What to do if you have stomach flu. Symptoms and treatment of intestinal flu in adults

Stomach flu- This infection viral etiology, which affects the gastrointestinal tract. The causative agents are mainly rotaviruses. The name “intestinal flu” is a misnomer, although common, since rotaviruses are not related to the viruses that cause influenza. Correct name – rotavirus infection.

Some similarity with the clinical picture of a respiratory disease, apparently, was the reason for calling rotavirus infection “intestinal flu”.

The disease is widespread and occurs in all groups of the population, but children, people with weakened immune systems and people are more susceptible to it. old age. Stomach flu in children is one of the most common causes of diarrhea, accounting for 20% of all cases of severe diarrhea in children. infants and about 5% of all cases fatal outcome in children under five years of age. According to some reports, almost all children under the age of five suffer from this disease. The incidence increases in winter.

Causes and risk factors

Rotaviruses are a genus of viruses of the reovirus family (Reoviridae), which have double-stranded fragmented RNA. Out of nine known species rotaviruses, humans can be infected by types A, B and C. Up to 90% of all cases of intestinal influenza are caused by rotavirus A. The diameter of the virion is 65–75 nm. The genome of the virus contains 11 fragments surrounded by a three-layer protein shell (capsid), which makes the virus resistant to the acidic contents of the stomach and intestinal enzymes. The infectious agent is quite stable in the external environment (freely transfers low temperatures and heating to 60 °C).

Replication of rotaviruses in the body occurs mainly in the enterocytes of the villi. small intestine, which leads to the death of the latter and subsequent structural and functional changes epithelium. The virus enters the cell by direct penetration through cell membrane or by endocytosis. Due to disruption of the digestive process and the accumulation of disaccharides, a large amount of water and electrolytes enters the intestinal lumen, which leads to the development severe diarrhea and dehydration.

The infectious agent enters the human body through the mucous membranes gastrointestinal tract. The most common route of transmission of the intestinal influenza virus is nutritional (consumption of unwashed vegetables and fruits, meat and dairy products of dubious quality, etc.). Infection by airborne droplets and contact is also possible.

The first signs of intestinal flu are severe nausea, repeated vomiting, rumbling in the stomach, and diarrhea.

Differential diagnosis is carried out with gastritis, gastroenteritis, enterocolitis of other etiologies, food poisoning. Intestinal flu in pregnant women is differentiated from early toxicosis.

Treatment of intestinal flu

Etiotropic treatment of intestinal flu has not been developed, so it is used symptomatic therapy. Patients with company viral infection are isolated, depending on the severity of the disease and the age of the patient, treatment is carried out in a hospital or at home.

The main goals of therapy are the normalization of the water-salt balance disturbed due to vomiting and diarrhea, the elimination of intoxication and the disorders caused by it. Dehydration is especially dangerous in childhood, therefore, children with severe diarrhea and repeated vomiting are subject to hospitalization, rehydration and correction electrolyte balance they are carried out by intravenous drip administration rehydration solutions.

In adults, the indication for hospitalization is the presence of fever in the patient for more than five days, pronounced signs intoxication, uncontrollable vomiting and diarrhea, detection of blood in stool and vomit, impaired consciousness, pregnancy. In other cases, treatment is carried out at home.

Specific prevention of intestinal influenza is vaccination; two vaccines have been developed against rotavirus A, both containing a live attenuated virus.

Appointed drinking plenty of fluids(still mineral water, saline solutions, weak black tea) in small portions, since a large volume of drink at once can provoke an attack of vomiting in acute period diseases; taking enterosorbents. When body temperature rises above 38 °C, antipyretic drugs are used. At the end acute stage diseases, drugs that restore normal microflora intestines (the need is determined by the attending physician).

Diet for intestinal flu

A diet is recommended for patients with intestinal flu. In the acute period of the disease, there is no appetite, any food and even its smell causes increased nausea and vomiting, so a water-tea break is prescribed until the end. acute manifestations(1-2 days). Then they give sweet tea with dried white bread and boiled rice. Then the diet is gradually expanded, introducing vegetable purees and porridge with water, biscuits, baked apples, bananas, boiled lean meat and fish, and low-fat and weak broth. Meals should be fractional - 6-8 times a day in small portions. Before full recovery milk, dairy and dairy products are excluded from the menu dairy products, fatty, hot, spicy, fried foods, sausages, concentrated juices, fresh vegetables and fruits, sweet carbonated drinks, fast food, coffee, alcohol.

