Intestinal flu symptoms and treatment

Treatment and symptoms of intestinal (gastric) flu in children and adults

Gastrointestinal flu, intestinal flu is a simplified name for a disease, which in medicine is called gastroenteritis or rotavirus infection, since this disease is not actually a flu. The causative agent of gastroenteritis are various viruses, most often it is the virus of the order Rotavirus, as well as astroviruses, caliciviruses, noroviruses and adenoviruses, which, when multiplied, lead to inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.

In general, children with this disease are susceptible to this disease, the intestinal flu in children lasts longer and is more severe, as well as older people. Symptoms of gastric flu are pronounced, but at the same time, in adults with a strong immune system, rotavirus infection can occur in a latent form, asymptomatic, while an apparently healthy person can be the carrier of the pathogen. Usually within a week the acute period of the disease ends and after 5-7 days there is a complete recovery, during this period the patient is still contagious.

How can you get stomach flu?

The easiest way to avoid getting infected with gastric flu is to wash your hands thoroughly

The virus penetrates the human body through the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. The incubation period of this disease is from 16 hours to five days. The rate of development and severity of the course of the gastric flu depends on the concentration of the pathogen penetrated into the body and the state of the human immune system.

• One type of transmission is food. That is, the infection enters the body through unwashed fruits, vegetables, substandard dairy products. Gastrointestinal flu can rightfully be called a "dirty hand disease". Also, infection through not boiled tap water, even with banal bathing, is possible.
• The second way of infection is airborne. With loud talk, sneezing, coughing, germs from a sick person spread in the air.
• It is not excluded and contact-household way of transmission of the pathogen, especially in places of mass congestion: in offices, in kindergartens, schools, shops.

The causative agent of gastric flu is very viable, the usual detergents can not destroy it. It is sufficiently resistant to frost and high temperatures, withstands heating to 60 ° C. The intestinal virus is destroyed only by concentrated chlorine-containing disinfectants.

What happens in the body during infection?

With the penetration of rotavirus into the body, half an hour later, it is possible to detect the pathogen in the cells of the small intestine. Due to the attack of the virus, the structure of the intestinal mucosa is disturbed. This, in turn, leads to a disruption in the production of digestive enzymes responsible for the cleavage of complex sugars. Thus, non-split carbohydrates accumulate in the small intestine, this attracts an excessive amount of fluid, causing diarrhea or watery diarrhea.

Symptoms of gastrointestinal influenza

If the child is sick, then a pediatrician's call is needed to determine the possibility of treatment at home or hospitalization in a hospital. As a rule, if vomiting is observed no more than 5 times, and the stool is not more often than 10 times a day, then outpatient treatment is acceptable. About 5 days the incubation period of gastric flu lasts. Symptoms of it are quite acute and violent.

Literally a few hours before the appearance of dyspepsia (gastrointestinal disorder), first there appear a small cough, runny nose, sore throats, which quickly pass. From other infectious diseases, the gastrointestinal tract is distinguished by intestinal flu, the symptoms of which begin not with digestive disorders, but with rapidly passing catarrhal phenomena.
The main signs of gastric flu:

• Pain in the throat when swallowing, redness in the throat
• Catarrhal phenomena - a slight runny nose, coughing, sneezing, which quickly pass
• Liquid stool up to 5-10 times a day, stools abundant, gray-yellow, clayey, with a sharp odor, but without mucus and blood
• Pain in the abdomen, rumbling
• Nausea, vomiting
• High fever or subfebrile
• Growing Weakness
• With severe development of gastric flu, dehydration (symptoms) is possible.

Similar symptoms may be accompanied by other diseases, such as cholera, salmonella, food poisoning, therefore, to differentiate the diagnosis, you should immediately consult a physician (see p. also the causes of vomiting and diarrhea in a child without fever).

Treatment of gastrointestinal influenza

Specific treatment of rotavirus does not exist yet. The main treatment is aimed at reducing intoxication, normalization of water-salt metabolism, which is disturbed by diarrhea and vomiting. That is, the treatment is mostly symptomatic, aimed at reducing the negative impact of the virus on the body: prevent dehydration, reduce toxicity, restore the urinary and cardiovascular system, prevent the development of a secondary bacterial infection.

