What is viral gastroenteritis?

Definition

Viral gastroenteritis is an infection of the intestines
caused by a virus.

Causes

Viral gastroenteritis is caused by one of several viruses that assault the intestines. The viruses are usually spread through contact with someone who is infected or with something the infected person touched. Viral gastroenteritis also can spread through food or water that is contaminated.

Risk Factors

Risk factors for viral gastroenteritis include one’s age (children and the elderly) and location, especially child-care centers and nursing homes, and in other group settings (such as on cruise ships, in college dormitories, and at campgrounds).

Symptoms

The symptoms of viral gastroenteritis usually begin one to two days after
exposure to the virus. The illness usually lasts one to two days, but it can last
up to ten days. Symptoms may include watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal
cramps, fever, muscle aches, and headache. Vomiting and diarrhea can lead to
dehydration, especially in children.

Screening and Diagnosis

A doctor will ask about symptoms and medical history and will perform a
physical exam. Blood tests and a stool culture may be ordered by the
doctor. The stool culture will check for bacteria in a
stool sample, which would indicate a different type of illness and one that is not
caused by a virus.

Treatment and Therapy

There is no specific medical treatment for viral gastroenteritis.
(Antibiotics are not helpful for infections caused by any
virus.) However, there are a number of things one can do to be more comfortable
and avoid dehydration.

One should ingest fluids to replace those lost during the illness by having small sips of water, by sucking on ice chips, or by drinking clear soda or decaffeinated sports drinks (such as Gatorade). Children should be given an oral rehydration solution (such as Pedialyte) instead of water.

One should gradually begin to eat bland foods, such as toast, crackers, bananas, rice, chicken, and potatoes, and should avoid dairy products, caffeine, fatty foods, and spicy foods until feeling better. Breast-feeding infants who are sick should continue with breast-feeding; if the sick infant is bottle-fed, he or she should receive oral rehydration solution or formula.

One should rest while sick and should contact a doctor if unable to keep fluids down for twenty-four hours or if having symptoms such as vomiting blood, bloody diarrhea, or a fever higher than 101° Fahrenheit. Other symptoms requiring medical attention are vomiting for more than two days and having signs of dehydration (such as dizziness or light-headedness, excessive thirst or dry mouth, or dark urine or little or no urine).

For children, one should contact a doctor if the child is under six months of age, has a fever of 102° F or higher, seems tired or irritable, has bloody diarrhea, has stomach pain, or has signs of dehydration (such as unusual drowsiness or dry lips and mouth, no tears when crying, dark urine or not urinating much for example, no wet diaper in three hours or feeling thirsty but vomiting after drinking fluids).

Prevention and Outcomes

There are several steps one can take to prevent viral gastroenteritis. If
possible, one should avoid contact with people who have the condition; wash hands
thoroughly with warm water and soap (and help children wash their hands
thoroughly); use bleach to disinfect contaminated surfaces in the home, including
toilets and sink faucets; and avoid sharing personal items such as toothbrushes,
towels, and drinking glasses.

Also, one should take special care when traveling to countries that are more likely to have contaminated food and water. Experts recommend that travelers drink only bottled water, avoid ice cubes, and avoid eating raw foods, including vegetables.

Bibliography

Blaser, Martin, eds. Infections of the Gastrointestinal Tract. 2d ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2002.

Blum, Richard H., and W. LeRoy Heinrichs. Nausea and Vomiting: Overview, Challenges, Practical Treatments, and New Perspectives. Philadelphia: Whurr, 2000.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Viral Gastroenteritis.” Available at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/gastro/faq.htm.

“Infectious Diarrheal Diseases and Bacterial Food Poisoning.” In Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, edited by Joan Butterton. 17th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008.

Kapadia, Cyrus R., James M. Crawford, and Caroline Taylor. An Atlas of Gastroenterology: A Guide to Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis. Boca Raton, Fla.: Parthenon, 2003.

Kirschner, Barbara S., and Dennis D. Black. “The Gastrointestinal Tract.” In Nelson Essentials of Pediatrics, edited by Karen J. Marcdante et al. 6th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders/Elsevier, 2011.