The incubation period of intestinal flu. Intestinal flu

List of acute intestinal diseases viral nature is quite extensive. Often, adults are diagnosed with symptoms of intestinal flu; consider them, as well as the treatment of pathology. We will study the symptoms of intestinal flu in adults and methods of treatment of acute intestinal disease, which is of a viral nature.

Gastric, intestinal flu, gastroenteritis, rotavirus infection - all this refers to a disease that affects the digestive system and differs acute form the course of symptoms. The development of pathology is facilitated by different representatives of the same family of viruses. But most often it is provoked by a virus of the Rotavirus order. When it penetrates into the organs of the food system, its active reproduction begins, which becomes the cause of inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.

Children are most often affected by the disease, however, symptoms of intestinal flu are also diagnosed in adults, the treatment regimen is the same for both age groups... Interestingly, despite the fact that the clinical picture of the disease is pronounced, in some adults with a strong, disease-resistant immune system, it may be absent altogether. Accordingly, they become carriers of the disease.

Infection mechanisms

Rotavirus penetrates the damaged gastrointestinal mucosa. Incubation period, i.e. the time that passes from the moment of meeting with the virus until the appearance of the initial clinical manifestations, ranges from sixteen hours to five days. Several factors affect the reproduction rate of the pathogen, as well as the severity of the pathology:

virus concentration;
state of protective forces.

Knowing how intestinal flu is transmitted in adults allows for a better understanding of the symptoms and treatment of the disease. Specialists distinguish the following types of transmission of infection:

the food route is through low-quality foods eaten raw. The reason may also be the water taken directly from the tap or gushing it while swimming;
airborne droplets. The source is the saliva of a sick person, the air he exhales;
contact-household method. Similar to the previous version, any place where people accumulate en masse becomes the site of infection.

Causative agent rotavirus infection extremely stable, and it will not be possible to cope with the usual means used for washing. The pathogen dies only after contact with concentrated chlorine-based products.

As the research results show, traces of the pathogen are easily detected in the cells of the digestive organs after a short period of time after contact occurs. The rapid attack of the virus causes a rapid disruption of the structural state of the mucous membranes of the digestive system. The result is a disrupted production of substances that are responsible for ensuring that complex sugars undergo separation into components, accumulation in small intestine not digested carbohydrates. The processes described cause the gastrointestinal tract to accumulate fluid in significant volumes, which, in turn, causes watery diarrhea.

Clinical picture of the condition

Having discovered the first symptoms of stomach flu, especially in elderly adults, you should call a doctor who will decide whether it is necessary to send the patient to the hospital and whether treatment at home is possible. Outpatient form it is allowed if the sick person has vomiting no more than five times a day, and diarrhea - 10.

A few hours before the patient develops gastrointestinal disorders, he will have a slight cough, nasal congestion, painful sensations in the throat. Because of these clinical manifestations, the pathology received its unofficial name.

It should be remembered that the listed symptoms pass quickly enough, which distinguishes rotavirus infection from other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract of a viral nature.

In general, the symptoms of stomach flu can be summarized as follows:

painful sensations arising from swallowing, redness of the walls;
not long-term catarrhal symptoms;
copious liquid stool of a gray-yellow hue, with an unpleasant odor, but without admixture of blood and mucus;
painful sensations that are concentrated in the abdomen;
nausea accompanied by vomiting;
increased body temperature;
weakness that gradually increases;
dehydration of the body.

It is important to remember that the listed symptoms correspond not only to intestinal flu in adults, but also to other diseases; their incorrect differentiation also affects what treatment will be prescribed.

Therapeutic tactics

In medical practice, there is no specific treatment tactics rotavirus. All actions are aimed at reducing intoxication, normalizing the water-salt balance, disturbed due to vomiting and diarrhea. In other words, treatment is symptomatic and aimed at reducing the negative effects of the pathogen.

In general, the actions are as follows:

The first thing that treatment begins with is rehydration therapy or restoration of water-salt balance. You will need Regidron sold in pharmacies. The solution prepared according to the instructions is drunk in small portions. This should be done throughout the day at regular intervals (at least half an hour). If desired, a drink similar in properties can be easily prepared at home. To do this, take 700 ml of water (a decoction of chamomile is also suitable), 300 ml of a decoction of dried grapes or apricots, carrots, 4 tsp. sugar, 1 tsp. salt, half a teaspoon of baking soda. This mixture is ideal for cases of repeated diarrhea, bouts of vomiting.
After symptoms of stomach flu in adults such as vomiting, diarrhea become less severe, food is allowed, and treatment at this stage is aimed at removing toxins. Most often, the patient is prescribed Polysorb, Smecta, Activated carbon and the like. Any dairy products as they create a fertile breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria.

If diarrhea is accompanied high temperature and the condition lasts long enough, doctors prescribe drugs that stop the condition. Also shown are medicines that saturate the body with digestive enzymes.

After the end of the acute phase, all actions are aimed at the restoration of the natural microflora in the intestine.