• First of all, rehydration therapy is necessary, for which 1 bag of Regidron is dissolved in a liter of boiled water and drunk during the day every half hour. If desired, this solution for rehydration can be done by yourself - boiled water 700 ml (or a weak chamomile broth) + 300 ml of decoction of dried apricots (carrots or raisins) + 4-8 h. tablespoons sugar + 1 hour. spoon of common salt + 1/2 h. spoons of soda. It is indicated for repeated vomiting and diarrhea, to drink with small sips. Adults, regardless of the severity of the condition after vomiting or stool, drink 200 ml. solution, since fluid loss should be replenished in the first 6 hours. Children with frequent vomiting and diarrhea are shown hospitalization.
• When it will be possible to take food, it is necessary to strictly observe a sparing diet and to exclude from the diet all dairy and sour-milk products, as they contribute to the rapid expansion of pathogenic bacteria in the intestine.
• Also, the patient should take sorbents, such as Activated Carbon, Enterosgel, Smecta, Polysorb, STI Filter.
• With severe diarrhea with fever, doctors usually appoint Furazolidone (70 rubles) Enterofuril (300 caps. 500 suspension) or Enterol, their use helps to stop a prolonged course of diarrhea.
• And also should take medicines with digestive enzymes - Creon, Pancreatin, Mezim forte. In rare cases, phthalazole can be prescribed, but it can be used no more than 3 days.
• When the acute phase of the disease passes, it is necessary to restore the intestinal microflora. For this, there are many medicines, such as Linex, Bifiform, Rioflora-immuno, RioFlora-Balance, Bifidumbacterin Forte, Hilak Fort, etc. (cm. a complete list of all probiotics).

A few facts about intestinal flu

Does the flu vaccine help with intestinal flu?

Do not confuse two completely different diseases, two different pathogens. Of course, some signs of ordinary flu resemble symptoms of gastrointestinal flu - headache, manifestations of general intoxication, aches in joints, temperature. However, the usual flu does not cause a strong intestinal disorder and vaccination against it can not protect against infection with rotavirus infections.

Intestinal flu is very contagious

In the warm season, when there is a maximum spread of viral gastroenteritis, hygiene should be carefully observed. Gastric flu penetrates into the body by a fecal-oral route, that is, from a sick person through an infected vomiting or feces when a healthy person touches a contaminated surface. Moreover, it is not uncommon for sewage, reservoirs, where the rest are bathed, contaminated food and dishes cooked by an infected person, contribute to the transmission of the causative agent of intestinal flu. Only careful washing of hands before any intake of food is able to protect against the development of gastroenteritis.

The gastrointestinal flu virus is quite hardy in the external environment

The causative agent of intestinal flu (norovirus) for several hours can remain alive on any surfaces in everyday life even after harvesting, moreover, enough even a very small amount of it is enough to infect a child. It is better to wash hands with soap under running water, this is more effective than using other hand products (napkins, spray).

Symptoms of the flu can not appear right away

Such intestinal symptoms as abdominal cramps, diarrhea and vomiting occur only after 1-2 days, after hitting infection in the body, because the virus should reach the gastrointestinal tract and multiply in it. However, such pathogens as salmonellosis, etc., can cause signs of food poisoning after a few hours.

The most serious danger in children and adults is dehydration

Especially it is dangerous for children, as during vomiting and diarrhea there is a loss of fluid, it should be replenished. Moreover, with the liquid the body loses potassium, sodium and other minerals. Therefore, rehydration therapy (rehydron) is indicated. It is best to drink mineral water without gases, green tea, chamomile broth. It is not necessary to use milk, sour-milk products, bread and sweets in an acute period. During the recovery period, you should replenish the supplies of potassium, adding to the diet products such as bananas, rice porridge.

Intestinal flu not treated with antibiotics

Because this intestinal disorder is caused by a virus, antibiotics can not help here, contrary to the beliefs of many. Intestinal flu is treated symptomatically and antibacterial drugs are not indicated.

zdravotvet.ru

Symptoms and Methods of Treatment of Intestinal Influenza in Children

All parents need to know what is intestinal flu, the symptoms and treatment for children is what.There is practically no child in the world older than 5 years that this disease would not have bypassed. Therefore, it is necessary to tell what kind of illness it is and why it arises. Which pathogens are the cause of intestinal flu? Is there any subsequent immunity to this intestinal infection? What are the main features of rotavirus?

