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Viral Gastroenteritis-Causes, Symptoms

by | Jan 30, 2022 | Info | 0 comments

Viral Gastroenteritis Overview

Viral gastroenteritis is an Inflammation and irritation of the intestines caused by any of the number of viruses, most commonly norovirus or rotavirus. This illness is also known as the stomach flu.

Gastroenteritis is the irritation of the digestive track caused by direct viral, bacterial, or parasitic infection or the ingestion of preformed toxins contained within food.

It is a common condition, mainly because the microbes that can cause gastroenteritis are easily spread via contaminated food or water, and through person-to-person contact.

Viral gastroenteritis is an intestinal infection that includes signs and symptoms such as watery diarrhea lasting more than 2 days, stomach cramps, nausea or vomiting, and sometimes fever. This highly contagious illness spreads through close contact with people who have the virus or through contaminated food or water.

The most common way to develop viral gastroenteritis is through contact with an infected person or by consuming contaminated food or water. In infants, older adults and people with compromised immune systems, viral gastroenteritis can be deadly.

There’s no effective treatment for viral gastroenteritis, so prevention is key. Avoid food and water that may be contaminated and wash your hands thoroughly and often.

The main symptom of viral gastroenteritis is diarrhea. Treatment mainly involves symptom relief and fluid replacement. Gastroenteritis is also known as a tummy bug, stomach flu, intestinal flu, food poisoning, and traveler’s diarrhea.

Signs and Symptoms of Viral Gastroenteritis

Symptoms of gastroenteritis usually begin shortly after infection. Depending on the cause, symptoms may appear within one to three days after infection and can range from mild to severe. Symptoms usually last between 24 to 48 hours, but occasionally may persist for up to ten days.

Gastroenteritis attacks the intestines, causing the following signs and symptoms:

Dehydration can arise from the excessive loss of fluid from the body, which can occur quickly with gastroenteritis.

Following are the signs and symptoms of dehydration:

  • Cold hand and feet
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Dry lips and mouth
  • Dark color, smelly urine
  • Extreme thirst
  • Passing only a small volume of urine 
  • Sunken cheeks or eyes

Signs of dehydration in anyone, especially infants and children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems, are reasons to contact your doctor immediately. 

Causes of Viral Gastroenteritis

The most common causes of viral gastroenteritis are norovirus and rotavirus. Campylobacter, Escherichia coli (E.  coli), and Salmonella are the most common causes of bacterial gastroenteritis. Parasitic gastroenteritis is usually caused by Giardia.

Viral gastroenteritis is the most frequent cause of gastroenteritis outbreaks, which occur when groups of people are affected at the same time and place. Norovirus outbreaks can affect both children and adults, while rotavirus mainly affects infants and children.

Many different viruses can cause gastroenteritis, including rotaviruses, noroviruses, adenoviruses, types 40 and 41; sapo-viruses; and astro-viruses.

Viral gastroenteritis is not caused by bacteria (such as Salmonella  species or Escherichia Coli), or parasites (such as Giardia lamblia), or by medications, or other medical conditions, although the symptoms may be similar. Your doctor can determine if the diarrhea is caused by a virus or by something else.

Following are common several different types of viruses that can cause viral gastroenteritis:

  • Adenovirus
  • Astro-virus
  • Norovirus
  • Rotavirus

Adenovirus

The adenovirus affects people of all ages. It can cause several types of illness, including gastroenteritis. The adenovirus can also cause common cold-like symptoms, bronchitis, pneumonia and conjunctivitis.

Adenovirus is passed through the air via sneezing and coughing, by touching contaminated objects, or by touching the hands of someone with the virus.

Children in daycare, especially those under 2 years of age, are more likely to get adenovirus.

Following are the common symptoms associated with adenovirus include:

Most children will feel better within a few days of experiencing adenovirus symptoms. However, symptoms such as pink eye (conjunctivitis) may last longer than a few days.

Astro-virus

Astro-virus is another virus that commonly causes gastroenteritis in children. Symptoms associated with astrovirus include:

The virus most often affects people in late winter and early spring. It’s transmitted through contact with a person who has the virus or via an infected surface or food.

Symptoms usually appear within 2 to 3 days after initial exposure, and the virus will usually go away within 1 to 4 days.

Norovirus

Norovirus is highly contagious and can affect anyone at any age. It spreads through contaminated food, water, and surfaces, or by people who have the virus. Norovirus is common in crowded spaces.

Norovirus is the leading cause of gastroenteritis in the United States and worldwide. Most outbreaks in the United States occur in cooler months usually between November and April.

Following are some of the symptoms of norovirus:

Rotavirus

Rotavirus commonly affects infants and young children. Those who contract it can then pass the virus to other children and adults. It’s usually contracted and transmitted via the mouth.

