Stomach flu is a common name for a disease that is not actually the flu. Many people have probably encountered this disease. Its symptoms are indeed somewhat similar to those of the flu - malaise, high temperature and other signs of intoxication of the body. But instead respiratory tract With intestinal flu, the gastrointestinal tract is affected. This is expressed in various stomach and intestinal disorders - diarrhea, changes in the appearance of feces, nausea and vomiting.
However, the common flu and the intestinal flu still have some similarities. This is because both diseases are viral. Regular flu is caused by an influenza virus, and intestinal flu is caused by a virus belonging to the rotavirus family. Thus, influenza and intestinal flu are caused by different pathogens, so these diseases have slightly different natures.
Often referred to as intestinal flu gastrointestinal diseases, caused not only by rotaviruses, but also by Norfolk viruses and adenoviruses. However, these diseases are not so common, so most often the intestinal flu refers to a disease caused by rotavirus. Viral gastrointestinal pathologies are also often grouped together under the name “viral gastroenteritis.”
Rotavirus was discovered relatively recently, in the 70s of the 20th century. Before its discovery, rotavirus gastroenteritis was not isolated in separate disease, and was thought to be caused by various pathogenic bacteria. However, after the discovery of rotavirus, it became clear why many gastroenteritis, especially in children, are difficult to treat with antibacterial agents.
If aesthetic standards can be applied to the world of microorganisms, then rotavirus can perhaps be considered one of the most beautiful. It has an almost perfectly round shape and is “studded” on all sides with peculiar protruding spikes formed from protein molecules. It is for this shape that rotavirus got its name - from the Latin word “rota” - wheel.
However, behind its attractive appearance, rotavirus hides a very aggressive and cruel essence. Tens of millions of cases are reported worldwide every year. rotavirus infection. And the mortality rate from it, alas, is quite high. In just one year, rotaviruses kill almost a million people. And more than half of them are children under 5 years old. Thus, the mortality rate from intestinal flu exceeds the mortality rate from ordinary flu and is somewhere around 2%.
That is why it is important to know what intestinal flu is, the symptoms and treatment of the disease, and its prevention. In Russia, intestinal flu epidemics occur in the autumn-winter period and approximately coincide in time with the spread of regular flu epidemics.
Most of the sick are children under 5 years of age. In general, intestinal flu is predominantly a childhood illness. Of course, intestinal flu in adults is also not uncommon. However, their disease is usually not as severe or goes away faster. Often, infection with intestinal flu in adults is perceived as a banal stomach upset or food poisoning. This is largely due to the fact that adults have stronger immunity than children. In addition, children have acidity gastric juice less than in adults, which means that children are more likely to have viruses pass through the stomach and settle in the intestines.
By the way, to become infected with rotavirus infection, an insignificant amount of viruses is needed - no more than 100. The incubation period for the development of the disease is 5 days. In total, the disease can last up to two weeks. Favorite place habitat of the virus - villi lining the surface small intestine epithelium. Rotavirus can also live in the duodenum.
In addition to rotavirus, which causes the common stomach flu, which is most likely to affect children, there are other varieties of rotavirus. In particular, rotavirus B, which causes a disease called adult rotavirus infection. This disease, however, is more common in Asian countries. There are also rotaviruses that cause similar diseases in various types animals.
Stomach flu can often begin like a cold, with a slight sore throat and sore throat. However respiratory symptoms soon pass and give way to symptoms of the disorder gastric tract. By these signs you can accurately recognize intestinal flu. Symptoms of gastrointestinal upset include nausea, diarrhea (stools up to several times a day), pain in the lower abdomen and epigastric region, and sometimes vomiting. The disease is also accompanied by a significant increase in temperature, which makes it stand out from others. infectious diseases gastrointestinal tract. Temperatures can reach +38-39 ºС.
Against the background of high fever and diarrhea, signs of exhaustion and dehydration develop:
Fluid loss is very dangerous symptom, it is he who leads to fatal outcome in most cases of the disease.
