Stomach flu, which is commonly known as gastroenteritis, is an infection caused by nasty viruses that result in the inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
It is mainly caused by eating food that’s improperly cooked or one prepared in unhygienic conditions.
The disease is highly contagious and so anyone who contacts it should seek to treat it before it rapidly spreads to the surrounding people.
But the most important thing is to preventing it in the first place to avoid its awful symptoms.
What Are The Major Symptoms Of Stomach Flu?
Stomach flu symptoms usually appear 48 hours after exposure to the virus that causes it.
The symptoms are as a result of the body’s defence mechanisms attempting to drive the flu out.
Some of the common symptoms one can experience include:
-Stomach upset
-Diarrhoea
-Nausea and vomiting
-Stomach cramping
-Headache
-Fever
-Sore muscles
How Long Does The Stomach Flu Last?
How Long Does The Stomach Flu Last?In majority of cases, stomach flu lasts for only 1 to 3 days and can sometimes be longer than that.
It may take up to two weeks before the bowel condition comes back to normal. The greatest risk that can be experienced by the patient is dehydration, which if left untreated can be dangerous.
Hence taking home remedies to replenish the lost body fluid is very necessary.
What Are The Most Effective Home Remedies For Stomach Flu?
Stomach flu is caused by viruses hence does not have any cure.
Antibiotics don’t help either and so the most effective way of getting rid of it is to wait for it to get out or consider some home remedies that can cause comfort and prevent further complications .
Some of the most effective remedies to try at home include:
-Drinking more: Increasing fluid intake can be a better way to replenish the already lost water in the body.
Drinking of water should be in small amounts but several times a day so as to avoid vomiting.
For a sick child, an oral rehydration solution can be great in getting the essential water and minerals back to the body.
-Foods with anti-inflammatory properties: For quick healing of the stomach, taking food with anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties can go a long way in relieving the symptoms.
Major foods to consider include ginger, peppermint, cinnamon, chamomile, apple cider vinegar and lemon.
These foods can be chewed or mixed with water or other fluids.
-Avoiding bland foods: A liquid diet can be effective in helping a patient recover from stomach flu symptoms and bland foods should be avoided.
The patient should take smaller amounts of toast, rice and applesauce till the stomach comes to normal.