It is important to remember that establishing the symptoms of intestinal flu in adults, as well as determining the tactics of treatment, prescribing dosages of drugs, all this should be done exclusively by the doctor.

Traditional medicine and treatment of intestinal flu

Modern medicine allows the reception of not only pharmaceuticals, but also developments alternative medicine... Both methods should not exclude, but mutually complement each other.

It is known that one of the symptoms of intestinal flu in adults is dehydration; to eliminate it, it is recommended not only to take pharmacy medications, but also treatment folk remedies... For example, the abundant use of decoctions medicinal herbs- cranberries, currants, raspberries. It should be noted that in addition to restoring water balance, these solutions help to increase immunity, which, in turn, has a positive effect on the course of the disease.

After stopping the bouts of vomiting and diarrhea, as noted, food is allowed. To protect the intestinal mucosa, to promote the healing of small ulcers caused by vomiting, it is recommended to drink a mixture of linden flowers, chamomile, willow bark, chopped rose hips. The infusion is taken 200 g three times and always before meals.

If you are not allergic to bee products, you can take after meals a mixture of a tablespoon of honey, a glass of warm water, juice of a small lemon. This solution will reduce the activity gastric juice and will not allow it to eat away at the weakened walls of the esophagus, intestines, stomach.

Quite often, symptoms of intestinal flu in adults negatively affect the condition of the liver, and treatment with folk remedies - the best way restore the work of the organ. For example, traditional medicine is well known for the positive effects of elderberry. You will need a tablespoon of berries and a glass of boiling water. The mixture is brought to a boil and left over low heat for 10 minutes, after which it is set aside and allowed to brew. You can add honey to the finished solution. It should be taken three times a day, a quarter of a glass.

Proper nutrition for stomach flu

Diet with a diagnosed rotavirus is an integral part of treatment tactics. It is both simple and austere. The main requirement is to use a large number of fluids throughout the entire period of the disease. It can be boiled chilled water, but it is better to give preference herbal teas, broths. They not only help to reduce the activity of the virus, but also strengthen the body's defenses.

The diet is based solely on healthy and useful products... Do not consume more than one product at one time. The portions are small. When treating intestinal flu, the patient should eat steamed or oven-baked dishes with a minimum amount of fat. It is important to remember that you should gradually switch to the usual way of eating for a person. Exact time, during which it will be necessary to maintain a diet after recovery, the doctor will accurately determine. And the patient should strictly follow this recommendation.

After bouts of diarrhea and vomiting, you should start eating with dairy-free cereals (rice, semolina), mashed potatoes, crackers (only from white breads). If after several hours there is no urge to vomit, bouts of nausea and diarrhea, the patient can include boiled fish and meat in small portions in the diet.

The patient should eat cereals, boiled meat, fish and crackers for several days. If there are no undesirable reactions from the gastrointestinal tract, you can expand the diet a little more. The menu is complemented by steamed vegetables, scrambled eggs, wheat and buckwheat porridge, also cooked in water.

It is important to remember that the diet should not contain fresh vegetables and fruits. They are able to induce a fermentation process in the intestines.

Prevention of pathology

Not wanting to face the symptoms of intestinal flu in adults and treat with a large number of medications, anyone should know the simple rules of prevention:

In the cold season, should be avoided large congestion of people. This rule especially applies to people with weakened immunity.
Use of a special vaccine.
Eating a large amount of seasonal fruits and vegetables will saturate the body with the necessary vitamins, microelements and strengthen the defenses.
All vegetables and fruits are eaten only after they have been well washed.
The diet should not include a large number of spicy and fatty foods.

To avoid intestinal flu, you should closely monitor the quality drinking water... In places where it is difficult to establish, it is better to use boiled or mineral water... Thorough and regular personal hygiene is also the key to staying healthy.

Intestinal flu is an inflammation of the intestines that is caused by rotavirus. You can have this virus and not get sick, but actively release it into the environment. It has been proven that almost half of the world's population is an asymptomatic carrier of this infection. It is called intestinal flu because the mechanism of action of rotavirus on the intestines is similar to the development of ordinary flu when strains of the virus enter the nasal and oropharyngeal mucosa.

How can you get this flu?

The main route of infection is when eating food that is contaminated with the virus is not well processed during preparation and when basic rules of personal hygiene are ignored. This is also a "dirty hand disease", like most intestinal diseases. A good environment for the development of rotavirus infection is water, dairy products.

Rotavirus persists in environment quite a long time - up to 10 days, and in feces - up to 6 months. This virus is resistant to refrigeration: when contaminated food is stored in the refrigerator, it does not lose its disease-causing properties. Most often, children from six months to 3 years old get sick with intestinal flu. Older children do not get sick often, they develop relatively stable immunity.

Clinical manifestations of the disease

The incubation period of intestinal flu most often lasts only 3-4 days. In rare cases, it can be up to 7. Most often they get sick in winter. The disease is characterized by a stormy onset - at the same time nausea, vomiting and diarrhea begin. All this is accompanied by a temperature above 38 ° C, sharp pains in the upper abdomen. Vomiting can be 3-4 times a day, and then it stops. All other symptoms of intestinal flu in adults remain and progress. The difference between rotavirus infection and other enterocolitis is characterized by acts of defecation: at first, nausea suddenly occurs, sharp pain and rumbling in the intestines, then gases and then liquid, watery, frothy stools of yellow, green or yellow-green color with a sharp sour odor.

