Symptoms of the stomach flu may include:
VomitingAbdominal painDiarrheaNauseaFeverChillsWeaknessMuscle PainWeight LossDecreased appetite
Although most people recover from stomach bugs without medical treatment, sometimes these symptoms are caused by more serious problems that do require medical intervention.
Vomiting longer than 24 hoursBlood in your vomitSevere abdominal painVomiting with severe headache and stiff neckSigns of dehydration—dark or infrequent urine, dry mouth
Some people may become dehydrated from vomiting and having diarrhea. Some cases of dehydration need to be treated with medications or IV fluids—even if the cause is a simple stomach virus.
Unfortunately, many people make mistakes in how they attempt to treat vomiting and diarrhea. We all just want it to stop but if you do certain things—like trying to eat or drink too soon after vomiting—you could make it worse.
It is best to let your stomach rest and not eat or drink anything for 15 to 20 minutes after vomiting. Then, drink fluids (small sips at a time every 10 minutes) of water, sports drink, or pediatric electrolyte drinks so you replace electrolytes and prevent dehydration. Over-the-counter medications are unlikely to help when you have stomach flu, and they can be dangerous to give to children.
Diarrhea tends to last longer than vomiting but there are things you can do to minimize the problems it causes. As with vomiting, it’s important to stay hydrated. You are likely to best tolerate a bland, starchy diet. Over-the-counter medications such as Pepto-Bismol, Imodium, and Kaopectate may help. However, these medications should not be given to children without specific instructions from the child’s healthcare provider.
One traditional formula was the BRAT diet, an acronym for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce (or Apples) and Toast. It is intended to be used for just a short period, such as 48 hours or less.
But newer recommendations (especially for children) are for a bland diet of a variety of starchy foods that are easy on the stomach.
Many people recommend them—including a lot of healthcare providers. However, in the U.S., probiotics are still sold and marketed as natural supplements. They cannot legally make any claims about curing or treating any conditions or diseases. Due to the increasing interest in probiotics, many studies are in progress about what benefits they may offer. Hopefully in the future we will better understand these products and how they might help us recover from various illnesses and ailments.