Possible complications and consequences

Intestinal flu can be complicated by dehydration and the complications caused by it - heart and kidney failure.

Forecast

The prognosis is favorable in most cases. Long term consequences past illness not visible. The prognosis worsens with the development of a severe form of rotavirus infection in young children and people with severe immunodeficiency.

Prevention

A specific prevention of intestinal influenza is vaccination; two vaccines have been developed against rotavirus A, both contain a live, attenuated virus and have proven themselves to be an effective preventive measure.

Nonspecific prevention of intestinal flu consists of the following measures:

isolation of patients with intestinal flu;
avoiding contact with sick people, especially during pregnancy;
regular hand washing after returning from the street, visiting the toilet, before eating;
use of proven food quality products, refusal to eat expired products, thoroughly washing vegetables and fruits;
use of high-quality drinking water;
strengthening the immune system;
rejection of bad habits.

Diseases caused by a viral infection and having a number of characteristic features, popularly called intestinal or stomach flu. Actually similar acute pathology, associated with damage to the intestinal mucosa, is not, in fact, the flu. Diseases are provoked by ARVI viruses of the order Rotavirus or Reoviridae, which penetrate into human body together with water and food, as well as through household and airborne droplets.

In medicine, intestinal flu is called gastroenteritis or, in other words, rotavirus infection. So, why is it dangerous? similar pathology for the patient? How is the disease transmitted and how to treat it? And is it possible to avoid infection?

Mechanism of disease development

Like common flu, gastroenteritis is transmitted from a sick person to healthy children and adults. At the same time, become infected with such stomach infection can be done in many ways:

contacting a carrier of the virus;
swimming in pools and ponds or drinking unboiled water;
V kindergarten through toys;
if you don't wash your hands;
when ingesting contaminated products.

Having penetrated the human body, the intestinal influenza virus is activated and begins to multiply intensively, affecting intestinal epithelial cells. After 16–18 hours after infection, complete destruction virus-infected cells. Their remains fall off or are exfoliated into the intestinal lumen and accumulate in lower section gastrointestinal tract and are excreted along with feces. At the same time, exposed villi upper section fine or 12 duodenum they begin to swell and change shape, and in the upper balls of the intestinal mucosa the depth of the crypts quickly increases.

Important! Intestinal form influenza represents serious danger for children whose immune system is not fully formed. And also for older people whose immunity is already quite weakened.

Symptoms and external manifestations

The first signs of the stomach flu are absolutely similar to the symptoms of a cold. In the first hours after infection, patients may experience a slight runny nose, sneezing and coughing, pain when swallowing, sore throat, and slight chills.
However, these signs quickly disappear, and their place is taken by completely different symptoms:

frequent loose stool up to 10 times a day. In this case, abundant bowel movements of a yellowish-gray color and clay-like consistency are observed, but without inclusions of blood and mucus. At first they have a strong unpleasant odor;
sharp pain in the abdominal area, accompanied by rumbling and spasms;
increasing nausea and periodic vomiting, leading to rapid dehydration;
increasing weakness, drowsiness and apathy;
increase in body temperature to subfebrile (sometimes high) levels.

At the same time, the manifestation similar symptoms in children and adults it can be a sign of other intestinal infections - cholera, salmonellosis, food poisoning. Therefore, at the first manifestations of the disease, you should contact medical institution for help. Timely diagnosis of intestinal flu will help preserve not only the patient’s health, but in some cases his life.

Important! Intestinal flu in a child quite often requires immediate hospitalization and inpatient treatment. This means that parents need to urgently call a pediatrician or an ambulance if they detect even 1-2 symptoms of the disease (especially if it is diarrhea or vomiting). Lately provided health care may cause the baby's death.

Diagnosis and treatment

As such special drug treatment rotavirus infection does not exist. This means that the entire range of therapeutic measures is aimed at eliminating the symptoms of intestinal flu and strengthening protective forces body in the fight against viral infection.