When rotavirus is affected, symptoms of intestinal flu are also observed, similar to signs of flu: weakness, soreness of all muscles, redness and graininess of the mucous membrane of the tonsils and soft palate, uvula.

The signs of intestinal flu in adults are supplemented sharp decline body weight, persistent bloating and an increase in the blood detected during the study:

urea;
creatinine;
residual nitrogen;
leukocytes.

Dehydration has a negative effect on the kidneys: little urine is excreted, and casts, protein, erythrocytes are found in it.

Intestinal flu in adults lasts no more than 7-8 days. According to the degree of damage and the state of the body's response, three degrees of severity are distinguished:

easy - occurs in 75%;
moderate - 20%;
severe - in 5%.

At mild the state of health suffers weakly, watery stools no more than 5 times, dehydration is expressed insignificantly. The moderate form is characterized by emptying 10-15 times, nausea, vomiting, blood pressure may decrease and the activity of the heart may be disrupted. Weight loss due to dehydration is 3%. If the stool is 15 times a day or more, weight loss is up to 9%, there are symptoms of intoxication: headaches, significant fever, weakness, muscle pain, violation of the activity of the heart and excretory systems, then this is a severe form that requires immediate hospitalization.

How is the disease in children

The main initial symptom intestinal flu in children is vomiting, which can occur on an empty stomach, and after eating food or a small amount of liquid. Then the body temperature rises to 39-40 ° C, rumbling and bloating occurs. The child becomes inactive, sleepy and capricious, refuses food, diarrhea joins.

Symptoms of intestinal flu in children differ in that vomiting occurs without prior nausea, but after the nausea bothers constantly and is not always accompanied by vomiting. Vomit green, copious with mucus and a lot of undigested food. Within a short time, symptoms of dehydration occur: dry skin and mucous membranes (tongue and eyes), retraction of the fontanel, rare urination, concentrated urine.

The diagnosis of rotavirus infection is based on the presence of specific antibodies in the blood and electronic research feces. Only after positive results These studies establish the diagnosis of intestinal flu, and only a doctor determines how to treat it. Do not self-medicate, especially treat children yourself.

Treatment of rotavirus enteritis in adults and children

Treatment of intestinal flu in adults does not include specific medications. The basis of therapy is proper nutrition on the first day of the disease. An intestinal flu diet involves flooding the body with plenty of fluids. It is necessary to completely eliminate dairy, sugary foods and foods that cause increased gassing... On the first day you can only baked apples and croutons. On the second day, rice is added, buckwheat porridge and cooked dietary meat.

Antibiotics are not used due to ineffectiveness. Treatment for intestinal flu is aimed at eliminating symptoms and pursues the following goals:

elimination of dehydration;
raising the body's immune forces;
restoration of water and electrolyte balance;
normalization of bowel function;
replenishment of the lack of enzymes.

It is necessary to drink plenty of fluids, preferably a saline solution: 1 teaspoon of salt per 1 liter of water. It is consumed every half hour, 60 ml. When treating intestinal flu, Rehydron is recommended. Intravenous administration"Trisol", "Acesol" is indicated for severe disease. To restore bowel function and cleanse it of toxins, enterosorbents are recommended: activated carbon, Smecta, Enterosgel. Enzymatic deficiency will help eliminate Mezim, Festal, Panzinorm. To normalize peristalsis and eliminate diarrhea, Immodium and Enterol are shown. Prevention and treatment of dysbiosis is carried out with drugs: Bifidumbacterin, Linex, Bifiform. The temperature should not be reduced if it is less than 38 ° C. At this temperature, the body's defenses are activated, which helps to fight the virus.

In children, the treatment of intestinal flu must be carried out in a hospital setting. Shown plentiful drink, the use of funds that are harmless to children: Rigedron, Enterosgel, Linex. To normalize the temperature - Panadol, Nurofen. Dairy products are completely excluded. If the baby is breastfed, breastfeeding should not be stopped.

Prevention of rotavirus infection

There are no specific drugs for the prevention of intestinal flu. The vaccine developed to prevent infection during epidemics has many side effects and is therefore not used. The main thing in prevention is cleanliness, adherence to daily hygiene rules (washing hands, using only your own towel), using high-quality dairy products and boiled water.

Intestinal flu video:

Intestinal or, as it is also called, stomach flu Is a common disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract. The pathology received this name due to the similarity of symptoms with signs of influenza ( elevated temperature, general weakness and other manifestations of intoxication of the body). The development of stomach flu is accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, changes in the appearance of stools, diarrhea, and others. More information on how to treat intestinal flu will be discussed in this article.

