doorknobs, toilet flush handles, faucets, or kitchen cabinet handles. Cover your hands with a sleeve, or, a tissue first.
- Sneeze or cough into the elbow. Bend your elbows and bring them up to your face so that your nose and mouth are on your bent elbow. This will prevent germs from sticking to your hands, which can increase the chances of germs spreading everywhere.
- Wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer. If you recently vomited, sneezed, or handled other bodily fluids, wash your hands.
Step 8. Keep the child with gastroenteritis away from other people
Children who are experiencing gastroenteritis should not go to school or be placed in child care, so that the disease does not infect other people. Patients with acute gastroenteritis (Acute Gastroenteritis [AGE]) excrete bacteria through the stool during diarrhea. So, until the diarrhea stops, the patient should be kept away from other people.
When they no longer have diarrhea, children can return to school, because they can no longer transmit the disease. The school may require a doctor's letter allowing the child to return to school, but this depends on the rules of each school
Method 2 of 3: Treating Symptoms
Step 1. Treat nausea
Focus on preventing vomiting. That means, if you are vomiting, your main goal should be to relieve nausea and prevent vomiting. Without fluids, symptoms can lead to dehydration and slow healing.
Many people like to drink carbonated plain drinks, such as lemon-lime soda, to relieve nausea. Others suggest ginger to relieve nausea
Step 2. Treat diarrhea
Diarrhea can be described as watery stools or frequent but watery bowel movements. Diarrhea experienced by each patient can be different. However, if fluid is lost due to diarrhea, this loss should be replaced by drinks containing electrolytes, such as Gatorade and Pedialyte, as well as water. Since electrolytes, especially potassium, are the key to the heart's electrical conduction, they are lost due to diarrhea, you should be very aware of this condition, and maintain normal levels of electrolytes in the body.
There are differing opinions as to whether it is better to let the virus "leave" on its own (in other words, not to take antidiarrheal drugs) or to stop the diarrhea. However, taking over-the-counter antidiarrheal drugs is completely safe for treating common types of gastroenteritis
Step 3. Treat dehydration
The combination of vomiting and diarrhea can make dehydration a major complication. Adults who are dehydrated may feel dizzy when they get up, have an increased heart rate when standing up, have a dry mouth, or feel very weak. Part of the problem with dehydration is that it causes a deficiency of important electrolytes, such as potassium.
- If fluids are lost due to diarrhea, replace them with electrolytes (Gatorade, Pedialyte) as well as water. Since electrolytes, especially potassium, are the key to the heart's electrical conduction, they are lost due to diarrhea, you should be very aware of this condition, and maintain normal levels of electrolytes in the body.
- If you lose a lot of fluids and have severe diarrhea, see a doctor immediately. Your doctor can confirm that your symptoms are caused by viral gastroenteritis, so that appropriate treatment can be started. It is important to confirm the diagnosis, as there are other conditions, such as bacterial infection, parasites, or intolerance to lactose or sorbitol, that cause the same symptoms as gastroenteritis.
Step 4. Watch for signs of dehydration, especially in infants and young children
Infants and children are particularly at risk of becoming dehydrated. If your child does not want to drink fluids, consult a doctor immediately, because children become dehydrated faster than adults.
Step 5. Treat abdominal pain
Pain relievers that can be purchased without a doctor's prescription can be taken to make the body feel comfortable during the few days you are sick. If a warm bath can help, do so.
If over-the-counter pain relievers aren't able to relieve the pain, seek professional medical help
Step 6. Don't take antibiotics
Since gastroenteritis is caused by a virus, not bacteria, antibiotics won't help. Do not ask for antibiotics at the pharmacy, and do not buy if offered.
Method 3 of 3: Making Yourself Feel Better
Step 1. Avoid excessive stress
Remember, the main purpose of relaxing and recuperating at home is to keep away from stressors that can slow down the healing process. As much as possible relieving stress and tension can help make your body feel better faster.
Step 2. Accept the fact that you are sick and temporarily unable to work
Don't waste valuable energy trying to stay at work or in school. Sickness can happen, and your boss will probably understand and make allowances as long as you plan to catch up on work later. For now, just focus on healing yourself.
Step 3. Ask someone to help with daily tasks
Ask a friend or relative to help with things that still need to be done, such as doing the laundry or buying medicine at the pharmacy. Most people will be happy to help.
Step 4. Drink plenty of fluids
To keep yourself hydrated, drink as much fluids as you can hold without vomiting. Purchase water or electrolyte solutions at the pharmacy. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, or any drinks that are too acidic (such as orange juice) or alkaline (such as milk).
- Sports drinks (such as Gatorade) are high in sugar and are not hydrating. These drinks will only increase the feeling of bloating and discomfort.
- Make your own hydrating drink. If you're trying to stay hydrated or can't go to the pharmacy for electrolyte solutions, make your own hydrating drink. Mix 1 liter of water, 6 tsp (30 ml) sugar, and 0.5 tsp (2.5 g) salt, and drink as much as you can.
