Viral Gastroenteritis
By Dr. Matt Bogard
Nearly all of us have fallen victim
to the "stomach flu;" it starts out innocently enough when you
realize you feel a little run-down, but soon it rears its ugly head as you
scramble (repeatedly) to the bathroom hoping to make it before your insides
explode.
The
medical term for the stomach flu is "gastroenteritis" and is often
caused by a viral infection of the stomach and intestines. Norovirus, rotavirus, adenovirus, and
sapovirus are common offenders. People
get infected by touching an infected person or a surface with the virus on it
and then either touch their own mouth or their food before washing their
hands. Common symptoms of viral
gastroenteritis include the expected nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Victims may also report fevers, stomach cramping,
decreased appetite, and headaches and muscle aches from dehydration. In fact, the dehydration can become severe and
life-threatening in young children and elderly people.
Fortunately,
most people with viral gastroenteritis do not need specific treatment as the
virus will run its course and you will recover.
The most important thing to do is maintain hydration. Water and sports drinks, particularly those
lower in sugar, are a great way to replenish both your fluids and
electrolytes. Oral rehydration solutions
like Pedialyte contain additional electrolytes for young children but are less
palatable. I always tell my pregnant
patients your urine should be "lighter in color than lemonade" and,
if not, you need more water.
It's also
best to alter your diet a little, if you can keep foods down. Cereals and lean meats, bland foods, and
whole grains are good choices. Avoid
juices and colas -they can make the diarrhea worse. Protein is also important to healing your gut
- peanut butter and lean meats are a good source. Once you are up to it, yogurts containing
lactobacillus may help restore the normal bacteria to your bowels. You should also avoid taking any anti-diarrhea
medications - it oftentimes just prolongs the illness. Your body is working to expel the virus by
any means it can, and slowing your bowels with anti-diarrhea medication
prevents your body from doing so.
Dr.
Matt Bogard, M.D. is a medical doctor.
He is board-certified in Family Medicine and Board-Eligible in Emergency
Medicine. He sees patients of all ages,
genders, and complaints.
References:
Blog: https://matthewbogardmd.blogspot.com/
News: https://medicogazette.com/dr-matthew-bogard%2C-iowa
News: https://medicogazette.com/dr-matthew-bogard%2C-iowa
News:
https://hype.news/dr-matthew-bogard/
News: https://attorneygazette.com/matthew-bogard%2C-md#7244cab0-d3fa-44b9-8632-6f83b0524da4
News: https://attorneygazette.com/matthew-bogard%2C-md#7244cab0-d3fa-44b9-8632-6f83b0524da4
LinkedIn
Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewbogard/
Dr. Matthew Bogard, Iowa doctor, is an emergency medicine doctor primarily at the Lucas County Health Center in Chariton, Iowa. Presently, he is Board Certified in Family Medicine by the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
