Stomach Flu

Time to see a doctor

It is important to control this condition as early as possible to prevent severe dehydration. If you experience this, our healthcare providers are able to help to prescribe medication to soothe the symptoms such as anti-nausea medications. For safety reasons, we do NOT treat diarrhea or severe nausea and/or vomiting.

Viral gastroenteritis or Stomach Flu is an infection that can cause diarrhea and vomiting. It happens when a person’s stomach and intestines get infected with a virus. Both adults and children can get viral gastroenteritis.

SYMPTOMS

The infection causes diarrhea and vomiting. People can have either diarrhea or vomiting, or both. These symptoms usually start suddenly, and can be severe. Viral gastroenteritis can also cause:

  • A fever
  • A headache or muscle aches
  • Belly pain or cramping
  • A loss of appetite

If you have diarrhea and vomiting, your body can lose too much water. Doctors call this “dehydration.” Dehydration can make you feel thirsty, tired, dizzy, or confused. It can also make your urine look dark yellow. Severe dehydration can be life-threatening. Babies, young children, and elderly people are more likely to get severe dehydration.

Causes

The most common way to develop stomach flu — if they touch an infected person or a surface with the virus on it, and then don’t wash their hands or if they eat foods or drink liquids with the virus in them. If people with the virus don’t wash their hands, they can spread it to food or liquids they touch.