With the development of intestinal flu, the patient feels severe weakness, because the disease is accompanied by damage internal organs... In medicine, there is another term - viral gastroenteritis(as doctors call intestinal flu). According to statistics, of all infectious diseases of the intestine, gastric flu ranks first. A relatively young disease, which doctors did not distinguish several decades ago from other intestinal infections. But with the development of medicine, when rotavirus was discovered in the mid-70s, which contributes to the development of stomach flu, this disease finally got its name.

The disease can affect the body of every person, regardless of age or gender. But, despite this, most often the symptoms of intestinal flu are diagnosed in one-year-old children. Adult patients become infected, usually while caring for infected children. If at first the disease was recorded only within the United States, now this disease can be found in almost all European countries.

On a note! In children over 4 years of age, the immune system is already sufficiently developed to fight rotavirus infection. The same can be said for children. adolescence, who suffer from intestinal flu quite rarely, however, like adults. But for the kids early age pathology is a serious danger.

You don't have to travel to exotic countries or eat fancy food to catch stomach flu. Infected food and water lack of hygiene or dirty objects that the baby can put in his mouth - all this can lead to infection.

Causes of occurrence

As noted earlier, the main source of the disease can be either a rotavirus carrier or an infected person... The habitat of the virus is the cells of the mucous membrane of various organs of the gastrointestinal tract. The virus itself leaves the patient's infected body along with the feces. Rotavirus is transmitted by food- this is the most common way. Also, a virus that is on clothes or household items enters the body. Consequently, the pathology quickly spreads in crowded places, for example, in an institute or kindergarten. The first sign of infection with intestinal flu is acute diarrhea that cannot be stopped.

When infected with a virus, work is disrupted digestive system, due to which there are malfunctions in metabolic processes and diarrhea appears. The peculiarity of the disease lies in its rapid development, therefore, the course of treatment is prescribed individually, taking into account various factors... As a rule, the patient is referred to a hospital.

Typical symptoms

The virus does not appear immediately after entering the body. This may take some time - from 10-12 hours to several days. But in most cases, the symptoms of pathology appear on the first day after infection with rotavirus.

Intestinal flu is accompanied by acute symptoms, among which:

general weakness of the body;
decreased or complete lack of appetite;
severe runny nose;
inflammation of the throat;
frequent diarrhea (5 to 12 times a day);
bouts of vomiting;
temperature increase.

Over time, symptoms of body intoxication and dehydration are added to the first signs of pathology. The patient becomes very lethargic and weak, and the color of the urine may change. As a rule, it becomes darker. In this case, the patient's body is threatened serious danger and if you do not consult a doctor in time, serious complications can arise. If signs of intestinal flu appear in a child, then at the first suspicious symptoms you need to go to the hospital. Only a doctor will be able to determine whether it is possible to leave the child at home for the period of treatment or whether it should be done in a hospital.

There are several forms of intestinal flu:

easy;
medium;
heavy.

The patient's condition mild form diseases worsens slightly. As a rule, he complains of heaviness and discomfort in the stomach. The urge to defecate occurs up to 5 times a day. Medium form pathology accompanied by an increase in body temperature, painful sensations in the abdomen, general weakness of the body and other symptoms that appear with a common cold. The patient can defecate from 5 to 10 times a day, and the stool is painted in a characteristic yellowish tint.

Severe stomach flu occurs in people quite rarely. In this case, the body temperature can rise to 40 degrees, the patient suffers from severe pain in the abdomen. Also noted frequent stools(10-12 times a day), which is most often frothy and watery. The skin becomes very loose, and urination becomes infrequent. In any case, you should immediately consult a doctor if you notice suspicious symptoms in yourself or your child. It is not recommended to self-medicate in order to avoid the transition of pathology to a severe form.

Diagnosis of intestinal flu

The essence diagnostic examination is for the doctor to be able to distinguish bacterial from viral gastroenteritis, since there is a big difference in the treatment of these pathologies. Also, an equally important goal in the diagnosis is to determine the rotavirus infection, since this disease can easily be mistaken for food poisoning or the common cold. But if with intestinal flu the body temperature rises, then with poisoning - no.

To identify the pathogen, the doctor may prescribe the following tests:

stool analysis to detect rotavirus antigens;
blood test;
urinalysis, which can detect leukocyturia, hematuria and proteinuria.

On a note! Before surrender laboratory analyzes, in particular, feces, doctors recommend not to take any drugs at least 24 hours prior to collection. The same applies to the setting of enemas, laxatives and rectal suppositories... This can affect the results of the analysis.

Treatment methods

After the doctor makes a diagnosis, he will prescribe a course of therapy, which consists in stopping the dehydration of the body and eliminating the symptoms of pathology. First of all, you need to stop diarrhea and vomiting. Antidiarrheal and antiemetic drugs will help with this. Since the treatment is complex, it consists of taking medications, observing special diet and the use of traditional medicine. Let's take a look at each of these methods separately.

Pharmacy preparations

In the treatment of intestinal flu, various medical drugs, differing from each other in composition and properties. What kind of remedy is suitable in a particular case is decided by the attending physician. The following are the most common medications prescribed by doctors.

