Treatment of Stomach-Flu

The treatment of Stomach –Flu consists of rest, re-hydratiion and analgesic. Tynenol may treat fever and muscle cramps. Dehydration may be treated by intake of water, electrolyte drinks and oral rehydratiion solutions, which consists of sugar and electrolytes. Volume and electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, hydrogen) concentration in the fluid must be maintained while taking fluid in the rehydration process. The reduction of concentration of these important ions causes’ metabolic imbalances in the body whice may cause hyponatremia. This can be avoided by taking rehydratiion drinks like electrolyte. Most of the sports drinks fulfill these requirements.

To keep the mouth moist and urine clear or at least light yellow, a gastroenteritis patient should drink enough fluid. Once the diarrhea or vomiting subsides, the patient should be given soft food as a diet. Soft food as such consists of rice, bread, soups (without meat), saltine crackers, and puddings. Abdominal cramping, retching or loose stools are indicative or symptoms of inflamed intestine that may require some more time to heel.

Elderly, young especially infants, frail and immunocompromised persons must have adequate hydration since their bodies are already stressed and incidence of gastroenteritis may have a serious toll on their body. These people are normally dependent on others for their food or fluid intake or otherwise having difficulty in maintaining healthy nutrition. So, any occurrence of vomiting and diarrhea further depletes their energy or water source in the body.

When dehydration occurs and electrolyte concentration got imbalanced, the nervous, cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal system gets compounded. That’s why the mouth of the patient gets dry and gets reactions like loose skin, fatigue, less urination and lightheadedness.

Anti – diarrheal and anti-vomiting medication should not recommend during this illness. Since vomiting and diarrhea are the reactions of the body’s immune system and so they should be allowed to function to get rid of the infections. Exceptional cases where body cannot hold any fluid and extremely dehydrated the medicines may be used.