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Jan 3, 2024 · Common symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, congestion, and headaches. But the flu can also cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Children are more likely to experience diarrhea with the flu than adults. Flu-related diarrhea will go away over a few days, along with other flu symptoms.
- Overview
- Why does influenza cause diarrhea?
- Stomach flu and diarrhea
- Other flu symptoms
- Treating flu
- Treating diarrhea
- Preventing flu
- Summary
Diarrhea and other gastrointestinal (GI) problems are uncommon symptoms of the flu.
While influenza (flu) is a common cause of respiratory illness, it only sometimes causes diarrhea. Researchers do not know why or how this may occur.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), diarrhea during the flu is more common in children than in adults.
This article looks at why influenza may cause diarrhea, stomach flu, and vomiting. It also looks at other flu symptoms and treatments.
The flu virus typically infects people via a respiratory route. However, GI symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, sometimes occur. GI symptoms can indicate severe flu and represent a secondary infection.
It is common for the flu virus to spread to the GI tract after a respiratory infection. However, researchers do not know how it is spread.
Researchers suggest that a person with the flu may experience diarrhea as a result of taking flu medications, which can irritate the gut, or because of a direct viral effect or secondary bacterial infection.
Researchers that identified flu viruses in feces estimate that these reach and affect the GI tract due to:
•the flu virus replicating in the intestinal cells
•a person swallowing the flu virus
Stomach flu, also known as viral gastroenteritis, is a highly contagious intestinal infection. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach cramps.
Stomach flu is not the same as influenza, which primarily affects the respiratory system. Stomach flu mainly affects the intestines and stomach.
A person can develop stomach flu from different viruses, including:
•rotavirus, which is most common between April and December
•norovirus, which is the most contagious form of stomach flu
•astrovirus, which typically affects people with weakened immune systems
Other symptoms of the flu may include:
•fever
•chills
•headaches
•stuffy or runny nose
•cough
Individuals most commonly treat the flu at home with over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as painkillers, decongestants, and cough medications.
Resting, ensuring enough fluids, and managing body temperature can also help reduce the severity of symptoms.
In some instances, a doctor may prescribe antiviral drugs that can reduce the severity of flu symptoms. They can also reduce the overall amount of time a person is sick by 1 or 2 days. The drugs work most effectively if a person takes them within 2 days of getting the infection.
People who are at high risk of serious complications from flu viruses might especially benefit from antiviral medication. People at higher risk of complications include:
•young children
•people 65 years old and older
A person can usually treat diarrhea using OTC medications, such as bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate or Pepto-Bismol) and loperamide (Imodium).
However, if a person has a fever or notices blood in their stools, it may indicate a different type of infection, such as bacteria or parasites. For instances such as these, a doctor may not recommend OTC medications.
It is important to treat dehydration, which can result from diarrhea. A person should drink plenty of water to replace lost fluids and consider other options to replace electrolytes, including:
•sports drinks
•caffeine-free soft drinks
•broths
There are several ways a person can actively prevent the flu. These include:
•Flu vaccines: Flu vaccines protect against the most common flu viruses. Anyone 6 months or older should receive a flu vaccine, as it can also help prevent high risk people from serious flu complications and illness.
•Stopping the spread: Individuals should avoid contact with people who are sick with the flu, if possible. Similarly, if a person has the flu, they should limit their contact with others. Covering the nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing and not touching the face can also limit the spread of the flu.
People should also wash their hands thoroughly and regularly as well as disinfect surfaces.
Some people with the flu may experience diarrhea as a symptom. The flu virus may spread to the GI tract as a secondary virus and cause diarrhea. Researchers are unsure of exactly how and why this occurs.
Stomach flu, or viral gastroenteritis, differs from the flu. Stomach flu primarily affects the intestines and stomach, while the flu primarily affects the respiratory system. The two viruses have different causes.
A person can usually treat the flu and diarrhea at home using OTC medications. However, if complications occur and symptoms become severe, they should seek medical attention.
A person may prevent the flu by avoiding contact with the virus and by receiving a flu vaccine.
Jan 18, 2022 · Viral gastroenteritis is an intestinal infection that includes signs and symptoms such as watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea or vomiting, and sometimes fever. The most common way to develop viral gastroenteritis — often called stomach flu — is through contact with an infected person or by consuming contaminated food or water.
Jan 10, 2024 · Common symptoms of the flu often — but not always — include a fever as well as aching muscles, chills and sweats. Other symptoms include: Headache. Dry, persistent cough. Shortness of breath. Tiredness and weakness. Runny or stuffy nose. Sore throat. Eye pain. Vomiting and diarrhea also are flu symptoms.
Oct 3, 2022 · some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults. *It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever. More information is available at Flu and COVID-19 symptoms. Low Resolution Video. This video includes common signs and symptoms of flu. Flu Complications.
Clinical Trials. Symptoms & Causes of Viral Gastroenteritis (“Stomach Flu”) In this section: What are the symptoms of viral gastroenteritis? What are the symptoms of dehydration? Seek care right away. What kinds of viruses cause viral gastroenteritis? Do flu viruses cause viral gastroenteritis (“stomach flu”)?
Sep 12, 2023 · 5 min read. Every year, millions of Americans come down with the "stomach flu," or viral gastroenteritis. It can cause diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, fever, and headache. It’s also highly...
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related to: flu symptoms in adults diarrhea causesLearn How to Spot Potentially Serious Flu Symptoms. Spotting Them Can Be Key To Getting An Effective Antiviral Rx - Visit Us To Learn More.
Explore a Wide Range Of Products Like Allergy Medicines, Antacids and More. Get Deals and Low Prices On oscillococcinum flu remedy At Amazon