To clarify the diagnosis, the attending physician may prescribe additional examinations, among which:

a general blood test, the result of which may show a decrease in the total number of leukocytes and a predominance of lymphocytes and monocytes (this speaks in favor of a viral infection);
A general urine test in the presence of gastroenteritis will show an increase in its density;
A biochemical blood test makes it possible to determine the increase in the concentration in the blood of the indirect fraction of bilirubin, as well as ALT and AST.

Intestinal flu should be treated only under the supervision of a doctor, following all his recommendations and wishes. Treatment consists of taking medicines, normalizing the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and special diet. To restore the body you should take:

enterosorbents – Smecta or Polysorb;
as part of rehydration therapy - the drug Regidron. It must be taken every 20–30 minutes to restore the water-salt balance in the body;
enzymes that improve digestion - Creon or Pancreatin;
drugs against diarrhea - Furazolidone or Enterofuril.

After intensive care and eliminating the symptoms of the disease, probiotics are prescribed to restore the beneficial intestinal microflora - Linex, Bifiform, Hilak Forte. It is not recommended to take antibiotics to fight the virus, since these drugs completely destroy both aggressive and beneficial microflora intestines. By killing intestinal flu with the help of such drugs, you can get in return dangerous complication– dysbacteriosis.

Important! Gastroenteritis is a serious disease that sometimes requires treatment inpatient conditions. Therefore, engage in self-treatment and uncontrolled drug intake traditional medicine is strictly prohibited. Self-medication can even lead to death.

Diet for illness and prevention

A special diet is an effective adjunct in the treatment of intestinal flu and an excellent remedy will recover quickly after past illness. Primarily useful are:

herbal decoctions with chamomile, rose hips, strong green and black tea;
liquid porridges prepared in water: semolina, rice or oatmeal;
vegetable soups from potatoes, carrots, onions, zucchini, beets;
mild broths made from skinless chicken, turkey, rabbit, lean beef.

Food should be taken in small portions, warm, every 3–4 hours.

In this case, the following should be excluded from the diet for a while:

raw vegetables and fruits;
natural juices;
grain bread;
whole milk, butter, cheeses;
cereals;
smoked meats;
legumes;
canned foods;
chocolate and coffee.

It is also prohibited to smoke, eat fatty, spicy and fried foods, alcoholic and carbonated drinks.
There is no doubt that stomach flu is easier to prevent than to treat. Therefore, it is very important to follow a number of rules for preventing this disease, namely:

wash your hands after coming from outside, visiting the toilet and before eating;
wash fruits and vegetables eaten raw in large quantities running water (you can pre-soak them in a 3% vinegar solution for a few minutes);
drink only boiled water (even if it is from a well or spring);
wash children's toys and pour boiling water over them more often;
Avoid swimming in open water.

Important! The virus of the Reoviridae group is resistant to influence external environment, it tolerates cold and low temperatures well. At the same time, simple preventive measures make it possible to destroy the virus before it enters the body, and will not become infected with the dangerous and insidious intestinal flu.

Intestinal flu is a disease viral nature, which 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.

Causes

Intestinal flu in children occurs with more severe symptoms than in adults. There is often a critical increase in 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 temperatures above 38. However temperature response it is imperative to monitor it so that there is no disruption to its operation 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 immediate treatment aimed at eliminating signs of dehydration. A pregnant woman also requires a diet for intestinal flu that offers a gentle diet.

Features of treatment

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:

bread crumbs (without additives);
pasta;
boiled eggs;
porridges cooked only in water.

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, vegetable stew(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.

Intestinal flu got its name due to the characteristics of its symptoms. The disease is caused by rotavirus infection and initial stage resembles a cold: the patient develops catarrhal symptoms on the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and oropharynx, painful sensations in the larynx, nasal discharge, body temperature rises. On days 2-3, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract occurs, and the signs of the disease resemble the clinical picture digestive disorders. One of the manifestations of intestinal flu is viral gastroenteritis– a pathological inflammatory process that occurs in the lining of the small intestine and stomach.

Severe dehydration can be a complication of stomach flu. If this condition is not eliminated in a timely manner, the patient’s death may occur, so treatment of rotavirus infection must begin when the first symptoms appear. typical symptoms. Special therapy to destroy the causative agent of the disease does not exist, and treatment in adults is aimed at eliminating intoxication, rehydrating the body and getting rid of unpleasant symptoms. After suffering from intestinal flu, the patient will have to follow therapeutic diet and gentle regime physical activity within another 7-10 days.