When diagnosing, it is important to separate viral gastroenteritis from bacterial gastroenteritis, since the treatment methods for these diseases are very different. It is also important not to confuse rotavirus infection with food poisoning. However, this is not difficult to do, since food poisoning usually does not cause an increase in temperature. To identify the pathogen can be carried out various tests, such as PCR analysis.
Treatment of intestinal flu in adults and children is predominantly symptomatic. To date, there are no antiviral drugs that act directly against rotaviruses. Symptomatic treatment has two main directions - relieving symptoms of inflammation and helping the body recover required quantity liquids.
Antipyretics for intestinal flu are taken only if the temperature exceeds +39 ºС, or the patient does not tolerate the temperature well. This is due to the fact that hyperthermia is one of the body’s main means of fighting infection. The higher the body temperature, the more viruses die. Therefore, by lowering the temperature, we interfere with recovery.
For intestinal flu, treatment should also be aimed at replenishing water lost by the body. In order to prevent this, the patient should be given more fluids, especially warm ones. These can be fruit drinks, teas, jelly, juices. Drinking dairy drinks for intestinal flu is not recommended.
In cases of severe dehydration, rehydration solutions can be used or the patient can be given salted water to drink.
Using it for intestinal flu is not only pointless, since they have no effect on the pathogen, but is also often harmful, since antibacterial drugs capable of destroying the remnants of beneficial intestinal microflora. Only when rotavirus infection is combined with bacterial infection can antibiotics be used. However, they can only be taken as prescribed by a doctor and not otherwise.
Since the beneficial intestinal microflora suffers during the disease, it is necessary to take, for example, Bifidumbacterin to restore it. To absorb viral particles and their toxins, sorbents are used - activated carbon.
Diet plays a big role in the treatment of rotavirus infection. The patient needs to take boiled and easily digestible food. Fried, salty, sweet, dairy products are not allowed.
There is no etiotropic, that is, directed against the pathogen itself, therapy. However, many Western countries use rotavirus vaccines with success. In some countries, childhood vaccination is even mandatory. In addition to vaccines, drugs to stimulate the immune system can also be used.
Those who have recovered from rotavirus infection still have strong immunity to the disease. With subsequent infection with the virus, intestinal flu either does not occur at all or goes away in mild form. However, there are many strains of rotavirus, and if a person is immune to one, then nothing prevents him from becoming infected with another, to which he is not immune.
Therefore, we must not forget about disease prevention. It includes standard ones - washing hands, especially after visiting the street, crowded places and the toilet, washing food, especially fruits and vegetables, heat treatment products if necessary, boiling drinking water, regular wet cleaning of the premises. Adults with children in the family should contact special attention to maintain personal hygiene, since many adults can spread rotaviruses without getting sick themselves and without knowing that they are carrying the virus.
Intestinal flu, stomach flu, gastroenteritis or rotavirus infection are the names of the same disease, which is a frequent visitor in summer period. When it’s hot outside, all foods quickly deteriorate, becoming an excellent place of residence for many intestinal bacteria; it is very easy to become infected with rotavirus.
Intestinal flu is a viral infection that enters the body by absorption through the walls of the stomach or intestines. Children, the elderly and pregnant women suffer this disease the worst due to their weak immune system. The main danger with this disease is dehydration. Due to frequent vomiting and endless diarrhea, the body very quickly loses fluid, which can be fatal, especially in infants. Therefore, if you suspect an intestinal infection, children in the first three years of life simply need to be shown to a pediatrician. He will assess the situation and, if possible, give permission to home treatment. In other cases, treatment of young children should be carried out in a hospital setting.
Symptoms of intestinal flu appear quite quickly, within a day after the virus enters the body. On average, incubation period can last from 10 hours to 3-5 days. The speed at which symptoms appear and their intensity depends on the amount of virus that has entered the body, as well as on the patient’s immune system. The following symptoms are typical for rotavirus infection.
The acute period of rotavirus infection lasts no more than a week, usually 3-4 days. Then for about another week the patient recovers and comes to his senses. All this time, until complete recovery, the patient is considered infectious.