What is rotavirus infection?

Rotavirus infection (which most people do not call medicine) is affected only by the intestines of children.

The causative agent of intestinal flu is a virus similar to a wheel. It is called rotavirus. There are other, more familiar to everyone, names of this disease: intestinal (or gastric) flu, rotavirus gastroenteritis.

Infants and children of older age can acquire this disease. But the newborns do not suffer from this disease, because even during fetal development the fetus receives temporary immunity from the mother from this disease. Increased risk of intestinal flu in the case when a child with natural feeding moves on to feeding with mixtures or begins to receive full-value food intended for adults.

Infect a child can either from a sick person, or from someone who is a carrier of rotavirus. Infection occurs through dirty hands, infected products (most often any contaminated dairy products), by airborne droplets. But in kindergartens, one infectious child can cause an epidemic of diarrhea. The time from infection to the onset of the disease in a sick baby is from day to 4-5 days.

Symptoms of the disease

Parents with suspicion of intestinal flu in children should pay attention to the following symptoms:

• the presence of acute pain in the abdomen (and such pains arise as contractions);
• profuse vomiting (at least 5-6 times a day);
• general weakness and lethargy in the baby;
• a sharp increase in temperature (38 ° C and above);
• after a day, the baby begins diarrhea, the color of the stool is yellow, has a sour smell;
• Sometimes there is redness of the eyes and mucous membrane of the throat;
• babies often refuse to eat and drink fluids.

The most dangerous is the refusal of the baby to drink. Diarrhea can lead to dehydration of the body. Also, young children lose a lot of fluid with sweat and breathing (due to high temperature). Therefore, it is necessary that a sick child drinks at least 2 liters of water per day (it is better to give mineral salted, non-carbonated water).

If the baby refuses to drink, then it can be given by a regular syringe (without a needle), which is filled with water and squeezed into the mouth (directing to the sides of the mouth).

The above-described symptoms of rotavirus should be distinguished from the corresponding signs of intestinal diseases such as dysentery or cholera.

Usually, after the baby is ill with intestinal flu, he has a persistent immunity to the disease, so the recurrence of this disease is almost non-existent.

In adults, such a disease passes with fuzzy symptoms: there may be diarrhea, but no more than 1-2 times a day, the patient may refuse to eat, also probably a slight increase in temperature. At this point, a person is contagious, although he may not suspect that he has rotavirus disease of the intestine.

The total duration of this disease

Rotavirus enters the duodenum either with unwashed products, or by airborne droplets into the nasopharynx, from where it sneaks into the human digestive system along with saliva.

It is the intestinal flu in children that is the "disease of dirty hands". Getting on the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, the viruses are introduced into the cells of the mucosa and begin to actively reproduce there.

The incubation period (duration of no more than 5 days) usually passes completely asymptomatic. However, the baby is already infectious.

Then an acute period of the disease begins, with almost all the main signs of rotavirus disease mentioned above mentioned. The most seriously affected by intestinal flu are infants. The acute period of this disease can last no more than 8 days. The most dangerous diarrhea and vomiting in sick children because of the likelihood of dehydration.

If children of 2-3 years of age can be drunk with water to prevent dehydration, then watering a nursing baby is much more difficult.

The main signs of dehydration in infants:

• oral cavity and tongue of the baby dries strongly;
• crying without tears;
• urination in infants occurs less than once every 3 hours.

At the first sign of dehydration, you must call your doctor.

Then the child begins to recover. This process usually lasts from 4 to 5 days. During this period the baby is already unprofitable, but still very weak. The baby can still have some signs of intestinal and respiratory manifestations of this disease.

Treatment of rotavirus disease in a child

At the first symptoms of the disease (diarrhea or vomiting), it is urgent to call a doctor at the house.

You can not try to treat such a disease yourself - most of the most common intestinal diseases there are similar symptoms in the initial stage of the disease (in dysentery, cholera or salmonellosis). Therefore, without qualified medical assistance can not do.