Adults get stomach flu quite rarely compared to children preschool age. This is due to the fact that adults pay more attention to personal hygiene, follow cooking standards and heat treatment food, more often monitor expiration dates food products. If children become infected primarily through dirty hands or toys that were touched by the patient, then in adults the main source of rotavirus is usually poor-quality food.

This could be food that has been stored incorrectly or is past its expiration date, or undercooked meat. Fans of rare steaks need to be especially careful when choosing meat, since poorly processed meat and fish are considered the leaders among products that lead to poisoning. To especially dangerous products This also applies to dairy products (including fermented milk drinks). Under no circumstances should you consume dairy products with a suitable expiration date, even if they look quite edible in appearance.

The source of infection can be tap water, so it must be boiled, even if a cleaning filter is installed at home. For those who do not like boiled water, it is better to use spring water sold in stores for drinking.

You can become infected with rotavirus in other ways. The most common of them:

Important! Rotavirus actively multiplies in mucous membranes digestive tract and is excreted from the body with feces. If there is a person with an intestinal infection in the house, it is necessary to clean the toilet and disinfect the toilet every day to prevent infection of other family members.

How can you tell if a person has intestinal flu?

Diagnosing the disease at the initial stage is a rather difficult task, since the only symptoms in the first days of the disease are signs respiratory diseases. Incubation period rotavirus infection can range from 4-6 hours to 5 days. Its duration depends on the condition immune system person, the amount of pathogen and the degree of its activity.

On the first day of the disease, the patient may notice the following symptoms:

an increase in temperature to 38°C or higher, accompanied by fever and chills;
headache;
pain in the throat when swallowing;
dry cough of moderate intensity (usually not painful);
discomfort in muscles and large joints;
redness and looseness of the tissues of the oropharynx;
sore throat.

In older people, as well as in people with reduced immunity, smokers, patients with alcohol addiction All of the above symptoms usually appear. The signs are of high intensity, intoxication of the body develops rapidly, worsening the condition and well-being of the patient. In patients over 55 years of age, discomfort and muscle discomfort can develop into pain.

What happens on days 2-3?

Approximately 2 days from the onset of the disease, the virus enters the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines, causing characteristic intestinal symptoms. The patient begins frequent diarrhea, the stool is very liquid, watery, and has a foamy consistency. Repeated vomiting may occur. Vomit has the color of food consumed, without impurities bile acids, blood and mucous veins. The smell of the masses is normal, not offensive.

Abdominal pain with intestinal flu is acute and may resemble intestinal cramps. In addition to pain, the patient complains of flatulence, bloating and heaviness in the stomach (regardless of food intake).

Note! In about a third of patients, conjunctivitis appears within 2-3 days, a disease characterized by inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye. Signs viral conjunctivitis are transparent discharge from the eyes, redness of the eye sclera, itching and burning.

How to treat stomach flu in adults?

Treatment of rotavirus infection in adult patients is symptomatic and can take place in outpatient setting, if such a possibility is allowed by the doctor who examined the patient. The main goal of intestinal flu therapy is to eliminate signs of intoxication and dehydration. To cleanse the blood and intestines of toxins released by rotavirus, the patient is prescribed sorbents. These are drugs that selectively absorb gases, solids and liquid substances and harmful fumes.

The most effective sorbents to eliminate intoxication during intestinal infections are:

You need to take them several times a day, while simultaneously increasing the amount of liquid you drink. This is also necessary to eliminate dehydration. For this purpose, rehydration therapy is selected for the patient. saline solutions. They normalize water-salt balance, support kidney function and help restore normal level moisture in the body. The most popular means This group is “Regidron” in the form of a powder for preparing a solution. The contents of one package must be dissolved in a liter boiled water and drink in small sips throughout the day. At severe dehydration the patient will be hospitalized, and therapy will be supplemented with intravenous infusion of glucose and saline.

The medications listed in the table below may also be used to restore the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Note! After completion of treatment, the patient is given a course of vitamin maintenance therapy. It is important that the complex of vitamins and minerals be selected by a doctor, since an excess of some elements is just as harmful as their lack. For example, in case of illness thyroid gland you should choose drugs that do not contain iodine. If the patient suffers from hyperkalemia or hypermagnesemia, it is necessary to refrain from taking complexes containing magnesium and potassium.