Rotavirus infection is a disease of dirty hands. Often people get it if they start eating with dirty hands. An adult held money and handrails in public transport, a child was playing on the playground, and then put food in his mouth with unwashed hands - the virus easily enters the body. Also, an intestinal virus can be ingested with poor-quality or stale food. You need to be especially careful with perishable dairy products during the hot summer. You can also become infected from a patient with gastroenteritis - through household items or by airborne droplets.
Treatment of any viral infections is aimed at removing intoxication, quickly removing the virus from the body and symptomatic treatment. Here are some consistent steps to take if a person gets the stomach flu.
In the acute phase of the disease, a person is unlikely to want to eat anything at all. And there is no need to force him. Now all the body’s forces are aimed at fighting the disease, and digesting food is an additional burden. After passing the acute period, you can start eating crackers, low-fat chicken broth, rice and rice water, oatmeal on the water. None fermented milk products– they create an ideal environment for bacteria to multiply. Very important drinking plenty of fluids. You need to drink a lot, only with the help of liquid can you speed up the removal of the virus from the body. Usually, children during the period of rotavirus infection are allowed everything that is usually prohibited - fruit drinks, compotes, juices. Rosehip decoction helps very well, green tea, chamomile decoction.
Contrary to popular belief, intestinal flu cannot be treated with antibiotics, since the cause of this disease is a virus. Stomach flu can be cured only by fighting the symptoms and eliminating the virus with fluids. To protect the body in the future, it is important to strengthen the immune system - eat right, toughen up, move more and spend time on fresh air. These simple rules will help you avoid meeting with such unpleasant illness like stomach flu.
Rotavirus, or intestinal flu, is an infectious disease that affects the intestinal mucosa (diarrhea occurs); both children and adults are susceptible to it (usually it occurs in a mild form). In children, the main and insidious symptom of influenza is frequent and watery stools. The disease is contagious. Find out about the causes of its appearance, how to treat and prevent it.
Intestinal or stomach flu is an infectious disease caused by rotaviruses. The disease manifests itself as intestinal, respiratory syndromes. Intestinal pathogens are viruses of the Reoviridae family, which are similar in antigenic structure. When viewed under a microscope, they resemble wheels, with a clear rim and short spokes. This viral pathology began to be studied in the early 70s of the last century, when they were discovered in the mucous membrane of the small intestine of sick children.
The source of infection is a sick person or carrier. IN younger age In a child, the source is the mother, and in an older child, the surrounding children, an epidemic in kindergartens, outbreaks of intestinal virus in schools, clubs, etc. In the first days, symptoms of intestinal flu appear, and the patient is dangerous to others, because during this period the content of virus colonies in feces reaches colossal numbers. Animals do not transmit this virus.
The main mechanism of transmission of rotavirus infections is the fecal-oral route (the virus enters through the mouth). It is popularly called “the disease of dirty hands” (like any poisoning). The virus lives in food and any water, so it can be massively transmitted through it. The contact and household route of transmission occurred only sporadically. Infection with rotavirus infection occurs through dairy products: this is due to life cycle virus and the processing features of milk products. The pathogen feels great in the cold and can survive like this for a long time.
Once in the body, the virus, as a rule, penetrates the intestinal mucosa (usually affecting the small intestine) and starts the process of destruction of intestinal villi. Digestive tract enzymes are synthesized that help break down food. As a result, incoming food cannot be digested normally, and disaccharides accumulate in the intestinal lumen, which attract water and salts. This entire mixture is excreted by the body through severe diarrhea, the body gradually becomes dehydrated and weakens.
The so-called incubation period is the time interval from the moment the virus enters a biological object until the first symptoms of inflammation appear. Sometimes it is called latent. Influenza has a short incubation period: the disease lasts from 15 hours to three days, followed by an acute period of 3-7 days, and a recovery period of 4 to 5 days.
Symptoms intestinal infection varied. In many children, the infection is severe and is accompanied by an increase in body temperature to 39°C or higher. If the disease in adults or children with strong immunity is mild, no severe fever is observed. Nuances:
The bowel movements are frequent, watery, sharp foul odor, green or cloudy white. Intestinal form flu is accompanied by loud rumbling in the stomach, the urge to defecate is frequent and productive. If there are bloody streaks in the stool or loss of mucous lumps, you should think about adding other respiratory infections, serious illnesses, bacterial infections, such as shigellosis, escherichiosis. In the background frequent diarrhea Dehydration of varying degrees develops. In adults, intestinal infection without diarrhea is not uncommon.
