Do you need to go to hospital for gastroenteritis?

Most cases of the stomach flu can be treated at home. However, if you have symptoms such as a high fever, severe abdominal pain, inability to keep liquids down, or vomit or diarrhea lasting more for two days, it's important to seek medical care.
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At what point do you go to hospital with gastro?

Adults and older children should seek medical advice if their symptoms include a fever, severe abdominal pain, blood in their diarrhoea or signs of dehydration, such as thirst and decreased urination, lethargy, dry mouth, sunken eyes or feeling faint when standing.
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How do hospitals treat gastroenteritis?

Treatment depends on the cause, but may include:
  1. Plenty of fluids.
  2. Oral rehydration drinks, available from your pharmacist.
  3. Admission to hospital and intravenous fluid replacement, in severe cases.
  4. Antibiotics, if bacteria are the cause.
  5. Drugs to kill the parasites, if parasites are the cause.
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How serious is gastroenteritis?

In most cases, viral gastroenteritis is not harmful. However, viral gastroenteritis can become dangerous if it leads to dehydration. Anyone with signs or symptoms of dehydration should see a doctor right away. A person with severe dehydration may need treatment at a hospital.
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What can the ER do for stomach virus?

Severe cases of stomach flu may require treatment in a Dignity Health hospital. Stomach flu treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and preventing dehydration. This means replacing electrolytes and drinking plenty of fluids.
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The Stomach Flu: When Should You Go to the ER?



Is gastroenteritis a medical emergency?

If you have symptoms of gastroenteritis, it is important to stay home to heal and to avoid transmitting the illness to other people, until all symptoms have disappeared. Gastroenteritis is generally not serious. Most people take care of themselves at home and self-heal without taking medicines.
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Can you be admitted into the hospital for a stomach virus?

Although stomach flu is relative harmless, prolonged symptoms of the infection should prompt you to visit the emergency room as soon as possible. If the symptoms are severe and they last anything more than 3 days, you should seek urgent medical care for treatment. Stomach flu is treatable and will heal in no time.
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Is gastroenteritis very painful?

Crampy pains in your tummy (abdomen) are common. Pains may ease for a while each time you pass some diarrhoea. A high temperature (fever), headache and aching limbs sometimes occur.
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What is the fastest way to cure gastroenteritis?

Stop eating solid foods for a few hours. Try sucking on ice chips or taking small sips of water often. You might also try drinking clear soda, clear broths or noncaffeinated sports drinks. In some cases you can try oral rehydration solutions.
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What happens if you don't treat gastroenteritis?

Key points about gastroenteritis

Bacterial gastroenteritis is sometimes treated with antibiotics. If severe cases are not treated, they can lead to severe dehydration, neurological problems, kidney failure, and even death. Good hygiene is the best way to prevent bacterial gastroenteritis.
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How do doctors check for gastroenteritis?

How do doctors diagnose viral gastroenteritis? Doctors often diagnose viral gastroenteritis based on your symptoms. If your symptoms are mild and last only a short time, you typically won't need tests. In some cases, a medical history, a physical exam, and stool tests can help diagnose viral gastroenteritis.
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Can gastroenteritis be treated at home?

In most cases, people with viral gastroenteritis get better on their own without medical treatment. You can treat viral gastroenteritis by replacing lost fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration. In some cases, over-the-counter medicines may help relieve your symptoms.
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How do you know if you've got gastroenteritis?

With gastroenteritis, the main symptoms you probably have are watery diarrhea and vomiting. You might also have stomach pain, cramping, fever, nausea, and a headache. Because of diarrhea and vomiting, you also can become dehydrated.
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Should I go to the emergency room for gastritis?

Anyone with gastritis should see a doctor if symptoms are severe, extend past a week, or are unresponsive to adjusting diet or altering lifestyle. However, any sign of internal bleeding is an immediate emergency and anyone with symptoms of internal bleeding should seek medical attention right away.
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How do you know if gastroenteritis is getting worse?

Seek medical attention if:
  1. Vomiting persists more than two days.
  2. Diarrhea persists more than several days.
  3. Diarrhea turns bloody.
  4. Fever is more than 102 F (39 C) or higher.
  5. Lightheadedness or fainting occurs with standing.
  6. Confusion develops.
  7. Worrisome abdominal pain develops.
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How can you tell if gastro is bacterial or viral?

The type of gastrointestinal symptoms is a clue to the type of infection. Viral infection generally produces diarrhea without blood or mucus and watery diarrhea is a prominent symptom. Conversely, a person is more likely to have diarrhea with mucus and blood in bacterial diarrhea.
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How do I sleep with gastroenteritis?

How do you sleep with stomach flu?
  1. Ginger tea or peppermint tea – sipping ginger or peppermint tea before bed can help to ease an unsettled stomach.
  2. Distract yourself from feeling sick – sometimes listening to a calming podcast or TV show can take your mind off your symptoms.
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What triggers gastroenteritis?

You're most likely to get viral gastroenteritis when you eat or drink contaminated food or water. You may also be likely to get gastroenteritis if you share utensils, towels or food with someone who has one of the viruses that cause the condition. Many viruses can cause gastroenteritis, including: Noroviruses.
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How long does severe gastroenteritis last?

Stomach flu is a viral infection that affects the stomach and small intestine. It is also called viral gastroenteritis. The illness is usually brief, lasting 1 to 3 days.
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Does gastroenteritis come on suddenly?

Gastroenteritis usually comes on suddenly and sticks around for just a short time. The illness typically lasts less than a week.
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Does drinking water help gastroenteritis?

When you have gastroenteritis, your body eliminates large quantities of water and mineral salts that are essential to your body's proper functioning. It is important to drink plenty of fluids and replenish mineral salts to prevent dehydration. Watch for signs of dehydration.
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How long should you rest with gastroenteritis?

Most people with gastroenteritis get better at home after a few days and don't need any specific treatment. Stay at home and rest until you feel better. You shouldn't go into work or mix with others for at least 48 hours after your diarrhoea and sickness have stopped. This stops you spreading the infection.
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How long should you quarantine with gastroenteritis?

Although you typically feel better after a day or two, you're contagious for a few days after you recover. The virus can remain in your stool for up to two weeks or more after recovery. Children should stay home from school or child care for at least 48 hours after the last time they vomit or have diarrhea.
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What mimics gastroenteritis?

In clinical practice, acute appendicitis sometimes mimics acute gastroenteritis. Since enteric infections can cause appendicitis, diarrhea may be an initial manifestation, which makes gastroenteritis the assumed diagnosis [4,5,6,7].
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