All About Stomach Flu
How you can treat stomach flu effectively

What is stomach flu?
Stomach flu, also called viral gastroenteritis, is a brief viral infection lasting 1 to 3 days that affects the small intestine and stomach.
Causes of stomach flu
Gastroenteritis is caused by swallowing one of several different viruses including rotaviruses, adenoviruses, or the Norwalk virus. The body fluids of infected people contain the virus. The virus can be spread through sharing food, drink, or eating utensils or by direct contact with an infected person (for example, kissing or shaking hands) The virus enters the stomach and intestine and inflames the lining of these organs and the stomach and intestine are temporarily unable to perform their usual functions. The virus can also cause food to move more rapidly through your gastrointestinal tract.
Some bacteria, parasites, medicines, or other medical conditions can cause infections that have symptoms similar to those of stomach flu. Your health care provider can determine if the diarrhea is caused by a virus or by something else if your symptoms are unusually severe or last longer than a few days,
Symptoms of Stomach Flu
When you have stomach flu, you may experience symptoms which include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, fever, fatigue, diarrhea, chills, loss of appetite, and muscle aches. These symptoms may develop over a period of hours, or it may suddenly start with stomach cramps, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Diagnosing stomach flu
To rule out more serious illnesses, such as appendicitis, and to detect complications, such as dehydration, your health care provider may examine you and order lab tests along with examining you for symptoms for stomach flu.
Treating Stomach Flu
Avoid eating solid foods and drink only clear liquids. You can eat soft bland foods that are easy to digest a little while later. As drinking too much at once, even an ounce or two, may cause more vomiting, if you have been vomiting a lot, it is best to have only small, frequent sips of liquids. Also, if you have been vomiting for a long time, replace the minerals, sodium, and potassium in your body by drinking sports drinks and other electrolyte replacement drinks. You can also drink soft drinks without caffeine. Avoid caffeinated or acidic drinks. Avoid drinking or eating dairy products up to ten days after all symptoms of the flu are cleared.
When you have not vomited for several hours and are able to drink clear liquids without further upset, you may start eating soft bland foods. Soda crackers, toast, plain noodles, gelatin, eggs, applesauce, and bananas are good first choices. Avoid meats, coarse grains, and vegetables and other foods that are acidic, spicy, fatty, or fibrous.
Prescription medicine may be part of your treatment to prevent nausea and vomiting or diarrhea. Over-the-counter diarrhea medicine is also effective. However, always check with your healthcare provider before taking any to treat your illness.