Before starting treatment of intestinal influenza, it is necessary to remember: for rotavirus, as well as for any other viruses, antibiotics do not work (this is the main difference of this disease from dysentery, for example). This is because there are no medicines from viral infections at all. With them, the immune system of man is fighting. But without qualified medical care also can not do. Independently this disease will pass in due course, but can thus arise complications.

Although a person can not do anything with the causative agent of intestinal flu, it is possible to reduce the risk of complications.

One of the exhausting baby manifestations of rotavirus is frequent diarrhea. Because of it, the baby can have a complication - dehydration of the body.

Therefore, the doctor necessarily prescribes rehydration therapy, the main purpose of which is to fill the lost fluid in the body with crumbs. Such activities are especially important for infants.

Children are allowed to drink either a slightly saline aqueous solution (for each liter of boiled water 1 teaspoon without a slide of salt), or special preparations such as Regidron. Infants should not give more than 50 ml of fluid in one time. A larger amount of injected liquid can cause vomiting one time.

In case of vomiting and diarrhea, you should not eat dairy products (the virus turns milk protein into a toxin that will worsen well-being), carbonated sweet drinks, bread, chips, candies, acid and heavily digestible foods.

To remove from the baby's body toxic substances and products of the vital activity of bacteria, it is necessary to give the patient such drugs as Smecta or activated charcoal. Dosage of such drugs is usually prescribed only by a doctor, based on the age and weight of the child.

Subtilic temperature in a child is usually not knocked down. It is at this temperature that viruses begin to perish in the baby's body. But if the temperature is 38.5 ° C and above, then it is necessary to give the baby an antipyretic. Because of frequent diarrhea, it is not recommended to use a dosage form such as a candle. They can get out of the body with a chair and not bring any relief to the child. Therefore, it is best to give a temperature-reducing agent in syrup: Panadol or Nurofen.

If the baby is very concerned with spasmodic pain in the abdomen, the doctor recommends No-shpa.

Conclusion on the topic

When the rotavirus intestinal disease goes on recession, it is necessary to restore the disturbed microflora of the intestine of the baby.

Usually it is recommended to take probiotics or other preparations containing live lactobacilli.

If a child refuses food during this intestinal illness, it is not worth it to feed him violently. When vomiting and diarrhea, the baby is even disgusted with the type of food.

respiratoria.ru

Intestinal flu in adults - symptoms and treatment

Intestinal flu is a disease caused by rotavirus infection. A peculiarity of the pathology can be called a combination of symptoms, characteristic of colds and intestinal frustration.

How does the intestinal flu develop in adults?

Often, pathology is called a disease of unwashed hands. The name accurately conveys the reason for the transmission of the viral infection. The main mechanism of infection is fecal-oral. At the same time, the peddler often does not suspect the presence of the virus in his body. The greatest risk of catching rotavirus exists in the initial period of clinical signs, which lasts 3-5 days.

Infection can be massive, since the virus settles on household items, perfectly feels in the water, long time is preserved at low temperatures. Often the source of infection is dairy products - almost the ideal habitat for a given microorganism.

The virus affects the mucous membranes of the digestive tract. To a greater extent, the villi of the small intestine are affected. This leads to poor digestion of food, as well as the accumulation of disaccharides in this area. As a result, the body tries to remove toxins and toxins by directing a greater volume of water to the organ. In turn, this leads to the development of characteristic symptoms and can cause dehydration.

Clinical picture

Symptoms of intestinal flu in adults flow brightly, so treatment can begin as early as the first stage of infection. The initial symptoms are acute:

• increased flatulence;
• pain in the upper abdomen;
• attacks of nausea and vomiting;
• severe diarrhea;
• headache;
• weakness;
• it is possible to raise the temperature to 39 degrees;
• coryza;
• cough;
• pain in the larynx.

The clinical picture may vary depending on the course of the pathology. So, the severe development of intestinal flu in adults or lack of timely treatment can lead to loss of consciousness.

How to treat intestinal flu in adults?