Basics of symptomatic therapy in adults

Medicines to reduce fever are prescribed if the thermometer rises above 38°C. At lower values, the use of antipyretics is not advisable, since most rotaviruses die at this temperature, and its decrease may delay recovery. If the temperature has risen too high, you can take medications based on paracetamol or ibuprofen: Paracetamol, Nurofen, Ibufen. In some cases, your doctor may recommend combination drugs, for example, “Next”: they act faster and have a more pronounced therapeutic effect.

If the patient is bothered by a cough, therapy is supplemented with antitussive medications that act on the cough center and suppress the functioning of cough receptors.

These include:

Drinking plenty of fluids will also help relieve a cough and prevent irritation of the throat lining.

Important! In some cases, histamine blockers (Loratadine, Diazolin, Claritin) are used to treat intestinal flu. They are necessary for prevention allergic reactions and possible adverse reactions against the background of multicomponent therapy.

Are antiviral agents needed?

Most infectious disease specialists believe that the use of antiviral drugs does not give a pronounced therapeutic effect, and the rotavirus dies on its own after 5-7 days. However, drugs in this group can weaken the activity of the virus during acute infection and activate cells of the immune system.

Purpose antiviral drugs and immunomodulators are necessary for people with weakened immune systems, as well as those who suffer bad habits or does not receive full balanced nutrition, since their immunity is not able to independently fight pathogenic microorganisms.

The role of therapeutic nutrition in treatment

During acute course pathology (and this is approximately 5-7 days), the patient must follow a diet excluding drinks and foods based on milk protein. This is whole and pasteurized milk, kefir, cottage cheese, yoghurts and other products, the basis of which is any type of milk. Such a restriction is necessary since most microorganisms develop faster in a dairy environment. In addition, fermented milk products and whole milk can increase intestinal symptoms and lead to a decrease in the effectiveness of treatment.

To reduce the load on inflamed bowel, it is important in the first 3-4 days to consume all products in pureed or highly crushed form. It is advisable to pass meat and fish through a meat grinder, grind vegetables and fruits to a pulp. Useful during this period are rice and oat infusions– they contain a lot of starch, due to which they envelop the walls of the gastrointestinal tract and protect it from damage. Fresh bread need to be replaced with rye crackers.

Until complete recovery and for another 7-10 days after the illness, the following are completely excluded from the patient’s diet:

Important! It is necessary to gradually introduce raw vegetables and fruits, as well as dairy products, into the diet. It is recommended to start with a small amount of low-fat cottage cheese (no more than 50-60 g). On the third day you can give the patient 100 ml natural yogurt without additives. If everything is normal, the amount of dairy products is increased to the usual norm. Cow's milk is entered into the menu last.

Stomach flu - enough rare disease in adults, but effective protection there is no cure for rotavirus infection at any age. To reduce the likelihood of infection, it is necessary to carefully monitor the quality of food consumed and personal hygiene. Hand washing should be a mandatory procedure after returning from the street, visiting the restroom, and other actions related to unsanitary conditions.

In order for the immune system to fight viruses on its own, it is necessary to carry out general strengthening measures, eat right, and walk more. fresh air and provide the body with sufficient motor activity. If a person does become infected, it is necessary to strictly follow all the doctor’s recommendations and not refuse hospitalization if necessary, as there is a risk of dehydration.

Video - Intestinal flu in adults

Stomach flu is a disease that combines symptoms colds and digestive disorders. Children are more often susceptible to infection; in adults, the disease is less common, and the disease mainly affects older people. The acute period of infection lasts from 5 to 7 days, after which complete recovery occurs.

In adult patients, stomach (intestinal) flu is milder than in children. In some cases, signs of the disease may be completely absent, while the patient is a source of infection for other family members or work colleagues. In medicine, the disease is called “rotavirus infection,” which occurs as gastroenteritis with the development of dehydration syndrome (dehydration of the body).