Another dangerous one characteristic symptom, which is caused by an intestinal virus, quickly leads to dehydration. Manifestation clinical symptom in adults, as a rule, it occurs once, and in children it is combined with diarrhea. Interestingly, the manifestation of acute diarrhea occurs immediately after vomiting or simultaneously. Vomiting due to rotavirus can persist for up to 3-5 days, which leads to loss vitality the child's body.
In children, due to weak children's immunity, the disease is more complex and in a more severe stage. The intoxication of the body is severe, vomiting is frequent and watery, diarrhea appears, which can reach 10 times a day, sometimes more. Flu with diarrhea and fever leads to dehydration, which develops in 75-85% of examined children, and often provokes the development renal failure and hemodynamic disorders.
The amount of urine excreted by the child is significantly reduced, and albuminuria (albumin in the excreted urine) may be observed. Often the appearance of leukocytes and red blood cells in the urine, and residual nitrogen in the blood serum increases. The onset of the disease is accompanied by leukocytosis (increase in white blood cells), after a period of height - leukopenia (decrease in the number of blood white blood cells).
The disease often occurs when eating unwashed fruits and becomes infected intestinal virus with insufficient processing of meat and dairy products, through dirty hands and water. Bacterial causes infections:
Viral causes:
During pregnancy, it is difficult to detect influenza in time. Symptoms can be confused with toxicosis of pregnant women early stages, with gestosis - in the later stages. The virus does not pose a serious threat to the fetus, but for a woman the condition is dangerous due to dehydration and weakening of the body. The main prevention during pregnancy is careful attention to food and lifestyle.
The symptoms are similar to those of other gastrointestinal diseases (common flu, gastritis, viral gastroenteritis, enterocolitis, dysbacteriosis, etc.). Diagnosis is not easy. Final diagnosis can be installed after detecting a virus using laboratory methods– polymerase chain reaction (PCR), passive hemagglutination reaction, complement fixation reaction (CFR), ELISA methods, etc. All changes in blood and urine are normalized after the patient recovers.
Available diagnostic methods:
All treatment comes down to symptomatic therapy(elimination of symptoms), prevention of dehydration. Apply:
It is recommended to take adsorbent or astringent medications (from intestinal disorders), if your stomach hurts badly, painkillers and antispasmodics help. Mild or one-time vomiting or diarrhea does not require treatment. It is recommended to take antibiotics when respiratory infections (cough) or infectious diseases occur in order to avoid the spread of infection, dangerous complications, the main one is intoxication, which is difficult to treat.
For desoldering use effective solution rehydron (capable of normalizing water-salt metabolism). Additional funds:
It is necessary to follow a diet: give up any dairy or fermented milk products. If the person is feeling hungry, you can give a small amount of liquid chicken broth or rice porridge on water without oil. Food is taken in small portions with frequent breaks. At first it is necessary to limit or exclude rich in carbohydrates food.
It is necessary to isolate the child from other children. Against dehydration of the body it is necessary to use special saline solutions. Approved adsorbents for children and lactose-containing preparations are used to restore microflora. At prolonged diarrhea, persistent vomiting may develop signs of underlying complications. It is recommended to call a doctor; hospitalization is possible.
In Europe and the USA they conduct specific prevention with the help of vaccines. We do not have such vaccines. There is a standard set of preventive procedures that are aimed at preventing viruses from entering the body:
Intestinal flu is a viral disease that is caused by rotavirus and occurs with clinical manifestations intestinal infection. Among all intestinal infections this pathology is widespread - according to statistics, 40% of all infectious intestinal diseases are caused by it. Moreover, most often intestinal flu develops in children in the first year of life, while adults become infected with the virus while caring for children.
