Because of the name, a lot of people incorrectly think that the stomach flu is similar to influenza, but it’s not the same thing at all. Stomach flu is actually an illness in the gut referred to as gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is an illness that can be caused by a few different factors like bacteria, viruses, or even parasites.
The bacteria, viruses, or parasites can come from various places like dirty water, spoiled food, or reactions to certain food products. Here’s a list of gastroenteritis symptoms:
Abdominal cramps
Stomach pain
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Fever
Headache
Swollen lymph glands
Although eating may seem unpleasant while experiencing these types of symptoms, it is important to still nourish your body. When you are able to keep food down, it’s recommended to stick with foods like toast, rice, bananas, and applesauce. Also, even if you can’t eat, the staff at BSA CareXpress Urgent Care recommends that you continue to drink plenty of fluids in order to stay hydrated.
Consider keeping a bottle of water close by since gastroenteritis can cause dehydration. Feeling weak or dizzy can be signs of dehydration. If you cannot drink or eat anything due to continuous vomiting or diarrhea, skip urgent care treatment and have someone get you into emergency care as soon as possible. Other serious symptoms requiring emergency care would a persistent high fever and/or fainting.
Follow these guidelines to allow your body to recover from the stomach flu, but be on the lookout for symptoms that aren’t going away or that get worse. Don’t hesitate to visit one of the many BSA CareXpress locations if you need us.