Stomach flu: symptoms and treatment in adults

Routes of infection

Gastroenteritis is caused by a certain group of viruses (rotavirus) that enter the human body through the mucous membranes (epithelium) of the stomach, intestines and other organs of the gastrointestinal tract. The first symptoms of the disease usually appear within 1-2 days, but in some cases, deterioration in health becomes noticeable only on the 4-5th day. On average, the incubation period of the virus ranges from 12 hours to 5 days.

To protect yourself from infection, it is important to know in what ways you can catch the infection.

Important! Hand washing hot water with antibacterial soap after visiting the restroom should be mandatory rule for people of any age.

Can you get infected while swimming in a pool?

Rotaviruses are very resistant to environmental factors, including freezing and high temperatures. The virus is completely destroyed only after heating to 70-80 degrees, so it is quite difficult to fight it indoors. IN public swimming pools and saunas, you can become infected with gastroenteritis if the establishment’s staff does not pay due attention to the hygiene and treatment of the pool and areas increased danger(showers, steam rooms).

Important! The destruction of stomach flu viruses in water is achieved using disinfectants containing chlorine. It is important to ensure that the concentration of chloride substances does not exceed acceptable standards– otherwise, you can get seriously poisoned if you accidentally swallow water.

Video - Rotavirus and its symptoms

Symptoms and signs of pathology

Symptoms of gastroenteritis begin with catarrhal phenomena - the patient begins to have a sore throat, cough, and rhinitis. This is what distinguishes gastroenteritis from other digestive disorders. After the number of viruses increases, dyspepsia occurs and signs appear intestinal pathologies. Clinical picture in the acute period of the disease looks like this:

Stools with gastroenteritis are copious and frequent - up to 10 times a day. The stool may be yellow or grey colour, the consistency resembles clay. The smell is pungent, fetid.

Going to the toilet with gastroenteritis can reach up to 10 times a day

Important! If there is mucus or blood in your stool, it is important to report these symptoms to your healthcare provider immediately.

At copious discharge feces Dehydration may occur, so the patient must receive rehydration therapy and maintain a drinking regime.

Body temperature in adult patients most often fluctuates within subfebrile values (up to 37.2-37.5 degrees), but sometimes it can rise to high levels and reach 39 degrees and above. The degree of intoxication depends on the state of the patient’s immune system, the number of viruses and the degree of their activity (reproduction).

Only an infectious disease specialist should treat stomach flu. Self-treatment unacceptable due to difficulties in diagnosing pathology. The fact is that the symptoms of the disease are not typical, and their appearance may indicate other serious illnesses: cholera, salmonellosis, etc. For staging accurate diagnosis it is necessary to undergo an examination, as a result of which a decision will be made about the possibility of outpatient treatment.

Procedure for suspected rotavirus

Summer stomach flu

Listeriosis (stomach flu that occurs during hot weather during the summer months) is somewhat different from other forms of gastroenteritis. The carriers of the infection are the inhabitants of reservoirs and lakes, so the main route of infection is swimming in prohibited places. You can become infected with listeriosis after eating rotten or unwashed fruits, which are an excellent breeding ground. pathogenic microorganisms.

Unlike winter gastroenteritis, listeriosis is almost always accompanied by high temperature(above 39 degrees) and inflammation cervical lymph nodes. One of the first signs of the disease is conjunctivitis - inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye. The patient's eye sclera turns red, and purulent contents appear in the corners of the eyes.

Important! With complicated listeriosis, the patient’s bronchopulmonary system, as well as the pancreas, may become inflamed, so treatment of this form of pathology almost always takes place in a hospital setting.

One of the first signs of listeriosis is conjunctivitis.

Treatment of stomach flu

Specific treatment of gastroenteritis for this moment does not exist, so the patient is prescribed symptomatic therapy, combining dietary food and taking medications. Complex treatment works in several directions:

eliminates signs of intoxication;
restores salt balance;
stops vomiting and diarrhea;
Helps prevent dehydration.

Stomach flu negatively affects the functioning of the heart and organs urinary system, therefore, in some cases, potassium preparations (for example, Panangin) and drugs to improve kidney function can be used.

Medication regimen complex treatment gastroenteritis is presented in the table below.