Symptoms typically appear within two days of infection and include:

A rotavirus vaccine was approved for infants in 2006. Early vaccination is recommended to prevent severe rotavirus illnesses in infants and small children.

Diagnosis of Viral Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is usually diagnosed by the symptoms that it produces, primarily diarrhea. However, if the symptoms are severe or persistent, your doctor may take a stool sample (feces) sample to identify the cause of the gastroenteritis.

Stool samples may be taken during outbreaks of gastroenteritis, such as those occurring on cruise ships and in hospitals and nursing homes, to identify the virus or bacteria that has caused the outbreak. Also, identifying patients with similar histories of food or drink they have recently consumed often helps to determine the source of the outbreak.

Food Contamination by Gastroenteritis Viruses

Food may be contaminated by food preparers or handlers who have viral gastroenteritis, especially if they do not wash their hands regularly after using the bathroom.

Shellfish may be contaminated by sewage, and persons who eat raw or undercooked shellfish harvested from contaminated waters may get diarrhea. Drinking water can also be contaminated by sewage and be a source of spread of these viruses.

Treatment of Viral Gastroenteritis

The most important of treating viral gastroenteritis in children and adults is to prevent severe loss of fluids (dehydration). This treatment should begin at home.

Your doctor may give you specific instructions about what kinds of fluid to drink.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (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.

Risk Factors of Viral Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis occurs all over the world and can affect people of all ages.

People who may be more susceptible to gastroenteritis include:

  • Young Children: Children in child care centers or elementary schools may be especially vulnerable because it takes time for a child’s immune system to mature.
  • Older Adults: Adult immune system tend to become less efficient later in life. Older adults in nursing homes are vulnerable because their immune systems weaken. They also live in close contact with others who may pass along germs.
  • Schoolchildren or Dormitory Residents: Anywhere that groups of people come together in close quarters can be an environment for an intestinal infection to get passed.
  • Anyone with a Weakened Immune System: If your resistance to infection is low, for instance, if your immune system is compromised by HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy or another medical condition, you may be especially at risk.

Each gastrointestinal virus has a season when it’s most active. If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, for instance, you’re more likely to have rotavirus or norovirus infections in the winter and spring.

Complications of Viral Gastroenteritis

The main complication of viral gastroenteritis is dehydration, a severe loss of water and essential salts and minerals. If you’re healthy and drink enough to replace fluids you lose from and diarrhea and vomiting, dehydration shouldn’t be a problem.

Infants, older adults and people with weakened immune system may become severely dehydrated when they lose more fluids than they can replace. Hospitalization might be needed so that lost fluids can be replaced through an IV in their arms. Dehydration can rarely lead to death.

Prevention of Viral Gastroenteritis

The best way to prevent the spread of intestinal infections is to follow these precautions:

  • Get children vaccinated: A vaccine against gastroenteritis caused by the rotavirus is available in some countries, including the United States. Given to children in the first year of life, the vaccine appears to be effective in preventing severe symptoms of this illness.
  • Washing hands thoroughly: And make sure your children do, too. If your children are older, teach them to wash their hands, especially after using the toilet.

    Wash your hands after changing diapers and before preparing or eating food, too. It’s best to use warm water and soap and to rub hands well for at least 20 seconds. Wash around cuticles, beneath fingernails and in the creases of the hands. Then rinse thoroughly. Carry sanitizing wipes and hand sanitizer for times when soap and water aren’t available.

  • Use separate personal items around your home: Avoid sharing eating utensils, drinking glasses and plates. Use separate towels in the bathroom.
  • Prepare food safely: Wash all your fruits and vegetables before eating them. Clean kitchen surfaces before preparing food on them. Avoid preparing food if you’re sick.
  • Keep your distance: Avoid close contact with anyone who has the virus, if possible.
  • Disinfect hard surfaces: If someone in your home has viral gastroenteritis, disinfect hard surfaces, such as counters, faucets and doorknobs, with a mixture of 5-25 tablespoons (73 to 369 milliliters) of household bleach to 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of water.
  • Avoid touching laundry that may have been exposed to a virus: If someone in your home has viral gastroenteritis, wear gloves while touching laundry. Wash clothing and bedding in hot water and dry them on the hottest setting. Wash your hands well after touching laundry.
  • Check out your child care center. Make sure the center has separate rooms for changing diapers and preparing or serving food. The room with the diaper-changing table should have a sink as well as a sanitary way to dispose of diapers.

Take Precautions While Traveling

When you’re traveling overseas in other countries, you can become sick from contaminated food or water. You may be able to reduce your risk by following these tips:

  • Drink only well-sealed bottled or carbonated water.
  • Avoid ice cubes because they may be made from contaminated water.
  • Use bottled water to brush your teeth.
  • Avoid raw food, including peeled fruits, raw vegetables and salads, that has been touched by human hands.
  • Avoid undercooked meat and fish.

 

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