Gastroenteritis Symptoms
Gastroenteritis may be caused by many different types of viruses, including rotaviruses, adenoviruses, caliciviruses, astroviruses, Norwalk virus, and a group of Noroviruses. Viral gastroenteritis is not caused by bacteria, such as Salmonella or Escherichia coli, or parasites, such as Giardia, or by medications or other medical conditions, although the symptoms may be similar. Your doctor can determine if the diarrhea is caused by a virus or by something else.
Symptoms of Gastroenteritis
Commonly called stomach flu, gastroenteritis isn't the same as influenza. Influenza
(real flu) affects your respiratory system, your nose, throat and lungs.
Gastroenteritis, on the other hand, attacks your intestines, causing symptoms
such as:
- Nausea, vomiting or both.
- Watery, usually nonbloody diarrhea. Bloody diarrhea usually means you have
a different, more severe infection.
- Abdominal cramps and pain.
- Occasional muscle aches or headache.
- Low-grade fever.
Depending on the cause, symptoms may appear within one to three days after
you're infected. They usually last just a day or two, but occasionally they may
persist as long as 10 days.
Because the symptoms are similar, it's easy to confuse viral diarrhea with
diarrhea caused by bacteria such as salmonella and Escherichia coli (E. coli) or
parasites such as giardia.
Diagnose of gastroenteritis is based on symptoms, a physical exam and
sometimes on the presence of similar cases in your community. A rapid stool test
can detect rotavirus, but there are no quick tests for other viruses that cause
gastroenteritis. In some cases your doctor may have you submit a stool sample to
rule out a possible bacterial or parasitic infection.
Gastroenteritis Symptoms to G
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