During the winter season plagued by flu virus, cold and various other ailments there is also greater prevalence of viral gastroenteritis. An illness caused by couple of groups of viruses that lead to stomach pain, cramps, fever and most notably - diarrhoea.
Gastroenteritis means infalmation or infection of stomach and intestines.
Viruses are causing about 40% of infectious diarrhoea in developed world which puts them in second place overall, just behind upper respiratory tract infections. The principal way of transmission is faeco-oral, as gross as it sounds, and consumation of tainted food.
The most notable virus to cause gastroenteritis in children must be the infamous rotavirus. Rotavirus alone causes 65% of severe diarrhoea in the world. Rotavirus is most often found in temperate climates during winter. However, it's not the only one. There are adenoviruses, astroviruses and Norwalk virus as well.
It is important to note that the transmission of virus is extremly likely because virus can be transmitted without person affected showing any symptoms, during the acute phase of the disease and even up to 7 days after the symptoms have been resolved.
Symptoms can vary a lot fromt person to person. It could range from completely asymptomatic infection all the way to the life threatening dehydration.
However it typically presents as:
Diarrhoea usually lasts from 2-4 days, but it can last up to 2 weeks if it's caused by adenovirus.
High fever, abdominal cramping and a lot of blood and mucous in stool almost always points to the viral gastroenteritis.
Definitive diagnosis is made by laboratory test, however they are mostly unnecessary as diagnosis can successfully be made by clinical signs.
Treatment of viral gastroenteritis is symptomatic. That means we treat the symptoms and not underlying cause because the body will eventually deal with the virus.
Treatments consists of fluid and electrolyte intake. By consuming enough of fluids and minerals we prevent dehydration and it's severe complications such as hypovolemic shock (Acute deficit of fluids in the blood system).
Antibiotics are not effective because antibiotics don't treat viral infections!
Drugs that prevent diarrhoea or vomiting are not recommended!
Role of probiotics
In the last couple of years there's been some data that points out the benefits of probiotics in treatment and prevention of viral gastroenteritis.
Probiotics are non-infectious, live microorganisms (bacteria), which work together with our body and have a wide range of benefits. Among a lot of things they do they also reduce the severity and frequency of diarrhoea and they also show benefit in other disease as well: alergic reactions, constipations, urinary tract infections.
Probiotics significantly reduce intensity of symptoms and they shorten the duration of disease!
I hope you don't catch one this year and if you do that this article helps you
Sources:
Have a nice day,
