Gastro-intestinal virus

Sapovirus is the second most common virus found in the gastrointestinal tracts of adults. Astrovirus, on the other hand, causes stomach flu in infants and toddlers around the world. Transmission of both occurs through food and water, and those people with weakened immune systems and those in overcrowded conditions are most susceptible. Symptoms of both viruses mimic those of other gastrointestinal viruses. Prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal viruses are important for individual and community health.

Saliva and fecal contact are two of the more frequent agents of transmission, so hand washing and other sanitary safeguards constitute the most effective preventive measures. Likewise, vigilance in crowded areas where both people and environmental surfaces are easily contaminated is of utmost importance. Also called food poisoning, these infections are caused by poor hygiene or eating….

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Learn more about the causes and treatments. Tenesmus is cramping rectal pain that makes you feel like you need to have a bowel movement. When gastroenteritis is caused by consuming foods or drinks contaminated with viruses, bacteria, parasites, or chemicals, this is called food poisoning. If you have viral gastroenteritis, viruses will be present in your stool and vomit. Infected people who do not have symptoms can still spread viruses.

For example, norovirus may be found in your stool before you have symptoms and up to 2 weeks after you recover. Norovirus is especially contagious, meaning that it spreads easily from person to person. Norovirus can live for months on surfaces such as countertops and changing tables. When an infected person vomits, the virus may become airborne and land on surfaces or on another person.

Viral gastroenteritis may spread in households, day care centers and schools, nursing homes, cruise ships, restaurants, and other places where people gather in groups. If water comes into contact with stools of infected people, the water may become contaminated with a virus.

The contaminated water can spread the virus to foods or drinks, and people who consume these foods or drinks may become infected. People who swim in contaminated water may also become infected. Probiotics are live microbes, most often bacteria, that are like the ones you normally have in your digestive tract. Studies suggest that some probiotics may help shorten a case of diarrhea.

Researchers are still studying the use of probiotics to treat viral gastroenteritis. For safety reasons, talk with your doctor before using probiotics or any other complementary or alternative medicines or practices. Anyone with signs or symptoms of dehydration should see a doctor right away.

Doctors may need to treat people with severe dehydration in a hospital. You can take several steps to keep from getting or spreading infections that cause viral gastroenteritis. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

You can clean surfaces that may have come into contact with infected stool or vomit, such as countertops and changing tables, with a mixture of 5 to 25 tablespoons of household bleach and 1 gallon of water.

To protect yourself from infection, wear rubber gloves while handling the soiled laundry and wash your hands afterward.

If you have viral gastroenteritis, avoid handling and preparing food for others while you are sick and for 2 days after your symptoms stop. Contaminated water may also spread a virus to foods before they are harvested.