Stomach Virus

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stomach virus or flu?

Stomach flu is a viral inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
Pharmacist

Symptoms of stomach virus usually appear within 4 - 48 hours after exposure to the viral contaminated food or water.



Woman with symptoms of stomach flu

Let's see if you need to go to the hospital right away or if it is something you can take care of yourself.

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Stomach flu

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How bad is it?

Alright.
Assuming you are having diarrhea at the moment.
Pharmacist

The important thing with stomach virus illness is to make sure you are not looking at dehydration or any other potentially life threatening situation.

Let's start with that.

 

In addition to the diarrhea, do you also have blood in the stool?

Or mucus in the stool?

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • It may not be of viral origin.

  • You are possibly looking at a bacterial or parasitic cause of stomach inflammation.

  • E.coli, Salmonella, Shigella comes to mind. You will have to go to the emergency room or urgent care clinic for stool testings and even documentation.

  • You may have to be given antibiotic or antiparasitic medication depending on the stool culture and other clinic evaluations. Don't try to ride this out.

  • In viral infections, stools rarely contain mucus or blood.

  • All patients with bloody diarrhea will have to be tested for E. coli at a minimum.

Hospital

 

What about fever or chills?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call your doctor.
Pharmacist

Here is why:


Hospital

 

Are you feeling faint, dizzy?

Or confused?

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Trending towards dehydration.

Hospital

 

Does your mouth feel dry or sticky?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Possible dehydration territory.

Signs of dehydration:

  • Feeling lethargic
  • Low blood pressure
  • Dry mouth
  • Sticky mouth

Hospital

 

Does your eyes look sunken?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Looking at a possible dehydration.

Signs of dehydration:

  • Feeling lethargic
  • Low blood pressure
  • Dry mouth
  • Sticky mouth
  • Sunken eyes

Hospital

 

Have you had a urine output the past 8 hours or so?
Pharmacist

 

 

Do you feel your heart pounding or racing?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Possible sign of dehydration.

Hospital

 

Pinch the skin of the stomach or thigh using the thumb and a bent forefinger.

Did the skin get back to normal immediately after releasing it?

This is known as the 'Pinch test'. Though it is used in children, but you can try it for yourself.

 

No?
If you are not dehydrated, the skin fold should retract immediately.
Pharmacist

Results to expect:

  • Normal:
    Skin fold retracts immediately.

  • Mild or moderate dehydration:
    Skin fold is visible for less than 2 seconds while retracting.

  • Severe dehydration:
    Skin fold visible for longer than 2 seconds while retracting.

 


Dehydration is a life threatening emergency.
Pharmacist

If you are looking at dehydration, go to the emergency room or the nearest urgent care clinic. Do not delay.

If you don't think you are dehydrated, let's continue. If you answered 'Yes' to the 'Pinch test' question, tap on the 'FYI' button below to see the result to expect in case you want to try it later.

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Results to expect:

  • Normal:
    Skin fold retracts immediately.

  • Mild or moderate dehydration:
    Skin fold is visible for less than 2 seconds while retracting.

  • Severe dehydration:
    Skin fold visible for longer than 2 seconds while retracting.

FYI Continue

 

 

 

 

Stomach flu

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Is it stomach flu?

Alright.
Diarrhea can be caused by many things, even nerve problems.
Pharmacist

Let's narrow it down to stomach flu as much as possible. Then you will see if you can ride it out or need to go to the doctor.

 

Does anybody else have the same symptoms you are experiencing?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
Stomach flu has an outbreak nature.
Pharmacist

Gastroenteritis can affect one person or a group of people who all ate the same food or drank the same water.

 

Did you come in contact with similarly ill people within the last 2 days?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
Strong possibility you are looking at stomach flu.
Pharmacist

 

Did it start after you ate dairy products?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
Possibly looking at lactose intolerance.
Pharmacist

 

Are you taking any antibiotics lately?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
Antibiotics can cause diarrhea.
Pharmacist

 

Did you eat a new kind of fat-free potato chips or ice cream?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
The olestra in these can cause diarrhea.
Pharmacist

 

Alright.
Let's see if you need to see a doctor right away or if you can ride this out.
Pharmacist

State other things that might cause diarrhea. (See merck manual)

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Stomach flu

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Need a doctor?

How many times have you used the bathroom since the diarrhea started?
Pharmacist




Pharmacist

You may be able to ride this out.

If you are seeing the signs of dehydration, you must seek urgent care or give the doctor a call.

Those signs are:

  • Dry or sticky mouth

  • Low or no urine output for 8 hrs. Urine looks dark yellow or amber

  • No tears

  • Sunken eyes

  • Increased thirst

  • Palpitations (feeling the heart pounding)

  • Confusion and dizziness

  • No sweat.

  • Dry skin that sags slowly into position when pinched up

  • Cool hands and feet.

Let's see what a pharmacist recommend you do or use over-the-counter to take care of this stomach flu situation that you may have.

Watch out for dehydration.

If you have other symptoms or feeling weak from the diarrhea, you should seek urgent care or go to the emergency room.

If you are seeing the signs of dehydration, you must seek urgent care or give the doctor a call.

Those signs are:

  • Dry or sticky mouth

  • Low or no urine output for 8 hrs. Urine looks dark yellow or amber

  • No tears

  • Sunken eyes
  • Increased thirst

  • Palpitations (feeling the heart pounding)

  • Confusion and dizziness

  • No sweat.

  • Dry skin that sags slowly into position when pinched up

  • Cool hands and feet.

Let's see what a pharmacist recommend you do or use over-the-counter if the list above do not apply to you.

Seek Urgent Care.

This may not be due to stomach flu or you have it very bad.

If you are seeing the signs of dehydration, you must seek urgent care or go to the emergency room.

Those signs are:

  • Dry or sticky mouth

  • Low or no urine output for 8 hrs. Urine looks dark yellow or amber

  • No tears

  • Sunken eyes

  • Increased thirst

  • Palpitations (feeling the heart pounding)

  • Confusion and dizziness

  • No sweat.

  • Dry skin that sags slowly into position when pinched up

  • Cool hands and feet.