Viral Gastroenteritis (“Stomach Flu”) – NIDDK

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Viral gastroenteritis is an infection of your intestines that typically causes watery diarrhea, pain or cramping in your abdomen, nausea or vomiting, and sometimes fever. People commonly call viral gastroenteritis “stomach flu,” but the term is not medically correct. Flu viruses do not cause viral gastroenteritis.

The symptoms of viral gastroenteritis include watery diarrhea, pain or cramping in your abdomen, nausea or vomiting, and sometimes fever. Many different viruses can cause viral gastroenteritis. Viral gastroenteritis spreads through contact with small particles of an infected person’s stool or vomit.

Doctors often diagnose viral gastroenteritis based on your symptoms. If your symptoms are mild and last only a short time, you typically won’t need tests. In some cases, a medical history, a physical exam, and stool tests can help diagnose viral gastroenteritis.

In most cases, you can treat viral gastroenteritis by replacing lost fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration. You can take steps to help prevent viral gastroenteritis, such as washing your hands and disinfecting contaminated surfaces. Vaccines can protect children from rotavirus infections.

When you have viral gastroenteritis, you may vomit after you eat or lose your appetite for a short time. When your appetite returns, you can most often go back to eating your normal diet, even if you still have diarrhea. Most experts do not recommend fasting or following a restricted diet.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and other components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct and support research into many diseases and conditions.

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The digestive system is made up of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract-also called the digestive tract-and the liver, pancreas, and the gallbladder. The GI tract is a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the mouth to the anus.

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Definition & Facts

This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by the NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.

The NIDDK would like to thank Mary Estes, Ph.D., Baylor College of Medicine

Underlying Causes of Stomach Pain and Diarrhea

Jul 17, 2020

Articles

Everyone at some point will struggle with stomach cramps and diarrhea, which are often accompanied by abdominal pain and cramping. There are myriad reasons why you may be experiencing abdominal pain, cramps, or diarrhea. Most aren’t too serious, and many don’t even require a trip to the doctor. However, even if you have a mild case of gastrointestinal upset, it’s wise to deduce what’s causing it, so you can feel better faster and ultimately receive treatment if you need it. 

Read on to learn about the most common causes of stomach pain and diarrhea, and if you should see a doctor.

What Causes Stomach Cramps and Diarrhea

In many cases, the underlying causes of diarrhea and abdominal pain are caused by a bacterial or viral infection, or from a reaction to food. In the majority of these cases, the stomach cramps will simply go away on their own. Even the stomach flu, in most cases, doesn’t require any treatment other than the “wait it out” method.

It’s estimated that roughly 20 percent of Americans have food sensitivity issues, which can have a sudden onset at any time. Rich and fat-laden foods can cause stomach upset, as well as indigestion from overeating. In the case of food sensitivities, many physicians recommend elimination diets to help isolate the food(s) that are causing the gastrointestinal disturbance. In an elimination diet, you remove many different foods and food groups from your diet, reintroducing them one by one until the culprit is found. For example, for those with celiac disease, foods with gluten cause the stomach upset. When it comes to overeating, portion control is advised. Eating smaller portions, chewing food thoroughly, and opting for high-fiber foods can help stamp out any upset, stomach cramps, and diarrhea.

If Stomach Pain And Diarrhea Are Ongoing

When you have stomach upset related to infection, food intake, or overeating, it will likely pass in a matter of days or a week. If you experience ongoing diarrhea and stomach upset, however, it may be indicative of a medical problem such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBS is a non-serious condition, as it does not damage the digestive tract, but still can cause uncomfortable symptoms such as diarrhea, stomach cramps, and bloating. To improve quality of life, patients should reduce their stress levels, make some dietary changes as advised by their physician, get plenty of sleep, and exercise regularly. However, a doctor should evaluate you for persistent diarrhea to confirm it is IBS and not a more serious issue.

IBD, on the other hand, can cause damage to the digestive tract and requires more treatment than IBS. Inflammatory bowel disease is a collective name for several GI conditions, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Beyond cramps and diarrhea, you may also experience fatigue, weight loss, and blood in the stool. There is no cure for IBD, but doctors can help manage symptoms and inflammation with lifestyle changes and pharmacotherapy to help keep the disease under control.