Intestinal flu in children occurs with more severe symptoms than in adults. Often noted critical increase temperature, which requires immediate use of antipyretics. However, conventional antipyretics often do not reduce the temperature, so it is recommended to administer medications intramuscularly (analgin with diphenhydramine).
The reason for the persistent increase in temperature is the body’s fight against the virus, since the latter dies at a temperature above 38. However, the temperature reaction must be controlled so that it does not cause a malfunction internal organs and systems.
Intestinal flu in children must be distinguished from other intestinal infections, such as or even simple food poisoning, since the symptoms of the diseases are very similar. It is necessary to treat the pathology symptomatically, since special means There is currently no anti-rotavirus.
Intestinal flu is very severe during pregnancy in women - this pathology can cause irreparable harm to the health of the mother and baby, up to and including the death of the fetus in the womb. Therefore, pregnant women need to carefully monitor hygiene and under no circumstances come into contact with children or adults with this condition. viral disease. If a pregnant woman still gets sick, she needs urgent hospitalization and prompt treatment to correct signs of dehydration. A pregnant woman also requires a diet for intestinal flu that offers a gentle diet.
Treatment of intestinal flu in different people age categories(children and adults) consists of carrying out symptomatic therapy and stopping dehydration of the body. Therefore, the first thing to do is to stop vomiting and diarrhea, for which antiemetic and antidiarrheal drugs are used. Adults should be treated with drugs such as Nifuroxazide, and small children in the first year of life should be given Attapulgite and Enterofuril.
Treatment also involves taking sorbents ( activated carbon) and drugs that relieve bloating. The use of Regidron, Smecta and other rehydration solutions helps prevent dehydration. At high temperatures, antipyretics are required.
Diet for intestinal flu is important. Since children and adults have reduced or no appetite, they should be forced to feed small portions of food to replace the loss in the body. nutrients. A gentle diet is recommended, in addition, plenty of fortified drinks are recommended - you can drink rosehip decoctions, strong tea, or a decoction of berries, such as currants. A diet for intestinal flu involves excluding foods that have a laxative effect, including milk and its derivatives. At the same time, it is recommended to eat foods such as:
Over time, the diet for intestinal flu allows you to introduce other foods into the patient’s diet, such as low-fat cottage cheese, fresh berries, mashed potatoes and fruits, stewed vegetables (without salt and spices). But from fried, fatty, salty, spicy food, as well as sweets, you will have to give up during the treatment period and for some time after the infection.
Stop blaming your condition on the stomach flu and instead find out the true name of your problem: norovirus. It belongs to the family of viruses that cause gastroenteritis, although adenovirus and astrovirus can also cause it. But rotavirus infection is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis, especially in newborns, older adults and young children.
Norovirus can spread like wildfire in any crowded place, causing outbreaks in kindergartens, schools, hospitals and offices.
When people say "stomach flu" they mean the influenza virus that circulates in environment and every year it attacks a person through the nose and throat. Flu shots can protect against this virus, but not the one that causes viral gastroenteritis.
Confusion between the regular flu and the stomach flu may be due to some symptoms common to both diseases. For example, this could be aches and pain throughout the body, nausea, low-grade fever, headache and muscle pain.
But among the symptoms of regular flu, there is no such thing as stomach pain (at least in adults).
Stomach flu It is spread by the "fecal-oral route", which is as dangerous as the airborne route through which regular flu is spread. Stomach flu viruses generally enter the body through contaminated stool or vomit. Constant and thorough hand washing is the best remedy defense against gastroenteritis.
Wash your hands especially thoroughly if you change diapers or clean up after a sick child, and adults in the family should constantly clean up after themselves and maintain personal hygiene.
Viral gastroenteritis is not quite the same as food poisoning, which can occur due to any illness caused by industrial pollutants, including dangerous bacterial toxins such as salmonella. But norovirus is the number one cause of all diseases food origin.
Viral gastroenteritis can be spread from person to person or from touching a contaminated surface. But you can also get viral gastroenteritis from sewage, contaminated food or water, or cooked or processed food infected person. Hence all these “wash your hands” signs in restaurants and hotel bathrooms.