Group of drugs	What is it used for?	What medications should I take?
Antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drugs	Reducing temperature, eliminating signs of intoxication, relief inflammatory processes on the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract	"Rinza", "Paracetamol", "Efferalgan", "Flyukoldex"
Antihistamines (histamine blockers)	Elimination of allergic reactions	"Ketotifen", "Tavegil", "Suprastin", "Loratadine"
Antitussives	Blocking cough receptors	"Bromhexine", "Tusuprex", "Bronholitin"
Multivitamin complexes	Strengthening defensive reactions, improving well-being, preventing vitamin deficiency	"Alphabet", "Sanasol", "Complivit", "Duovit"
Antiviral drugs	Virus suppression	"Amiksin", "Arbidol", "Viferon", "Interferon", "Grippferon", "Remantadine"
Rehydration products	Restoring water-salt balance, normalizing kidney function, preventing dehydration	"Regidron"
Sorbents	Removing waste products of microorganisms, toxins and viruses, eliminating vomiting and diarrhea, cleansing the intestines	"Enterosgel" Activated carbon, "Neosmectin"
Digestive enzymes	Improvement of digestive processes, elimination of dyspeptic symptoms	"Mezim Forte", "Creon 10000"

After recovery, the patient is prescribed maintenance therapy using multivitamin or vitamin-mineral complexes, as well as medications containing probiotics and lactic bacteria, which include:

"Linex";
"Bifidumbacterin";
"Acipol";
"Normobact".

These drugs are needed for recovery intestinal microflora

These drugs are needed to restore intestinal microflora, improve intestinal function, strengthen the immune system and normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Diet for stomach flu

For any forms of gastroenteritis, the patient must follow a therapeutic diet that excludes fermented milk products and products based on milk protein. Dairy products are an excellent breeding ground for all types of pathogenic microorganisms, so consuming products containing milk sugar, during treatment can increase the symptoms of the disease and lead to a deterioration in well-being.

Dairy products are prohibited for any form of gastroenteritis

It is advisable to eat pureed food in the first days of the disease - this will reduce the load on the digestive organs and intestines. If you don’t want to eat pureed meat, you need to grind it thoroughly, cutting it into small pieces or mincing it through a meat grinder.

Drinking should be plentiful and frequent. The patient is advised to drink warm tea with raspberries or lemon, compotes, juices (diluted with water), fruit drinks and other liquids with low sugar content.

After recovery, dairy products should be introduced into the diet gradually. It’s better to start with low-fat fermented milk drinks: kefir, fermented baked milk. Cheeses, milk porridges with butter, fatty cottage cheese is included in the menu last.

Video - Stomach flu: causes and symptoms, treatment

Will the vaccine help protect against gastroenteritis?

Some people do it as a preventive measure. seasonal vaccination from the flu. It should be noted that the viruses that cause influenza type A or B have nothing in common with rotaviruses, so vaccination to prevent gastroenteritis is ineffective.

Prevention measures

home preventative measure to prevent intestinal flu - compliance with personal hygiene rules and room cleaning standards. In conditions of constant employment, it is difficult to maintain the required level of cleanliness in the apartment, but it is necessary to ensure the health of all family members. Wet cleaning using disinfectants and solutions, ventilation should be carried out daily, especially if there are sick children or adults in the house.

The topic of nutrition deserves a separate discussion. All food preparation products must be fresh and thoroughly washed. When purchasing, you should pay attention to the packaging of the product - there should not be any visible damage. Meat, fish and eggs must be processed according to established standards for this product group. It is better to choose dairy products from local producers and purchase them on the day of production (their shelf life usually does not exceed 5-10 days).

Thorough hand washing can help prevent stomach flu

What other measures will help protect yourself and your loved ones from the stomach flu:

Thorough hand washing after visiting the street, toilet, or contact with animals;
swimming in summer period only in permitted places (where water and soil are regularly tested for bacteria, microbes and viruses);
boiling water (additional cleaning with a filter will not hurt).

Important! To prevent mass outbreaks of infection in groups, it is important not to attend workplace until complete recovery. Some continue to work or go to school after the first signs of improvement, forgetting that they are still contagious to other people.

Stomach flu is an unpleasant infectious disease that can lead to severe consequences at improper treatment, therefore, when the first signs of pathology appear, you need to contact a specialist. At self-diagnosis pathology, there is a high risk of incorrect diagnosis, which is fraught with complications, deterioration of health and acute dehydration, which in exceptional cases can cause the death of the patient.