What Is The Cause And Treatment For Acute Gastroenteritis?

Posted on Thu, 8 Jan 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 8 Jan 2015 Answered on

Thu, 5 Feb 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi. My 16 yr old son has had stomach virus since this oast Sat nite. Symptoms are nausea, vomitting, diarhea, aches, chills, fever for 2 days & complete loss of apetite. After cleaning up a huge mess Sat nite, my husband and I were fine until today. Is it "normal" to have a stomach virus for so many days? My son has not vomitted since Tues afternoon, but the diahrea persists, as well as, stomach pains, stomach gurgling, and nausea at times

Also, my husband and I cleaned up our son's initial & unexpected vomit (woke him out of a sou d sleep & he never made it out of his room) on Sat nite. We were careful to was our hands and tiss all debris outside & thoroughly washed out our small suction vacuum cleaner. But now, 4 days later my husband and i are very sick with the same symptoms as our son. Can the vius or bacteria be airborn?

Answered by Dr. Deepak Kishore Kaltari (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Acute Gastroenteritis is not air borne infection

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome to healthcare-magic
Greetings of the day

Dear Ms

Let me take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy New Year 2015.

Acute gastroenteritis is usually caused by virus infection especially Rota virus. The mode of transmission is by

1. Food
2. Water
3. Contaminated hands
4. Fomites(non living things like table, spoon etc)

It is not air borne infection. The cause of infection is possibly consumption of common contaminated food or water source especially in family members. In children the incubation period ( time interval between exposure to infected material and development clinical signs and symptoms of disease) is short and adults its long. So that possibly explains delayed presentation in case of you and your husband.

Acute Gastroenteritis may sometimes last for 1-2 weeks and usually is self limiting. The principle of management is simple

1. Ensure adequate intake of water and electrolytes to prevent dehydration and electrolyte imbalance

2. Ensure adequate nutrition

3. Symptomatic treatment of associated symptoms: Like abdominal pain can be usually treated with antispasmodic medication.

I would also advise the following

1. Ensure adequate intake of fluid

2. Probiotics will be helpful in reducing duration of symptoms

3. Antispasmodic for pain in abdomen

4. Acid suppresant like Pantoprozole

Do get back to me if you need any further assistance, will be glad to assist you.

Take Care

Best Regards
Dr Deepak

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju