When should I go to the ER for viral 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.

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.

Can you go to the ER for stomach virus?

If you are experiencing severe stomach pain, that persists for more than three days, then you should consider this an emergency and should head over to an ER as soon as possible for stomach flu, as per the instructions of the subject matter experts over at FrontlineER.com.

What can hospital do for gastroenteritis?

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.

The Stomach Flu: When Should You Go to the ER?

Can you be admitted to hospital for gastroenteritis?

You wouldn't usually have antibiotics for most types of gastroenteritis. If you become very dehydrated or unwell, you may need to be admitted to hospital. In hospital, you can have fluids directly into your bloodstream through a drip in your arm.

What is the most serious complication of gastroenteritis?

The main complication of viral gastroenteritis is dehydration — a severe loss of water and essential salts and minerals. If you're healthy and drink enough to replace fluids you lose from vomiting and diarrhea, dehydration shouldn't be a problem.

How can I speed up recovery from gastroenteritis?

Drink plenty of liquid every day, taking small, frequent sips. Ease back into eating. As you're able, you can return to eating your normal diet. You might find that you can eat bland, easy-to-digest foods at first, such as soda crackers, soup, oats, noodles, bananas and rice.

Which symptoms of gastroenteritis can become life threatening?

In severe cases, you may become dehydrated and have an electrolyte imbalance. 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.

Can a stomach virus turn into something more serious?

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.

When should I go to the ER for diarrhea?

Diarrhea lasts more than two days without improvement. Excessive thirst, dry mouth or skin, little or no urination, severe weakness, dizziness or lightheadedness, or dark-colored urine, which could indicate dehydration. Severe abdominal or rectal pain. Bloody or black stools.

How do I sleep with gastroenteritis?

What happens if gastroenteritis doesn't go away?

If you have a stomach bug that is lasting for weeks (or months), it could be post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome.

How long does it take for bowels to return to normal after gastroenteritis?

Stomach flu rarely lasts longer than 1 to 3 days. However, it may be 1 to 2 weeks before your bowel habits are completely back to normal.

How do I get rid of severe gastroenteritis?

When you have viral gastroenteritis, you need to replace lost fluids and electrolytes to prevent dehydration or treat mild dehydration. You should drink plenty of liquids. If vomiting is a problem, try sipping small amounts of clear liquids. Eating saltine crackers can also help replace electrolytes.

What is the chief complaint of gastroenteritis?

Gastroenteritis, also known as infectious diarrhea and gastro, is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract including the stomach and intestine. Symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Fever, lack of energy, and dehydration may also occur. This typically lasts less than two weeks.

How do you get rid of viral gastroenteritis?

How is viral gastroenteritis treated? Specific treatment is usually not needed. In most cases, you simply need to drink plenty of fluids and rest at home until the virus leaves your system. In rare cases, you may need treatment for severe dehydration, with IV (intravenous) fluids.

How painful can gastroenteritis be?

What are the symptoms of bacterial gastroenteritis? Symptoms can range from mild pain to life-threatening. Each person may experience symptoms differently.

How do I know if my gastroenteritis is viral or bacterial?

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.

Can the hospital do anything for gastritis?

Depending on the suspected cause of someone's gastritis, doctors will prescribe the necessary medications to reverse the condition. Doctors will also suggest and prescribe acid-reducing medications such as Zantac or Pepcid.

Does gastroenteritis get worse at night?

In some people, the stomach flu symptoms may be more pronounced at night due to their circadian rhythm. At night an increase in immune system activity releases infection-fighting chemicals. These can cause inflammation that make you feel worse as you battle your flu.

Why do I feel so tired with gastroenteritis?

The number one cause of fatigue after diarrhea is dehydration. During a bout of diarrhea, important fluids and electrolytes are flushed from your system which can lead to dehydration.

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.