Table. Drug treatment stomach flu.

Name of the drug, photo	Description
	As active ingredient of this drug methylsilicic acid acts. Enterosgel has detoxifying properties, due to which it is effective in the treatment of intestinal flu. It is taken internally.
	A cleansing preparation that helps cleanse the patient's body from various toxins. Feature of this medicinal product lies in the fact that when it enters the body, it is not absorbed in the digestive tract.
	Another drug used to treat stomach flu. It belongs to the group of nitrofurans, has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It has a negative effect on gram-negative microorganisms.
	An effective probiotic preparation, the action of which is to increase the number of microorganisms that make up intestinal microflora... The drug acts on the patient's body in a complex way, and this distinguishes it from other probiotic drugs.
	Combined product containing different types of lyophilized bacteria that make up normal microflora intestines. The drug is used in medicine to restore and support the intestinal microflora. It is often used when recovering from the main course of therapy.

Important! Antibiotics are not recommended when treating stomach flu. Such drugs will not only not help to cope with the symptoms of the disease, but also worsen the patient's condition, destroying the rest of the intestinal microflora.

Nutrition

Parallel to reception medications the patient must follow a therapeutic diet. Its essence lies in adding the following foods to the diet:

strong tea, preferably unsweetened;
crackers;
crumbly porridge cooked in water (rice, buckwheat, pearl barley, millet);
dairy products.

With intestinal flu, the patient should refuse to use such products:

raw vegetables and fruits;
sugar;
Rye bread;
whole milk;
alcoholic products.

As a rule, after 4-5 days of treatment, the patient notices a significant improvement. But this does not mean that he is immediately discharged, since the duration of the "quarantine" is 14 days, during which the patient is still considered contagious.

Folk remedies

As a complement to traditional treatment many use proven traditional medicine recipes. The most effective ones are presented below.

Table. Traditional medicine recipes for intestinal flu.

Name of the product, photo	Application
	You will need pine buds for cooking. Pour 200 ml of boiling water with 10 g of kidneys and cook on a steam bath for 20 minutes. After that, let it brew for 1 hour. Strain the cooled product through cheesecloth and take 100 ml 2 times a day. It is advisable to take the broth 20 minutes after eating. After a few days of treatment, you will notice an improvement.
	Beekeeping products have been used in folk medicine for many years. And this is not surprising, because they contain a lot of useful components that actively fight against various diseases... To get rid of the symptoms of intestinal flu, you need to mix 30 ml in one bowl lemon juice, 200 ml pure water and 100 ml of honey. Take the prepared product in 100 ml 3 times a day.
	For cooking herbal collection you need to mix in equal proportions willow bark, chamomile, linden and rose hips. Then pour 200 ml of boiling water in 1 tbsp. l. cooked collection and leave for 15 minutes. After insisting, strain the resulting product through cheesecloth to get rid of plant residues. Take 50 ml 2-3 times a day, preferably before meals.
	Another recipe for a folk remedy used in the treatment of stomach flu. Pour 300 ml boiling water over 2 tbsp. l. black elderberry and simmer for 15-20 minutes over low heat. After the product has cooled, add 1 tbsp. l. honey and mix all the ingredients thoroughly. Take 500 ml of broth after each meal. Duration of treatment - until symptoms are completely eliminated.
	Very simple, but at the same time effective remedy from intestinal flu. To prepare fruit drink, pour 200 ml of clean cool water 2-3 tsp. raspberry jam... Instead of raspberries, you can use jam made from other berries, such as currants or strawberries. Drink fruit drinks throughout the day.

If you decide to be treated with folk remedies, this does not mean that from taking pharmacy products you can refuse. It has already been mentioned that therapy for intestinal flu should be comprehensive... This is the only way to quickly achieve the desired result.

Prevention measures

It is much easier to prevent the development of intestinal flu than to treat it. Therefore, it is necessary to engage in prevention, which consists in the rules of personal hygiene, or rather, in their observance. According to statistics, the infection most often enters the body along with dirty food. Therefore, it is important to keep your hands clean at all times, especially before eating. The same goes for dirty dishes such as spoons, forks or plates.

Since childhood, we are taught not to eat dirty fruits and vegetables, but to wash them thoroughly so that microbes do not enter the body. But many for some reason forget about this rule. Be sure to wash fruits and vegetables before eating, and if possible, disinfect them with boiling water. Since the virus that causes stomach flu is highly contagious, it is imperative that the sick person is isolated so that he cannot infect others.

Important! If you go to the river with friends to swim, then when swimming, you also need to follow some rules. We are not talking about safety measures now, but about preventing infection, so when bathing, do not let dirty water get into your mouth.

People can get stomach flu several times throughout their lives, but this can be fixed. If for the first time upon infection with a virus, the patient is provided with timely and effective treatment then the immune system will develop a defense against re-infection over time. This will facilitate further treatment, and in some cases completely protect the body.

