Gastroenteritis is an infection or irritation of the gastrointestinal tract that commonly results in abdominal pain, diarrhea and/or vomiting. It may also be called food poisoning, traveler’s diarrhea, stomach flu, or intestinal flu.
Gastroenteritis can affect any age but is particularly common in children. Outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis can also occur regularly in places where a lot of people gather, such as cruise ships, college dormitories, daycare centers, or nursing homes. Anyone with a weakened immune system, such as those with cancer, HIV/AIDS, or taking certain medications (such as regular steroids) are also at higher risk of gastroenteritis.
What Causes Gastroenteritis?
There are several different causes of gastroenteritis; however, the most common ones include:
Viruses, especially rotavirus in children, norovirus (a common cause of gastroenteritis in cruise ships)
Bacteria, especially Campylobacter, Escherichia coli (E. coli), salmonella
Parasites, such as Giardia.
Gastroenteritis is very contagious as the microbes that cause it are easily spread through contaminated food or water, person-to-person contact, and some viruses can be transmitted via infected droplets suspended in the air or through contaminated surfaces.
What are the Symptoms of Gastroenteritis?
Symptoms may develop within one to a few days after infection range from mild to severe.
Symptoms of gastroenteritis vary but may include:
Abdominal pain
Cramping
Mild Dehydration
Diarrhea (watery, urgent, frequent, and sometimes explosive bowel movements)
Headache
Fecal incontinence (loss of control over bowel motions)
Loss of appetite
Mild fever and chills
Muscle aches and general body aches
Nausea and/or vomiting
Poor feeding in infants
Tiredness and general body weakness.
Symptoms usually last one to two days but may persist for up to ten days. Ring your doctor for advice first before going in for an appointment if you are worried about your condition as it as gastroenteritis is very contagious and you could risk spreading it.
Always talk to your doctor if your symptoms have lasted longer than five days or have got worse, not better, if there is blood or pus in your stools, if your abdominal pain is constant, or if you develop significant signs of dehydration such as extreme thirst, dark or strong-smelling urine or passing only small amounts of urine, dry lips and mouth, and a lack of tears, your skin doesn’t retract back when pinched, or feel very lethargic.
Infants are particularly prone to dehydration and you should seek further advice if their nappies have been dry for longer than 4 to 6 hours or they develop a sunken fontanel (the soft spot on the top of a baby’s head).
How Is Gastroenteritis Diagnosed?
Gastroenteritis is usually just diagnosed by your symptoms, for example, if you are suffering from diarrhea and/or vomiting your doctor will say you have gastroenteritis. Further testing is usually only conducted if symptoms are severe or persistent and may include stool samples to identify the cause.
How is Gastroenteritis Treated?
The main treatment for gastroenteritis is rest, fluids, and limiting your diet for a few days while you have symptoms. For example:
Limit your intake of solid foods (this allows your stomach to settle)
Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and dairy products
Stop smoking or using products containing nicotine
Avoid sugary, fatty or highly seasoned foods, instead eat bland, dry foods such as crackers, toast, rice or potatoes
Take frequent small sips of liquid (thin broths, soups, diluted non-caffeinated drinks, and electrolyte replacement solutions)
Avoid taking medications that may irritate your stomach further such as NSAIDs (eg, aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac). Acetaminophen may be used instead, but sparingly
Continue breastfeeding if your baby has gastroenteritis and talk to your doctor about offering them rehydration solutions or regular formula.
Consider anti-diarrhea medications (eg, loperamide) to slow the diarrhea
Antibiotics are generally not given for most cases of gastroenteritis because they are ineffective if a virus is the cause and contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.
Drugs used to treat Gastroenteritis
The medications listed below are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.
For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity
Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx
Prescription only.
OTC
Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC
Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label
This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA
An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access
Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A
Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B
Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C
Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D
There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X
Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N
FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M
The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U
CSA Schedule is unknown.
N
Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1
Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2
Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3
Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4
Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5
Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X
Interacts with Alcohol.
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