Unfortunately, medicine does not have the means to rid the body of rotavirus. Therefore, the main program for treatment of intestinal influenza in adults includes the use of drugs that inhibit the activity of the microorganism and ensure the elimination of symptoms:

1. Rehydration therapy involves the introduction of drugs needed to replenish nutrients, as well as fluid. Isotonic solutions are widely used.
2. To reduce intoxication, sorbents, such as activated carbon, are used.
3. Probiotics help to normalize the intestinal microflora.
4. If there is a temperature, knocking it down is not recommended, since under these conditions the virus dies much faster. Taking drugs that knock down the temperature is only indicated in case of extreme heat or when the patient is seriously ill.
5. It is important to follow a literate diet, which completely excludes dairy products, drinks with gas, fatty and fried foods.

Intestinal flu in adults and children can lead to complications. One of them often becomes cardiovascular insufficiency. With weakened immunity, against a background of severe dehydration complications of the disease increase the risk of death.

After recovering rotavirus infection, a person is not protected from infection in the future. However, the recurrent disease of intestinal flu in adults occurs with weakened signs, which practically do not pose a threat to the body. Therefore, a specific disease does not require a second disease.

WomanAdvice.ru

Intestinal flu - treatment

The main cause of the development of gastroenteritis (intestinal flu) is the entry of the virus into the body in contact with a sick person or through contaminated food and water. Because of the risk of serious complications when symptoms of the disease appear, seek medical attention.

How to treat intestinal flu?

There is no specific medicine for intestinal flu. Therapy of the disease is aimed at alleviating the symptoms and alleviating the general condition. The drugs used in the treatment of intestinal flu have the following directionality:

1. Adsorbents that absorb toxins produced by viruses and remove them naturally. This is, first of all, activated carbon and such drugs as:

• Enterosgel;
• Smecta;
• Creon;
• Nifuroxazide, etc.

2. Antipyretics for normalizing body temperature. Usually, Aspirin and Paracetamol, as well as other drugs based on them, are used. In the absence of effect, Diphenhydramine and Analgin injections can be used.

3. In order to reduce the pathogenic effect on the digestive system, it is recommended:

• Festal;
• Mezim, etc.

4. Antidiarrhoeic and antiemetic drugs are used to treat intestinal flu. And to prevent dehydration of the patient's body and restore the water-mineral balance, it is recommended to take mineral salts, for example, Regidron or mineral still water.

The use of antibiotics for intestinal flu is meaningless, since the infection has a viral and not a bacterial nature.

Effective with intestinal flu Enterofuril is a broad-spectrum drug that fights secondary infection, which causes even greater damage to the state of the gastrointestinal system.

Also to restore the epithelium of the stomach it is useful to take a decoction of rose hips or herbal infusions:

• chamomile;
• plantain;
• sage;
• thyme.

As antiseptics, essential oils can be used:

• tea tree;
• juniper;
• cedar;
• pine trees;
• eucalyptus.

Diet for intestinal flu

The resulting inflammation of the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract requires a sparing diet. The following foods and foods are recommended for the intestinal flu patient:

• low-fat broths and soups;
• mashed potatoes;
• vegetable stew;
• skim cheese;
• porridges boiled on water, and without oil;
• dried bread;
• fresh berries and fruits.

To replenish the fluid in the body, you should take at least 2 liters of drinking:

• unsweetened broths of berries;
• black tea (preferably with lemon);
• dried fruits compote.

You can not use milk and sour-milk products, raw vegetables that help to relax the intestines, and fatty, sharp, sweet dishes.

Prevention of intestinal flu

Along with the question of what to take with intestinal flu, the important problem remains how to prevent infection with the infection. Prevention includes compliance with the basic rules of hygiene:

1. Timely washing of hands.
2. Thorough washing of fruits, berries and vegetables.
3. Compliance with sanitation when cooking food.

It is undesirable to buy ready-made food in open stalls and eat on the street. It is recommended in the autumn-winter period, when the peak incidence of intestinal flu is noted, consume more products - natural antiseptics such as garlic, onions, horseradish, mustard. Very useful for prevention include in the daily diet of honey. When caring for the patient, you should always use gauze masks to not catch the infection, to handle dishes and personal items ill with disinfectant chlorine-containing products, wash their hands with household or tar soap.

WomanAdvice.ru

Similar articles