Compared to other viruses, noroviruses can be surprisingly hardy and remain alive for several days. They remain on household surfaces even after cleaning, so they spread easily. Even small amounts of viruses can cause infection.
To avoid contracting a stomach virus, wash your hands with soap and water, which is more effective than disinfectants for hands Avoid cooking if you are sick (you may be contagious for 3 days or more after flu or gastroenteritis symptoms disappear). Wash clothes carefully, using gloves, to avoid contracting the stomach flu from contaminated clothing and bedding.
Use detergents based on environmentally friendly substances to kill the virus on hard surfaces.
Diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain will not appear immediately after the viruses reach the gastrointestinal tract. Stomach flu symptoms usually develop gradually over one or two days.
But other types of food poisoning can come on quickly and severely—just hours after you eat something stale. Their symptoms tend to be more severe, such as severe and prolonged vomiting and diarrhea.
Both diseases - stomach flu and other types of food poisoning - are what doctors call "self-limiting", that is, these diseases go away on their own and rarely require treatment.
Be aware that norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness, but salmonella and other pathogens can lead to hospitalization or death.
If you have viral gastroenteritis, you should start to feel better after two or three days of illness. Food poisoning, on the other hand, is caused by other things - it affects you more and more quickly, but it goes away faster and you can return to normal work in a day or two.
It goes without saying that if you are losing a lot of fluid due to watery diarrhea and vomiting, you need to drink fluids. But in addition to fluid, you also lose sodium, potassium and other minerals known as electrolytes, and these also need to be replenished with proper diet. To replenish potassium reserves in the body, you need to eat rice porridge with water and bananas - they contain a lot of potassium.
If you have severe diarrhea, you should drink oral electrolyte solutions containing salts and sugars, as well as water. Energy drinks(especially for those who are interested in sports) - no best choice, because they do not contain the right mixture of salt and sugar in terms of replacing lost fluid.
Try to avoid drinking too much sugary soda or drinks such as juice that contain a lot of sugar. Exception - Orange juice, indicated for dehydration. The most big mistake What people with stomach flu do is just try to drink a lot of sparkling water. They know they need to drink something to keep themselves hydrated, but they don't do it correctly.
It is undesirable to consume dairy products, for example, kefirs and yoghurts, milk, since the virus converts milk protein into a toxin, and your condition will only worsen. It is also undesirable to consume bread and sweets with soda, which are very difficult to digest and assimilate.
If you have lost a lot of water, you need to drink chamomile infusions, still mineral water, green tea, and blueberry jelly.
Many people mistakenly think that stomach flu requires antibiotics. But there is really no treatment for viral gastroenteritis other than time and symptom relief. Antibiotics are useless in this case, so don't be surprised if your doctor doesn't recommend them.
But for stomach flu, antidiarrheal medications are indicated, which can also help relieve cramping and diarrhea. But you should avoid them if you have bloody diarrhea and high fever, as this may cause symptoms to worsen.
In children of primary preschool and school age the immune system is still weak enough to fight viral infections In addition, with the stomach flu, children and the elderly are at greater risk of dehydration. Older people are more prone to viral gastroenteritis and take longer to recover from the illness.
Any person with chronic diseases such as heart disease, asthma, cancer or kidney disease, people exposed to HIV, or taking medications that suppress immune system, should definitely consult a doctor before taking anything for an upset stomach.
When the vomiting and diarrhea stop, you will of course feel very hungry. But you should not pounce on food, but wait a few days before throwing yourself a banquet. Eat small meals and drink less. If you overload your stomach, you will feel sick again too soon. So don't include it in your diet just yet. fatty foods and give your stomach time to digest the food.
If you see blood in your stool or vomit, see your doctor. Diarrhea in itself is not a cause for alarm, but call your doctor if you experience extreme lethargy, confusion, or changes in mental state, or absence of urine (or urine is dark and concentrated). These are all signs of severe dehydration.
In addition, you need medical care, if you do not get better after three days of illness, you have prolonged vomiting that prevents you from drinking normal amounts of fluid, or if your temperature has risen above 38 degrees Celsius.
Stomach flu is quite dangerous disease, which requires proper treatment. And then you will recover very quickly.
