What Is the Stomach Bug?
“The stomach bug, or gastroenteritis, is an intestinal infection with symptoms that include diarrhea, cramping, nausea and vomiting,” explains Lisa Alleyne, MD, Carilion Clinic Family Medicine. It can hit for a few different reasons, but these are the two main culprits:
- Viruses: Most notably norovirus and rotavirus. Norovirus is infamous for sweeping through places like schools and cruise ships, while rotavirus often targets young kids.
- Bacteria: Ever had food poisoning? That’s bacterial gastroenteritis. Bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli and Campylobacter love to hitch a ride on things like undercooked meat and wreak havoc on your digestive system.
Preventing the Stomach Bug
The best defense is a good offense. Prevention is key to staying healthy during the school year. Dr. Alleyne recommends these tips to stay healthy and help keep the stomach bug at bay:
1. Wash your hands
- Wash thoroughly, making sure to wash all fingers in the process
- Wash for at least 20 seconds (the amount of time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice)
- Use antibacterial hand gels regularly
2. Disinfect high-touch hard surfaces
- Clean faucets, doorknobs, handles and countertops with disinfectant
- Always disinfect surfaces like baby-changing stations after use
3. Keep your distance
- If possible, avoid those who are already sick
- Avoid sharing drinks and eating utensils
- Use separate household items, like towels
4. Make sure your food is safe to eat
- Always cook foods to the recommended temperature
- Make sure packed lunches are kept at the right temperature with an ice pack for cold foods or a thermos for hot foods
- Know when it’s time to toss expired foods
What To Do if You Get the Stomach Bug
If the stomach bug does catch up to you, it will usually go away on its own after a few days. But there are things you can do to speed up your recovery:
- Stay Hydrated: Drink lots of fluids. Oral rehydration solutions (like Pedialyte) are great for replacing lost electrolytes.
- Eat Bland Foods: Follow the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast). Avoid dairy, caffeine, alcohol and spicy or fatty foods until you feel better.
- Use Meds Wisely: Take acetaminophen for stomach pain or fever. Avoid ibuprofen, which can make symptoms worse. Skip the over-the-counter anti-diarrheal and anti-nausea drugs, as these can prolong your illness. Keep in mind antibiotics are only for bacterial infections and won’t help if it’s viral.
- Stay Home: To prevent from spreading the illness, stay home from school or work for 48 hours after symptoms stop.
When To Call the Doctor
Most of the time, you can ride out the stomach bug at home. Be on the lookout for these symptoms that mean it’s time to call your family doctor:
- Extreme thirst, decreased urination, dry mouth or dizziness
- Diarrhea or vomiting that sticks around for more than a few days
- A constant high fever
- Blood in your stool or vomit
- Severe stomach pain
The stomach bug isn’t fun, but knowing what causes it and how to handle it can make it a lot less scary. Keep up with good hygiene, be smart about what you eat and drink and know when to get help from your doctor.