Video - Symptoms and treatment of intestinal flu

Intestinal flu, stomach flu, gastroenteritis or rotavirus infection are the names of the same disease that is a frequent visitor in the summer. When it's hot outside, all food quickly deteriorates, becoming a great place to live for many intestinal bacteria, it is very easy to get infected with rotavirus.

Intestinal flu is a viral infection that enters the body by absorption through the walls of the stomach or intestines. Children, the elderly and pregnant women are the worst affected by this disease due to a weak immune system. The main danger in this disease is dehydration. Because of frequent vomiting and endless diarrhea, the body very quickly loses fluid, which can be fatal, especially in infants. Therefore, if you suspect an intestinal infection of children in the first three years of life, it is simply necessary to show the pediatrician. He will assess the situation and, if possible, give permission to home treatment... In other cases, the treatment of young children should be carried out in a hospital setting.

Intestinal flu symptoms

The symptoms of intestinal flu appear quite quickly, within a day after the virus enters the body. On average, the incubation period can last from 10 hours to 3-5 days. The speed of onset of symptoms and their intensity depends on the amount of the virus that has entered the body, as well as on immune system sick. Symptoms of rotavirus are as follows.

A little manifestation starts first cold symptoms- throat reddens and hurts when swallowing. There may be a slight cough, runny nose, frequent sneezing. But these symptoms quickly pass, turning into more serious intestinal disorders. These symptoms have given this type of virus the name "flu", although intestinal flu has nothing to do with traditional flu.
At the beginning of the development of a viral infection, the patient develops weakness, body aches, and general malaise.
This is often accompanied by an intestinal disorder called diarrhea. The stool is liquid, it can be dark, light or green. Often the stool is bubbling, has a sharp bad smell... This means that the fermentation process takes place in the intestines. If stool occurs more than 10 times a day, be sure to consult a doctor.
If blood or mucous inclusions were found in the stool, you need to see a doctor, perhaps you have another disease. Rotavirus does not have these symptoms.
Vomit. This is another frequent symptom intestinal flu, although vomiting may not occur. If the patient is sick, but vomiting does not occur, it is better to induce it yourself. This will empty the stomach and possibly prevent the contaminated food from being completely absorbed.
The patient's abdomen hurts, growls, twists.
When the virus gets inside, the body begins to fight back, which leads to a rise in temperature.
Usually rotavirus is difficult, with intoxication, a person cannot lead a normal life. He is so weak that he constantly lies, especially for children.

The acute period of rotavirus infection lasts no more than a week, usually 3-4 days. Then for about a week the patient recovers and comes to his senses. All this time, until complete recovery, the patient is considered contagious.

Intestinal flu causes

Rotavirus infection is a disease of dirty hands. Often people get sick with it if they start eating with dirty hands. An adult kept money and handrails in public transport, the child played on the playground, and then took food in his mouth with unwashed hands - the virus easily enters the body. Also intestinal virus can get inside with poor quality or stale food. You need to be especially careful with perishable dairy products during the hot summer. You can also get infected from a patient with gastroenteritis - through household items or by airborne droplets.

Treatment of any viral infections aimed at removing intoxication, the speedy elimination of the virus from the body and symptomatic treatment... Here are some steps to take if a person gets sick with intestinal flu.

The very first and most important thing is to replenish the water-salt balance. To do this, dissolve Rehydron in a liter of water and drink in small portions throughout the day. If a child is sick, you need to solder it every 5-10 minutes, one teaspoon at a time. If you give the baby more, this will lead to another urge to vomit and all efforts will be in vain. If Regidron is not at hand, you can prepare a water-salt solution yourself. Dissolve a tablespoon of salt, 3 tablespoons of sugar and half a tablespoon of baking soda in a liter of water.
To fight the infection, you need to drink Furozolidone, Ersefuril or Enterofuril. These funds perfectly relieve intoxication, because they kill the bacterium itself.
Loperamide, Imodium, Levomycetin should be taken against diarrhea. The drug Enterojermina helps children very well.
If a person is tormented by vomiting, you can suppress it with drugs such as Ondosetron, Cerucal. But they cannot be used by children without a doctor's prescription.
It is very important to take sorbents that will absorb the remains of toxins and bring them out. It can be Smecta, Activated carbon, Enterosgel, Filtrum. If there are no pharmaceutical preparations at hand, it is very good to drink rice water... This glue-like mass not only stops diarrhea, but also absorbs toxic substances in the intestines and stomach.
Within a day, when the patient's condition stabilizes a little, he will need to be fed. In addition to a gentle diet, along with food, the patient should take enzymes - Festal, Creon or similar drugs... They will help a sore stomach and upset intestines to digest food.
In a few days, when the intoxication has passed, the person will most likely suffer from persistent diarrhea. This is often because the intestinal microflora is disturbed. To restore it, you need to drink a course of probiotics, which will help colonize the intestines with beneficial bacteria. It can be Linex, Hilak Forte, Bifidumbacterin, Enterol.