Step 5. Don't eat foods that don't help make you feel better
If you vomit frequently, don't eat foods that taste bad or hurt when you vomit, such as chips or spicy foods. Also, don't eat dairy products for the first 24-48 hours, as they can make diarrhea worse. When you can eat again, start with something easy to digest, like soup, then broth, then soft food.
Step 6. Eat plain food
Try using the BRAT diet, which only eats bananas (bananas), rice (rice), applesauce (apple sauce), and toast (toast). The food is quite bland, so it is hoped that it will not trigger vomiting but still provide the nutrients needed for a speedy recovery.
- Bananas have a double function, because they are nutritious foods that are tasteless and have a high potassium content, to replace electrolytes lost due to diarrhea.
- Rice is a plain food and does not induce vomiting, even in patients who feel nauseous. Rice water, which has a little sugar added, can also be tried, but the benefits of the solution have not been scientifically proven.
- Applesauce is also tasteless and sweet, tends to be easy to digest, even if consumed as much as 1 tsp every 30 minutes. This method requires patience, especially when caring for children, who can often only drink a little or a spoonful. Drink little by little, because consumption in large quantities can trigger vomiting, so treatment becomes futile.
- Toast is a source of plain carbohydrates that does not induce vomiting in most people.
- If there's no food that won't induce vomiting, try baby food. Commercial baby food is specially made to be easy to digest and rich in vitamins and nutrients. Try it if all other foods trigger vomiting.
Step 7. Rest when you can
With only a few important limitations, adequate sleep is necessary when the body is trying to fight off viral gastroenteritis. Try to get at least 8-10 hours of sleep every day, if not more.
Nap. If you can stay home instead of working or attending school, take a nap if you feel tired. Don't feel guilty about not doing something productive-sleep is actually important for your body to repair and recover
Step 8. Create a tent
If you're most comfortable resting on a couch where you can easily find food and entertainment, consider getting blankets and pillows ready so you can sleep on them whenever you want, instead of moving everything onto the bed.
Step 9. Do not take sleeping pills if you are vomiting frequently
As tempting as it may seem, don't take sleeping pills while you're still sick. Falling asleep on your back and vomiting through your nose and mouth can be life threatening.
Step 10. Don't try to ignore the feeling of wanting to throw up
As soon as you feel like throwing up, move quickly. Better to wake up thinking you're going to throw up than to dirty the couch.
- Stay near the bathroom. If you have time to run to the closet, flushing the toilet is much easier than cleaning the floor.
- Vomit in an easy-to-clean area. If you have several dishwasher-washable mixing bowls that you rarely use (or plan to never use again), consider keeping them near you throughout the day and at bedtime. After that, you can discard the contents and wash the bowl in the sink by hand, or you can put the bowl in the dishwasher.
Step 11. Cool down if you have a fever
Turn on the fan so that it blows towards your body. If the body is very hot, place a metal bowl filled with ice in front of the fan.
- Place a cold compress on the forehead. Dampen a piece of cloth or washcloth in cold water, and re-wet it frequently.
- Take a shower or bath with lukewarm water. Don't worry about soaping the body. Just focus on reducing body temperature.
Step 12. Find light entertainment
If you can't do anything but lie down and watch a movie or TV show, don't choose sad dramas. Choose movies/shows that are cute and funny. Laughter can help relieve pain and speed healing.
Step 13. Slowly return to your daily routine
As you begin to recover, start doing your daily tasks again. Start by showering and getting dressed as soon as you feel better. Then, do chores, drive, and return to work or school when you are well.
Tips
- Disinfection of the house after recovery. Wash sheets, clean bathrooms, doorknobs, etc. (all objects that are felt to be contaminated and can cause germs to spread).
- Don't hesitate to ask for help!
- Dimming the lighting and keeping it quiet (not noisy) can often help. With dim lighting, the eyes will not be tired from bright light. Noise often causes headaches and stress.
- Drink water little by little, do not immediately a lot. Drinking large amounts of fluids can make you vomit.
- Use a small plastic bag or garbage bag for the vomit. Tie a plastic bag and replace it with a new one after every vomit to make cleaning easier and prevent the spread of the virus.
- Consider giving children the rotavirus vaccine. A norovirus vaccine for adults is coming soon.
- Drinking lemonade, water with lemon, or lemon soda can help relieve the bad taste after vomiting, but it's best to only take one small cup and drink slowly. Gargle all over the mouth, then swallow.
- Eat yogurt or applesauce, especially yogurt, as they are good for the stomach. Make sure to eat a little at a time so you don't vomit. Foods such as yogurt and applesauce are easily digested by the stomach.
- Large towels can be used for vomiting. Just make sure there's nothing under the towel that could be damaged (like books or electronics). Always wash towels and anything underneath (sheets, blankets) after each use.
- Don't drink tea or any other beverage too quickly even if it feels good; because it can vomit again about an hour later.
