Your Order
+
Your Cart Is Empty
- Fast results
- 4,000+ locations
- 4.8 star rating
Need Help? (888) GET LABS
Need Help? (888) GET LABS
Stomach flu, also known as viral gastroenteritis, can disrupt your life with its unpleasant symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. Managing the condition requires food restriction, rest, hydration, taking the prescribed medicine, and keeping good hygiene.
Learn why these steps on how to deal with stomach flu impact your recovery as you read on.
When you have contracted stomach flu, the first thing you should ensure is that you provide a much-needed break for your digestive system. This means avoiding eating solid foods for a few hours, particularly full-packed meals. You’ll also likely be forced to avert foods temporarily, especially if your stomach hurts and you can’t eat comfortably.
Consuming foods, even if they are bland when you have just started to experience the symptoms of viral gastroenteritis, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, can exacerbate the condition. Your stomach and intestines are likely inflamed. (1) Thus, introducing food and adding work to your stomach can prolong the discomfort.
On the flip side, fasting allows your digestive system to rest and concentrate its energy on healing and fighting off the virus. If the acute phase of the illness has subsided and you start feeling better, bland foods can be gradually re-introduced and a normal diet slowly resumed.
Also Read: 20 Home Remedies To Get Rid of Stomach Bloating
Rest is non-negotiable when you have stomach flu or any infection, for that matter. When you’re in bed, sleeping, or simply lying down most of the time, your immune system can work more efficiently to combat the virus, leading to a faster recovery.
Besides, stomach flu may result in fatigue and weakness. Furthermore, you will likely experience fluid loss or electrolyte imbalance in case of nausea and vomiting. Rest is the most viable first response for alleviating such symptoms. (2)
As mentioned above, vomiting and diarrhea can lead to significant fluid loss, resulting in dehydration. Since these symptoms are hallmarks of stomach flu, keeping track of your water intake is imperative.
Sip on clear fluids throughout the day, even if you’re feeling nauseous. You can try sucking on ice chips or taking small frequent sips of water to help soothe nausea. Water is the best option, but you can also try electrolyte solutions, clear broths, or diluted fruit juices.
If you observe symptoms like dry mouth, decreased urination, dizziness, or confusion, seek medical attention immediately. You’re likely experiencing severe dehydration, resulting in serious complications.
Did You Know? An electrolyte blood test panel can help confirm dehydration as it measures the levels of various electrolytes. An imbalance in electrolytes may suggest fluid loss.
Restricting your food intake to bland options can help provide stomach flu relief in that you protect your digestive system from other potential irritants.
Bland foods are limited, not just in taste, but in terms of ingredients, especially those that can alter the chemical balance in your gastrointestinal tract, like spices, seasoning, and oil. Therefore, they are easy to digest and gentle to your stomach.
The most recommended food group for stomach flu is the BRAT diet, which stands for banana, rice, apple sauce, and toast. Although some may argue that they are not necessarily bland, this food group excludes ingredients that can further trigger inflammation. Other options include clear broths, plain crackers, cooked cereals like oatmeal, and boiled potatoes. (3)
An essential step in dealing with stomach flu is avoiding particular foods and drinks that can further compromise digestion and comfort.
Avoid dairy products, acidic foods, heavily seasoned meals, and fatty, greasy foods, as these can aggravate nausea and diarrhea. You must also restrict your intake of sugary drinks. The high sugar content can further upset your stomach and contribute to dehydration.
Generally, you must stir clear from the following if you have stomach flu:
If you have any concerns about your diet during or after stomach flu, reach out to your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.
You can take stomach flu medicine, especially over-the-counter (OTC) anti-diarrhea medications, to help reduce the frequency and severity of diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration if left unchecked.
If you have consulted your doctor, this is likely included in the prescribed meds for stomach flu. Although anti-diarrhea medications are typically tagged as OTC, you should still talk to your doctor about their intake, especially if you have a fever or bloody diarrhea.
Self-medicating can be risky, so always seek professional advice before taking any medication, especially when dealing with stomach flu.
Also Read: Dangers of Self-Diagnosing: Why You Should Always Seek Professional Medical Advice
The stomach flu is highly contagious, and the virus can easily spread through contaminated surfaces, objects, or even the air when an infected person vomits. Thus, even if you’re starting to recover, as you diligently follow the stomach flu remedies, the chances of transmission are still at their peak.
The most critical hygiene practice is frequent handwashing. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Do this, especially after using the bathroom, before eating or preparing food, and after cleaning up any vomit or diarrhea. If you can’t find soap and water nearby, use a hand sanitizer labeled at least 60% alcohol. (4)
If stomach flu symptoms persist for over a week without improvement, it is best to seek medical attention immediately. While most individuals can effectively manage stomach flu at home, seek professional help, especially if you experience the following:
These symptoms may indicate severe dehydration or other underlying issues that complicate the infection. In addition, be particularly vigilant if you belong to vulnerable groups like young pregnant women, infants, older adults, children, or people with weakened immune systems.
The typical duration for the symptoms of stomach flu lasts between one to three days. However, this will depend on the type of virus causing the flu. Others can last up to 10 days or most. For example, the norovirus can exhibit symptoms for three days, while adenovirus can stay around for two weeks. Identifying the virus can help you understand the potential length of impact viral gastroenteritis has on your body.
A bath itself won’t directly cure the stomach flu, which is caused by a virus. However, a warm bath might offer some indirect benefits, such as comfort and relaxation, as well as temperature regulation.
When you’re battling the stomach flu, it’s essential to eat foods that are easy on your digestive system and help replenish fluids and electrolytes. These include bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, broth, and bland foods.
The stomach flu is no easy affair. But knowing some ways to deal with it can ease the discomfort and lead you to faster recovery. Just follow these seven tips and listen to your body. You will be back on your feet in no time. Should you have any concerns or your symptoms worsen, always consult a healthcare professional.
1 Stuempfig ND, Seroy J. Viral Gastroenteritis. 2023 Jun 12. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan–. PMID: 30085537.
2 Do C, Evans GJ, DeAguero J, Escobar GP, Lin HC, Wagner B. Dysnatremia in Gastrointestinal Disorders. Front Med (Lausanne). 2022 May 13;9:892265. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.892265. PMID: 35646996; PMCID: PMC9136014.
3 Weir SBS, Akhondi H. Bland Diet. [Updated 2023 Jul 25]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538142/
4 Escudero-Abarca BI, Goulter RM, Manuel CS, Leslie RA, Green K, Arbogast JW, Jaykus LA. Comparative Assessment of the Efficacy of Commercial Hand Sanitizers Against Human Norovirus Evaluated by an in vivo Fingerpad Method. Front Microbiol. 2022 Apr 7;13:869087. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.869087. PMID: 35464915; PMCID: PMC9021954.