In the acute phase of the disease, a person is unlikely to want to eat anything at all. And you don't need to force him. Now all the forces of the body are aimed at fighting the disease, and the digestion of food is an additional burden. After passing acute period you can start eating crackers, low-fat chicken broth, rice and rice water, oatmeal on the water. No fermented milk products - they create an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Drinking plenty of fluids is very important. You need to drink a lot, only with the help of liquid you can accelerate the elimination of the virus from the body. Usually, children during the period of rotavirus infection are allowed everything that is usually prohibited - fruit drinks, compotes, juices. Rosehip decoction helps very well, green tea, chamomile decoction.

How to protect yourself from intestinal flu

To avoid getting this infection, it is important to wash your hands thoroughly before every meal. It is best to use an antibacterial soap. Especially after being in in public places... Carry antibacterial wipes and gels to help you clean and decontaminate your hands on the go. Do not eat on the street or in questionable establishments. If, for example, mom is sick with the flu, she should not cook food so as not to infect other family members. Waste reservoirs without running water, where a huge number of people bathe, is also a breeding ground for many diseases. You can get infected even if a small part of the liquid gets into your mouth while bathing.

Contrary to popular belief, intestinal flu is not treated with antibiotics, since the cause of this disease is a virus. Intestinal flu can only be cured by fighting the symptoms and eliminating the virus with fluids. To protect the body in the future, it is important to strengthen the immune system - to eat right, temper, move more and spend time on fresh air... These simple rules help you avoid meeting such unpleasant disease like intestinal flu.

Video: rotavirus infection - symptoms and treatment

Intestinal flu got its name from the peculiarities of the symptoms. The disease is caused by rotavirus infection and at the initial stage resembles a cold: the patient has catarrhal phenomena on the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and oropharynx, pain in the larynx, nasal flow, body temperature rises. On the 2-3rd day, inflammation of the mucous membranes occurs. gastrointestinal tract, and the signs of the disease resemble clinical picture digestive disorders. One of the manifestations of intestinal flu is viral gastroenteritis - pathological inflammatory process flowing in shells small intestine and stomach.

Severe dehydration can be a complication of stomach flu. If this condition is not eliminated in a timely manner, the patient may die, therefore, treatment of rotavirus infection should be started when the first appears. typical symptoms... There is no special therapy for the destruction of the causative agent of the disease, and treatment in adults is aimed at eliminating intoxication, rehydrating the body and getting rid of unpleasant symptoms... After suffering intestinal flu, the patient will have to follow a therapeutic diet and a sparing regimen physical activity for another 7-10 days.

Adults rarely get stomach flu compared to children preschool age... This is due to the fact that adults pay more attention to personal hygiene, adhere to the norms of cooking and heat treatment food, more often follow the expiration dates food products... If children become infected mainly through dirty hands or toys that have been touched by the patient, then in adults the main source of rotavirus is usually poor-quality food.

These can be foods that have been improperly stored or have expired, or poorly cooked meat. Fans of steaks with blood should be especially careful about the choice of meat, since it is poorly processed meat and fish that are considered the leaders among the foods that lead to poisoning. Dairy products (including fermented milk drinks) are also particularly dangerous products. In no case should you consume dairy products with a suitable expiration date, even if outwardly they look quite edible.

The source of infection can be and tap water, therefore, it must be boiled, even if a cleaning filter is installed at home. For those who do not like boiled water, it is better to use water from spring sources, which is sold in stores, for drinking.

Rotavirus can be infected in other ways. The most common ones are:

Important! Rotavirus actively multiplies in mucous membranes digestive tract and is excreted from the body with feces. If there is a patient with an intestinal infection in the house, cleaning the toilet and disinfecting the toilet room is necessary every day to prevent infection of the rest of the family.

How do you know if a person has intestinal flu?

Diagnosing the disease at the initial stage is a rather difficult task, since the only symptoms in the early days of the disease are signs respiratory diseases... The incubation period for rotavirus infection can range from 4-6 hours to 5 days. Its duration depends on the state of the human immune system, the amount of the pathogen and the degree of its activity.

On the first day of illness, the patient may notice the following symptoms:

an increase in temperature to 38 ° C and above, accompanied by fever and chills;
headache;
pain in the throat when swallowing;
dry cough of moderate intensity (usually not painful);
discomfort in muscles and large joints;
redness and looseness of the tissues of the oropharynx;
sore throat.

The elderly, as well as those with reduced immunity, smokers, patients with alcohol dependence usually show all of these symptoms. The signs are of high intensity, the intoxication of the body develops rapidly, worsening the condition and well-being of the patient. In patients over 55 years old, discomfort and discomfort in the muscles can turn into pain syndrome.

What happens on day 2-3?

Approximately 2 days after the onset of the disease, the virus enters the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines, causing a characteristic intestinal symptoms... The patient begins to have frequent diarrhea, while the stool is very thin, watery, and has a foamy consistency. Repeated vomiting may occur. The vomit is the color of the food eaten, without impurities bile acids, blood and mucous veins. The smell of the masses is ordinary, not offensive.

Abdominal pain with intestinal flu is acute and may resemble intestinal cramps. In addition to pain, the patient complains of flatulence, bloating and heaviness in the stomach (regardless of food intake).

