What Is Gastroenteritis?
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Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD
Gastroenteritis—better known as the stomach flu—is an illness that develops when the lining of your intestines becomes inflamed. The condition often happens when you consume contaminated food and water. As a result, it's common to experience symptoms like watery or loose diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, and abdominal pain and cramping.
This infection is extremely common, and most often occurs in the fall and winter months between November and March. In fact, 1 in 6 Americans develop gastroenteritis each year due to eating contaminated foods. Fortunately, there are several treatment options that can help you reduce symptoms and shorten the duration of the infection.
Symptoms
Symptoms of gastroenteritis usually develop suddenly. The most common symptoms of the infection include:
The symptoms of gastroenteritis are mostly mild and manageable with proper rest. But in some cases, the infection can cause severe dehydration. Some people are more likely than others to experience dehydration, including:
Older adults over the age of 65
Infants
Those with underlying health conditions or autoimmune disorders
Pregnant people
Causes
In most cases, people develop gastroenteritis by consuming contaminated food and water. The most common cause of gastroenteritis is due to viral infections, but bacterial and parasitic infections may also lead to symptoms.
You may be at risk of developing gastroenteritis if you contract any of the following viruses:
Norovirus: The most common virus that can cause gastroenteritis among all age groups in the U.S. Norovirus is highly contagious and spreads through consumption of contaminated food and water. Most norovirus infections occur between November and April. Symptoms of gastroenteritis usually begin within one to two days after contracting the infection.
Rotavirus: This viral infection is the most common cause of gastroenteritis among infants between 3 and 15 months of age. Rotavirus spreads when you come in contact with infected stool. It's worth noting that there has been a significant decrease in rotavirus infections in the U.S. thanks to the availability of a rotavirus vaccine. If your infant does develop the infection, you can expect symptoms to begin within one to three days.
Adenovirus: Another type of virus that mostly affects children. Most kids who develop adenovirus are under the age of two. This infection spreads through contact with infected stool and respiratory droplets that pass when you cough or sneeze. Gastroenteritis symptoms usually begin two to 10 days after contracting this infection.
While viral infections are the most common reason you develop symptoms of gastroenteritis, you can also experience the illness due to the following causes:
Bacterial infections: Harmful bacteria can invade and attach to the lining of the small intestines. Common types of bacteria that can cause gastroenteritis include Clostridium perfringens, Vibrio cholerae, Campylobacter jejuni, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), Salmonella, and Shigella.
Parasitic infections: Certain intestinal parasites such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia can lead to gastroenteritis by sticking to the lining of the small intestine. Parasites also spread by consuming contaminated food and water.
Medications: In rare cases, certain medications like antacids, antibiotics, and chemotherapy drugs can lead to gastroenteritis symptoms.
Diagnosis
In most cases, you might not need medical care as symptoms of gastroenteritis will slowly go away with at-home remedies like getting enough rest and drinking fluids. But if you suspect that you have stomach flu symptoms and your symptoms aren't going away, consider seeing your healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis.
Your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and inquire about your medical history. They'll likely also ask about the following:
When did your symptoms start?
How severe are your symptoms?
Did you recently come into contact with people who may have had the stomach flu?
Have you traveled recently?
Is there a possibility you ate contaminated food or drank contaminated water?
Do you have any underlying health conditions that may worsen symptoms?
Your provider may also order additional testing to confirm a diagnosis of gastroenteritis. These include:
Stool test to check a sample of your poop for the presence of bacteria, viruses, and parasites
Sigmoidoscopy, which inserts a small tube with a camera to check for inflammation in the large intestine and colon
Blood tests to determine if abnormalities in your red and white blood cells may be causing symptoms
Treatment
There is no sole treatment that specifically improves gastroenteritis symptoms. Instead, healthcare providers may recommend a combination of treatments to improve your illness. Treatment options may include:
Getting enough rest
Drinking more water, sports drinks, soups, or broths to counteract fluid loss caused by diarrhea and vomiting
Trying to replace lost fluids via intravenous fluids (through an IV) if you can't hold water or food down
Taking medications that can help reduce symptoms including antinausea medications (to eliminate nausea), antidiarrheal medications (to reduce diarrhea), antibiotics (if your symptoms are caused by a bacterial infection), antiparasitic medications (if the infection was caused by a parasite)
Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and spicy or sweet foods until your symptoms improve
How To Prevent Gastroenteritis
Fortunately, gastroenteritis is preventable. You can prevent the infection by following these strategies:
Washing your hands regularly and thoroughly before eating and after going to the restroom
Handling food safely by washing fruits and vegetables and cooking raw meat at high temperatures to avoid contamination
Avoiding contact with people who have the infection
Getting vaccinated for rotavirus
Limiting touching your face to reduce the risk of germs spreading from your hands to your mouth or nose
Complications
Gastroenteritis is usually mild, but some people may be at risk of developing dehydration—the most common complication of the illness. If you are dehydrated (or don't have enough water in your body), you'll likely experience the following symptoms:
If you experience dehydration, it's vital to drink more fluids. Severe and untreated dehydration can result in even more serious complications such as:
Low potassium or sodium levels
Organ damage
Shock
Coma
Death
Living with Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis usually lasts for a few days and most people recover without developing complications. The symptoms of gastroenteritis are typically mild. However, older adults, infants, pregnant people, and those living with underlying health conditions may experience more severe symptoms that last longer.
The best way to improve symptoms is by getting rest and drinking more fluids. If symptoms don't subside, consider seeing a healthcare provider about diagnosis and appropriate treatment options.
A Quick Review
Gastroenteritis is a condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the intestines. The most common symptom of gastroenteritis is watery diarrhea. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Viral infections like norovirus are the most common causes of gastroenteritis. While gastroenteritis symptoms can be uncomfortable, getting enough rest, drinking more fluids, and taking medications can shorten the length of the illness and improve symptoms.
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