Gastroenteritis is the irritation and inflammation of the digestive system. It is inflammation of the stomach and intestines. It is caused by a virus. Gastroenteritis is one of the most common acute illnesses worldwide. It has no effective treatment. Only prevention with this disease is the best treatment. In the United States, it is second only to the common cold in frequency of occurrence.

Causes

Many different viruses can cause gastroenteritis, including rotaviruses, adenoviruses, caliciviruses, astroviruses, Norwalk virus, and a group of Noroviruses. Viral gastroenteritis is not caused by bacteria or parasites or by medications or other medical conditions, although the symptoms may be similar.

Gastro occurs in any of the following ways:

From person to person. This may occur directly by close personal contact or contact with the faeces of an infected person, or indirectly by touching contaminated surfaces such as taps, toilet flush handles, children's toys and nappies

Eating contaminated food

Drinking contaminated water

Airborne through vomiting, coughing and sneezing (mainly viruses). Handling pets and other animals

Symptoms

Symptoms can vary from person to person. The main symptoms of viral gastroenteritis are watery diarrhea and vomiting. The affected person may also have headache, fever, and abdominal cramps ("stomach ache"). In general, the symptoms begin 1 to 2 days following infection with a virus that causes gastroenteritis and may last for 1 to 10 days, depending on which virus causes the illness.

In a normal healthy person, a case of gastroenteritis is no more significant than a common cold. However, prolonged bouts of vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration and disruption of important body chemistry. Chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus or kidney problems may put you at additional risk for complications from gastroenteritis.

Treatment

Your physician may give you specific instructions about what kinds of fluid to give. CDC recommends that families with infants and young children keep a supply of oral rehydration solution (ORS) at home at all times and use the solution when diarrhea first occurs in the child. ORS is available at pharmacies without a prescription. Follow the written directions on the ORS package, and use clean or boiled water. Medications, including antibiotics (which have no effect on viruses) and other treatments, should be avoided unless specifically recommended by a physician.

Juice, soda or water does not replace electrolytes lost from vomiting or diarrhea. Children with diarrhea often benefit from dietary modifications until the diarrhea subsides.

In some cases your doctor may have you submit a stool sample to rule out a possible bacterial or parasitic infection.