Note! About a third of patients develop conjunctivitis for 2-3 days, a disease characterized by inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye. Signs viral conjunctivitis are transparent selection from the eyes, redness of the eye sclera, itching and burning.

How is stomach flu treated in adults?

Treatment of rotavirus infection in adult patients is symptomatic, and may take place in outpatient, if such a possibility is allowed by the doctor who examined the patient. The main task of therapy for intestinal flu is to eliminate signs of intoxication and dehydration. Sorbents are prescribed to the patient to cleanse the blood and intestines from toxins released by rotavirus. These are drugs that selectively absorb gases, solid and liquid substances and harmful vapors from the surrounding space.

The most effective sorbents to eliminate intoxication with intestinal infections are:

You need to take them several times a day, while increasing the amount of fluid you drink. It is also necessary to eliminate dehydration. For this purpose, the patient is selected for rehydration therapy. saline solutions... They normalize water-salt balance, support kidney function and help restore normal level moisture in the body. The most popular remedy this group is "Regidron" in the form of a powder for solution preparation. The contents of one package must be dissolved in a liter of boiled water and drunk in small sips throughout the day. With severe dehydration, the patient will be hospitalized, and therapy will be supplemented with intravenous infusion of glucose and saline.

The medications listed in the table below can also be used to restore the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Note! After the end of treatment, the patient is selected for a course of vitamin maintenance therapy. It is important that the complex of vitamins and minerals is selected by a doctor, since an excess of some elements is just as harmful as their lack. For example, in case of illness thyroid gland you should choose preparations that do not contain iodine. If the patient suffers from hyperkalemia or hypermagnesemia, it is necessary to refrain from taking complexes containing magnesium and potassium.

Fundamentals of symptomatic therapy in adults

Drugs to lower temperatures are prescribed if the thermometer rises above 38 ° C. At lower values, the use of antipyretics is impractical, since most rotaviruses die at this temperature, and a decrease in it can delay recovery. If the temperature rises too high, you can take medicines based on paracetamol or ibuprofen: Paracetamol, Nurofen, Ibufen. In some cases, your doctor may recommend combination drugs, for example, "Next": they act faster and have a more pronounced therapeutic effect.

If the patient is worried about a cough, therapy is supplemented with antitussive drugs, which affect the cough center and suppress the cough receptors.

These include:

Drinking plenty of fluids will also help with coughing and prevent throat irritation.

Important! In some cases, histamine blockers (Loratadin, Diazolin, Claritin) are used to treat intestinal flu. They are necessary for prevention allergic reactions and possible adverse reactions against the background of multicomponent therapy.

Do you need antiviral drugs?

Most infectious disease specialists believe that the use antiviral drugs does not give a pronounced therapeutic effect, and the rotavirus dies on its own in 5-7 days. Nevertheless, drugs in this group can weaken the activity of the virus during an exacerbated course of infection and activate the cells of the immune system.

Appointment antiviral drugs and immunomodulators are necessary for people with weakened immunity, as well as for those who suffer bad habits or does not receive full balanced nutrition, since their immunity is not able to independently fight pathogenic microorganisms.

The role of nutritional therapy in treatment

During the period acute course pathology (and this is about 5-7 days), the patient must follow a diet that excludes drinks and products based on milk protein. This is whole and pasteurized milk, kefir, cottage cheese, yoghurts and other products, the basis of which is any type of milk. This limitation is necessary because most microorganisms develop faster in a milky environment. In addition, fermented milk products and whole milk can increase intestinal symptoms and lead to a decrease in the effectiveness of the treatment.

To reduce the load on sore intestines, it is important in the first 3-4 days to consume all products in pureed or highly chopped form. It is advisable to pass meat and fish through a meat grinder, grind vegetables and fruits to a state of gruel. Rice and oat broths are useful during this period - they contain a lot of starch, due to which they envelop the walls of the gastrointestinal tract and protect it from damage. Fresh bread should be replaced with rye croutons.

Until complete recovery and within 7-10 days after the illness, the following are completely excluded from the patient's diet:

Important! Introduce into the diet raw vegetables and fruits as well as dairy products are needed gradually. It is recommended to start with a small amount of low-fat cottage cheese (no more than 50-60 g). On the third day, you can give the patient 100 ml of natural yogurt without additives. If everything is normal, the amount of dairy products increases to the usual level. Cow's milk is added to the menu last.

Intestinal Flu - Enough rare disease in adults, but effective protection from rotavirus infection at any age does not exist. To reduce the likelihood of infection, you need to carefully monitor the quality of food consumed and personal hygiene. Hand washing should be mandatory procedure after coming from the street, going to the restroom and other actions related to unsanitary conditions.

In order for the immune system to be able to fight viruses itself, it is necessary to carry out general strengthening measures, eat right, walk more in the fresh air and provide the body with sufficient locomotor activity... If a person does become infected, it is necessary to strictly follow all the doctor's recommendations and not refuse hospitalization, if necessary, since there is a risk of dehydration.