Can i catch gastroenteritis

What are the symptoms? How is it spread? Viral gastroenteritis is highly infectious and is spread by the vomit or faeces of an infected person through: person-to-person contact, for example shaking hands with someone who has been sick and has the virus on their hands contaminated objects contaminated food or drink Infection may also be spread through aerosolised particles when people vomit. Who is at risk? Viral gastroenteritis can affect people of all ages.

How is it prevented? How is it diagnosed? How is it treated? People with vomiting or diarrhoea should: rest at home and not attend work. Infants and children attending childcare or school should be excluded from attending for 48 hours after the resolution of symptoms. These precautions should continue until 48 hours after diarrhoea or vomiting ceases.

This includes people who prepare food in the home or working in the food industry. Avoid undiluted fruit juice and soft drinks as they may increase dehydration and diarrhoea. Rehydration drinks that replace fluids and salts are available from chemists.

Intravenous fluids may be needed in severe cases of dehydration. When cleaning up vomit or faeces: wear gloves wash hands with soap and running water for 10 seconds after gloves are removed and disposed use disposable paper towels or rags to remove any solid material and seal them in a plastic bag before placing in the rubbish bin clean any soiled object or surface with hot water and detergent and allow to dry thoroughly some people also recommend wearing a mask.

They may help to reduce how long you have diarrhoea. See our FAQ on Can probiotics help gastroenteritis. Oral rehydration solutions come as a powder that you add to water to make a drink. Oral rehydration solutions have the right mix of sugars, minerals and salts to help you replace lost water and salt.

Most people with gastroenteritis get better without needing one of these solutions. But these products may be helpful for:. You can buy loperamide from pharmacies, but this should only be taken by adults and children over 12 years, unless prescribed by a doctor. If this shows you have bacterial gastroenteritis, they may then prescribe antibiotics.

If you become very dehydrated or unwell, you may need to be admitted to hospital. In hospital, you can be given fluids directly into your bloodstream through a fine tube into your vein. If diarrhoea or sickness is very bad, this can cause dehydration, especially in children.

Sickness and diarrhoea can also make the salts and minerals in your body get out of balance. Being very dehydrated can be dangerous. Most people with gastroenteritis get better at home without seeing a doctor. But contact your GP if you:. Young babies can be immunised against rotavirus, a common cause of gastroenteritis. This is given as drops into their mouth in two doses — the first at two months and the second at three months.

Before travelling to another country, check which precautions you should take at www. You may need vaccinations or to drink bottled water, for example.

Make sure you replace this by keeping hydrated, drinking plenty of fluids, such as water or squash. Infections can be picked up from contaminated food and water on holiday. Always pack some medicines just in case you get ill. You may wish to pack oral hydration solutions or medicines to treat diarrhoea.

Ask a pharmacist for advice before you travel. Also make sure you get any travel vaccinations that you need. Book an appointment at your GP surgery or a travel clinic before you go — ideally, four to six weeks beforehand. Gastroenteritis can make babies and children get dehydrated very quickly, which can be dangerous. Your child may be getting dehydrated if they:. Gastroenteritis is usually caused by harmful bacteria, viruses or parasites that get into your gut. They may help to correct the balance of bacteria and other organisms in your gut, helping to keep you healthy.

Some research shows that probiotics may help to ease diarrhoea so you get better more quickly. But more research is needed before doctors can be sure, because not all studies have found that probiotics made a difference. But if you have a weak immune system, speak to a dietitian or GP first. Our short survey takes just a few minutes to complete and helps us to keep improving our health information.

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There is no cure, however almost all people who get viral gastroenteritis recover completely without any long-term problems. The most important thing to do for people with viral gastroenteritis is prevent severe loss of fluids dehydration. This treatment should begin at home. Your physician may give you specific instructions about what kinds of fluids to give.

Medications, including antibiotics which have no effect on viruses and other treatments, should be avoided unless specifically recommended by a physician. What is viral gastroenteritis? What is Norovirus? How do people get viral gastroenteritis?