How to treat gastroenteritis this winter?

How to treat gastroenteritis?

Winter is fast approaching, bringing with it the holiday season, time spent with family and friends, and the drop in temperatures and the seasonal illnesses that accompany it. Among them, there's a particularly dreaded epidemic: gastroenteritis. To prevent gastroenteritis and its associated discomforts from ruining the end of the year, there are remedies and good habits to follow if you get sick. In this article, we explain why this illness is so contagious, how long it lasts, and how to relieve these symptoms as quickly as possible.

Gastroenteritis: a contagious disease

Gastroenteritis is an illness caused by two viruses called rotavirus , which affects children under 5 years old, and norovirus, which infects the rest of the population. The reason gastroenteritis epidemics are so widespread each year is because these viruses are very easily transmitted from one individual to another.

The main ways these are transmitted are through direct contact, such as shaking hands with an infected person or breathing in droplets projected into the air. Consuming contaminated food or indirectly touching a surface touched by a sick person is also enough to catch gastroenteritis. This is why this disease spreads very quickly, especially among young children who put their hands in their mouths.

Additionally, it's important to know that an infected person is not contagious during the virus's incubation period, i.e., when they are not yet experiencing symptoms. This period lasts 24 to 72 hours. However, they can still transmit the disease up to 48 hours after the last symptoms appear.

Fortunately, gastroenteritis usually doesn't last long, with an average duration of three days. Therefore, if the illness persists beyond seven days, you should consult a doctor.

The best thing to do is obviously to protect yourself from the virus and its spread by reducing the risk of contamination using simple actions such as:

- Washing hands after going to the toilet or in public places (public transport)

- Cough into the crook of your elbow, sneeze into a tissue

- Use disposable tissues

- Wear a mask as soon as the first symptoms appear

What are the reflexes to adopt to deal with the symptoms?

The manifestation of gastroenteritis is very trying for the body. Indeed, the virus causes an inflammation of the gastric and intestinal mucosa explaining abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting . It can also cause a moderate fever, often less than 39°. In addition to the restrictive and unpleasant nature of such symptoms, the main consequence they cause is dehydration. Because of the irritation of the intestinal walls, water from food is not absorbed into the body, it remains in the stools which explains their liquid character. This lack of water absorption is aggravated by vomiting. Similarly, repeated vomiting prevents proper nutrition and the maintenance of blood sugar (blood sugar level).

The challenge then is to rehydrate and adapt your diet so that it is assimilated by the body and does not aggravate the inflammation of the digestive tract. To do this, we will explain how to rehydrate as effectively as possible and what diet to adopt.

To help you combat dehydration, the first thing to do is to increase your water intake to 2L of water per day . However, it should not be forgotten that the drop in water absorption also leads to electrolyte losses (sodium, potassium, chlorine) that must also be compensated for. Hydratis is then the right solution to optimize rehydration and compensate for mineral salt losses caused by diarrhea and vomiting. Thanks to its formula enriched with sodium and glucose, water absorption is maximized compared to water intake alone and also compensates for electrolyte losses. Oral rehydration drinks are highly recommended in cases of gastroenteritis. They allow people at risk of dehydration - young children and the elderly - to rehydrate quickly. Thanks to flavored lozenges giving the water a pleasant, fruity taste, as well as a range in sachets, specially developed for seniors, Hydratis ensures effective rehydration for young and old.

Regarding diet, avoid foods that irritate the stomach and intestines (spices, fried foods, coffee, alcohol, gluten-rich foods) and that could aggravate diarrhea and vomiting. Also avoid foods rich in fiber (fruits and vegetables, except those listed below), which accelerate transit and are therefore not recommended here.

Likewise, lactose-based foods can possibly be removed from the diet if they are not well digested by the body and if symptoms are severe. The foods to favor should be rich in starch and pectin, two substances beneficial against gastroenteritis due to their constipating effect. Therefore, we recommend a diet based on rice and well-cooked carrots. You can also consume compotes and ripe bananas, which will not aggravate diarrhea and provide a sugar and potassium intake.

Certain natural supplements sold in drugstores can also help relieve stomach aches and loose stools. Products containing activated charcoal detoxify the intestines, or clay, which coats the intestinal mucosa and helps heal inflammation. Be careful, however, as these products can affect medication absorption; you should take them away from any other treatment, either 2 hours before or after.

Although unpleasant, gastroenteritis is fortunately a short-lived illness when you adopt the right reflexes. The most important thing is to maintain your hydration level, especially for people who become dehydrated easily.

Hydratis is an ideal solution to compensate for mineral losses and rehydrate effectively.

This is why if an infant or a senior is carrying the gastro virus, you should not hesitate to consult your pediatrician or doctor to avoid any potentially serious situation of dehydration. Finally, if the illness persists and/or aggravating factors appear (blood in the stool, weight loss, fatigue and chronic pain, etc.), we also recommend that you consult your doctor without delay.