Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is inflammation of your stomach and intestines.

• Gastroenteritis is usually caused by an infection with a virus or bacteria

• You feel very sick to your stomach, throw up, and have diarrhea

• Throwing up and diarrhea can lead to dehydration (not having enough water in your body), which is especially dangerous in older people and babies

• To help prevent the spread of gastroenteritis, wash your hands after using the bathroom and avoid undercooked food

• Gastroenteritis usually goes away on its own

• You'll need extra fluids and sometimes medicines to help stop vomiting or diarrhea

• Antibiotics don't usually help with gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is usually caused by:

• Viruses, such as rotavirus

Other causes include:

• Parasites, such as Giardia

• Bacteria, such as E. coli

Symptoms start suddenly and include:

• Feeling sick to your stomach and throwing up

• Belly rumbles or cramps

• Diarrhea

Doctors know you have gastroenteritis from your symptoms. They usually don't need to do tests, but sometimes they may do:

• Stool (poop) tests

For adults with mild gastroenteritis, doctors will have you:

• Take small, frequent sips of fluid

• Eat regular food as soon as your stomach feels up to it

If you're a healthy adult, the kind of fluid and food really doesn't matter.

If your baby or young child has gastroenteritis, you should give them:

• Oral rehydration fluid, which you can get in a drug store or supermarket

Oral rehydration fluids have the right balance of salts and minerals that babies and young children need.

For more severe gastroenteritis, doctors may:

• Give you fluids by vein (IV)

• Give you medicines to stop diarrhea and help your belly feel better

• Give you medicine to get rid of parasites, if a parasite is causing your gastroenteritis

• For certain rarer kinds of gastroenteritis, give you antibiotics

The following lower your chance of getting gastroenteritis:

• Washing hands well after using the bathroom and before preparing food

• Cooking meat and eggs thoroughly

• Not eating food from street vendors while traveling

• Trying not to swallow water while swimming in lakes and oceans

• Getting your children the rotavirus vaccine

• For babies, breastfeeding