There are also other reasons for ongoing and persistent diarrhea and stomach pain, including stress, alcohol intake, and certain medications. In modern times, it is certainly hard to manage stress, but mental health and physical health are so profoundly interconnected. If you find you are under a high level of stress, physicians and therapists suggest mindfulness practices, deep breathing exercises, regular physical exercise, and therapy as needed. Those who have clinical levels of anxiety and/or depression should seek a mental health professional for potential medications that may help with stress.

Over-drinking can also cause GI upset. According to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, women should not consume more than one drink daily, and men no more than two. Medications can also cause GI upset, such as antacids, metformin, antibiotics, chemotherapy medication, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

When to See a Doctor

There can be other, more serious reasons for abdominal pain and diarrhea, although these are far less likely: cancer, intestinal problems, severe gastric problems, and appendicitis. The two attributes you should consider as you prepare to see a doctor are the duration of the symptoms, and their severity. If your diarrhea and abdominal symptoms last for more than a few days, are severe in nature, or are both acute and prolonged, it’s time to make an appointment. You should also be aware of blood in the stool, confusion or extreme fatigue, irritability, rapid heart rate, and vision problems. Infants and those who are immunocompromised or elderly should seek treatment immediately.  

If you need to see a physician for management of your gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, or abdominal pain, book an appointment at GI Associates today.

Diarrhea – what is this disease, its treatment, what to do, how to get rid of it

This disease is treated by Gastroenterologist

The information provided on this page should not be used for self-treatment or self-diagnosis. If you suspect a disease, you should seek help from a qualified specialist. Only your doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment.

Article content:

• Causes of disease
• Classification of diarrhea
• Symptoms
• Complications of diarrhea
• Diagnostics
• Treatment
• Prophylaxis

What is diarrhea?

Diarrhea is a pathological symptom characterized by loose or loose stools more than 3 times a day. Diarrhea (diarrhea) is not an independent disease, but is regarded as a manifestation of a pathological process in the body. It occurs in both adults and children. The main danger of diarrhea is a strong loss of fluid, which can cause severe complications and even death. Therefore, it is important for every person to know how to stop diarrhea and help the patient.

Causes of disease

Diarrhea occurs due to impaired bowel stimulation. The most common causes of pathology:

• Food poisoning. It develops with the use of expired, untested or thermally unprocessed products. Often associated with nausea and vomiting.

• Viral and bacterial infections. It is often a sign of salmonellosis, shigellosis, dysentery, cholera, typhoid fever, etc. Diarrhea can also be caused by coronavirus (intestinal form), rotavirus and adenovirus. Parasitic invasion Source:
  Diarrhea and helminthiases. Chernysheva E.S., Pavlova N.M., Podistova E.A. Theory and practice of combating parasitic diseases, 2011. causes precisely an acute process.
• Taking certain medications Source:
  Drug-induced diarrhea. Ostroumova O.D., Kulikova M.I., Sychev D.A. Medical business No. 2, 2021. pp. 34-47. An important role is played by the intake of antibiotics, which disrupt the composition of the intestinal microflora. Loose stools can occur due to the use of laxatives, antacids, anticoagulants and antiarrhythmics.
• Food intolerance and dietary disorders. Indigestion may develop due to indigestion of sugars, alcohol and lactose (dairy products). Violation of the stool also occurs when eating fatty, spicy and high-calorie foods.
• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The most common among them are: dysbacteriosis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and malabsorption syndrome. Also, diarrhea may indicate the presence of an oncological process. Most often, diarrhea is chronic.
• Diseases of other organs and systems: thyroid pathology, jaundice, pankeratitis, etc.
• Previous operation: resection of the stomach or intestines, removal of the gallbladder.

Classification of diarrhea

Depending on the cause of development, diarrhea is divided into the following types:

• infectious – parasitic invasion;
• alimentary – in case of deviation from the diet, the use of low-quality food or liquid;
• dyspeptic – with insufficient secretion of the digestive tract;
• toxic – in case of poisoning with chemicals, poisons;
• medicinal Source:
  ANTIBIOTIC ASSOCIATED DIARRHEA IN CLINICAL PRACTICE. Luzina E.V., Lareva N.V. Therapeutic archive, 2013. pp. 85-88 – when using certain medications that affect digestion;
• neurogenic – with frequent stress.

Depending on the developmental features, diarrhea is divided into the following types:

• secretory – develops when an excessive amount of water and electrolytes are released into the intestines;
• osmotic – occurs when digestion and absorption function are disturbed;
• exudative – develops against the background of inflammation and violation of the integrity of the intestinal wall;
• hyperkinetic – occurs due to too active movement of feces through the intestines, due to which nutrients and water are not absorbed in full.

Depending on the course, diarrhea is divided into:

• acute – lasts from several hours to 3 weeks, caused by infection;
• chronic – persists for more than 3 weeks, caused by diseases of the digestive tract.

The main symptom of diarrhea is loose or loose stools more than 3 times a day. The nature of the stool depends on the localization of the pathological process, so it is important to pay attention to its color, texture and smell. It happens:

• Yellow – indicates increased intestinal peristalsis. Often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and abdominal discomfort.
• Green – a sign of infection. This color is associated with the reproduction of pathological microorganisms and the accumulation of leukocytes. Often associated with vomiting and abdominal pain.
• Bloody – may be a symptom of gastrointestinal bleeding. For bleeding from the stomach and esophagus, a dark color of feces is characteristic, and for intestinal bleeding, light, scarlet.
• White – indicates the presence of a tumor or stones that press on the bile ducts. The disease is often accompanied by dark urine and yellowing of the skin.
• Watery – a frequent manifestation of cholera. A person is tormented by frequent urge to defecate, and in the absence of timely assistance, dehydration quickly develops.

In both adults and children, diarrhea may be combined with other symptoms:

• pain in the abdomen: clear or indistinct, aching, cramping, sharp;
• fever;
• pallor;
• rumbling in the abdomen;
• flatulence;
• general malaise, apathy, depression;
• headache;
• decreased or complete lack of appetite;
• weight loss.

Complications of diarrhea

If medical assistance is not provided in time, diarrhea causes the following complications:

• dehydration – dehydration of the body;
• acute renal failure;
• arrhythmia;
• metabolic acidosis;
• loss of electrolytes from the blood: sodium, magnesium, chloride and bicarbonate;
• severe poisoning of the organism;
• convulsive syndrome;
• hypokalemia, hypocalcemia;
• intestinal bleeding;
• shock;
• death.

Diarrhea must be stopped quickly, as its long course causes a rapid deterioration of the condition. In childhood, complications develop rapidly.

Diagnosis

Diarrhea is diagnosed by a physician or gastroenterologist. To assess the state of the body and identify the etiology of diarrhea, a comprehensive examination is prescribed:

1. Poll. The doctor specifies the presence and nature of complaints: the number of bowel movements, stool features (consistency, color, smell, quantity and presence of impurities) and factors preceding the pathological condition (use of questionable products, contact with a sick person, etc.). It also clarifies the presence of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in history.
2. Inspection and palpation. The skin, oral cavity and lymph nodes are examined. During palpation, pain in different parts of the intestine can be detected.
3. Laboratory tests:

• general and biochemical blood tests;
• urinalysis;
• coprogram;
• stool test for helminth eggs;
• analysis for enterobiasis;
• ELISA.

4. Instrumental diagnostic methods:

• Abdominal CT;
• abdominal ultrasound;
• FGDS;
• irrigography;
• colonoscopy.

If necessary, the patient is sent for an additional consultation with another specialist: an infectious disease specialist, an oncologist, a surgeon.

Treatment

Only a qualified doctor can explain how to stop diarrhea, how to treat accompanying symptoms and consequences. The choice of treatment tactics directly depends on the etiology of diarrhea Source:
Etiotropic therapy of infectious diarrhea. Shakhmardanov M.Z., Nikiforov V.V. Epidemiology and infectious diseases No. 23 (6), 2018. pp. 301-307 and the presence of complications. The duration of therapy varies from several days to weeks, depending on the severity of the patient’s condition. Appointed by:

• Normalization of water and electrolyte balance. This is the main part of the treatment of diarrhea. Replenishment of the lost fluid is carried out with the help of plentiful drinking and solutions of oral rehydration salts. With acute dehydration and the development of shock, intravenous rehydration is performed.
• Antibiotics. Used in the presence of a bacterial infection.
• Antispasmodics and analgesics. They are prescribed for the relief of spasms and pain.
• Enzymes. They are used to normalize digestion.
• Sorbents. Designated for accelerated disposal.
• Probiotics. Used to normalize the composition of the intestinal microflora.

Nutrition for diarrhea also plays an important role in recovery. Not all people know what to eat with diarrhea, as a result of which the state of health and the course of the pathology worsens. Allowed and recommended foods for indigestion:

• low-fat broths based on meat or fish;
• boiled eggs;
• crackers;
• oatmeal and rice porridge;
• bananas;
• plain yoghurts;
• boiled potatoes.

Fatty, spicy and smoked foods must be removed from the diet for the entire period of treatment and recovery. It is also important to drink at least 2 liters of pure water daily.

Prevention

The following tips can help prevent diarrhea:

• proper, rational nutrition;
• the use of quality, tested and fresh products;
• consumption of thermally processed food;
• regular handwashing;
• taking medications only as prescribed by a doctor.

• Diarrhea and helminthiases. Chernysheva E.S., Pavlova N.M., Podistova E.A. Theory and practice of combating parasitic diseases, 2011.
• Drug-induced diarrhea. Ostroumova O.D., Kulikova M.I., Sychev D.A. Medical business No. 2, 2021. p.34-47
• Etiotropic therapy for infectious diarrhea. Shakhmardanov M.Z., Nikiforov V.V. Epidemiology and infectious diseases No. 23 (6), 2018. p.301-307
• ANTIBIOTIC ASSOCIATED DIARRHEA IN CLINICAL PRACTICE. Luzina E.V., Lareva N.V. Therapeutic archive, 2013. pp.85-88

Author of the article

Ekaterina Borisovna Vostrikova

Specialty: Gastroenterologist

Experience: 17 years

Article published : 12/26/2013
Last updated : 02/01/2023

See also

Gallstone disease: symptoms and treatment

Reflux esophagitis

Worms

What to do if the child has pain in the lower abdomen and diarrhea?. Multi-probiotic BAK-SET

When a child complains of loose stools and abdominal pain, the success of treatment largely depends on the competent actions of the parents.

• Try to find out exactly where the source of the pain is: in the navel area, left or right side.
• Measure the temperature. If it is higher than normal and is accompanied by vomiting, an intestinal infection is not excluded.
• Remember what the baby ate recently. If the diet was dominated by vegetables and fruits, it is possible that this is a functional disorder. When there is a suspicion that the child has eaten expired or substandard foods, the risk of food poisoning is high. Fatty or spicy foods could cause a reaction from the pancreas and other digestive organs.
• Examine the skin. If a rash appears at the same time as these symptoms, it is likely a food allergy.
• Observe the general condition of your son or daughter. A bubbling tummy and a frequent release of gases, followed by relief, indicate flatulence. General discomfort while maintaining activity is possible with intestinal dysbacteriosis.

An acute condition requires an ambulance call. If the child has pain in the lower abdomen and diarrhea, but there is no strong deterioration in the condition, consult a doctor at the place of residence. In anticipation of the reception, in no case should you give painkillers or warm the stomach. But taking adsorbents will help stop loose stools. Drink lightly salted water to avoid dehydration.

Many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (intestinal infections, poisoning, etc.) cause an imbalance of microorganisms in the intestines. After a course of treatment prescribed by a pediatrician or gastroenterologist, care should be taken to restore the intestinal microflora. In addition, dysbacteriosis itself can cause pain in the lower abdomen and diarrhea in a child.

BAK-SET baby is a drug for the normalization of the intestines in children. It contains 7 strains of beneficial bacteria and a prebiotic. They:

• inhibit the action of pathogens in the intestines;
• contribute to the restoration of immunity;
• resume the synthesis of vitamins;
• resist toxins and allergens.

BAK-SET baby is available in the form of a sachet.