Intestinal flu: important information about the enemy

Stomach flu is not a flu at all, but an infectious disease called gastroenteritis. It is simply called stomach flu or stomach flu because of its main symptom – abdominal pain. These signs are accompanied by symptoms typical of the common flu – vomiting, fever, muscle pain and headaches. The difference between these two diseases is that stomach pain is not typical for the common flu, and cough and runny nose are not typical for stomach flu.

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Causes of intestinal flu

Humans become infected with intestinal flu through contaminated food or drink, or by consuming contaminated, undercooked poultry, meat, or contaminated milk, whether fresh or unpasteurized.

The disease can also occur due to cross contamination, when juices from raw meat or poultry come into contact with ready-to-eat foods such as salads. For example, if both contaminated meat and vegetables are cut on the same cutting board. Most of the time, these infections resolve on their own, but severe symptoms are only treatable with antibiotics.

E. coli is a bacteria that normally lives in the digestive tracts of humans and animals, and most of these bacteria are completely harmless. But one type of E. coli, O157:H7 (norovirus), can get into meat during processing, or into water or food that has been contaminated with feces from cattle runoff.

Vegetables such as spinach, kale, and lettuce can also be contaminated. If a person does not wash their hands properly while preparing food, they can easily spread the infection.

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Symptoms of stomach flu

We have just listed the main symptoms of the stomach flu. Each of the pathogens of the stomach flu (viruses) causes sharp cramping pain in the abdomen, fever, nausea, vomiting and watery - and sometimes bloody - stool. The culprit is a bacterium called Campylobacter, as well as Salmonella, which are common causes of the stomach flu, or, as it is also called, traveler's diarrhea.

Toxoplasmosis and intestinal flu

Toxoplasmosis is also often confused with the common flu and is called the stomach flu because of the similar symptoms. Toxoplasmosis is a foodborne infection that is slightly different from other infections. Many people who are infected do not even know it, although some symptoms of infection do appear. These are swollen lymph nodes, muscle pain, headaches and abdominal pain that last for a month or more.

Babies can become infected with toxoplasmosis in the womb if their mother suffers from the disease. Like other foodborne infections, toxoplasmosis can be contracted by eating contaminated meat or undercooked meat, drinking contaminated water, or by cleaning up animal feces (changing a cat's litter).

Consequences of norovirus infection

The main symptoms of norovirus infection - bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, high fever, nausea and vomiting - appear three to four days after infection. A serious infection can lead to kidney damage or dehydration, but most E. coli gastroenteritis goes away once the diarrhea stops and you drink enough fluids.

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Details about norovirus

Norovirus is highly contagious and can affect anyone. It is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis. Norovirus is often found in daycares, schools, and cafeterias, and most outbreaks of stomach flu caused by norovirus occur between November and April, when people spend more time indoors. Norovirus can enter the body from contaminated food or water, as well as from contaminated surfaces or other people.

Norovirus typically presents with sudden abdominal pain, headaches, muscle aches, and severe diarrhea and vomiting. Fortunately, these symptoms usually pass quickly and are often referred to as the 24-hour flu. So, we emphasize that this disease is not related to influenza, which is a respiratory disease.

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Prevention of intestinal flu

To avoid food poisoning and gastroenteritis, it is necessary to carry out its prevention. Here are some simple precautions:

• Cook all types of beef and chicken, but especially ground beef, to at least 100 degrees Celsius.
• Be careful with imported food products, including seafood. Read the expiration dates on the labels especially carefully.
• When working in the kitchen, wash your hands with hot, soapy water before and after preparing food.
• Thoroughly clean any tools, cutting boards or surfaces that have come into contact with raw meat, fish or poultry.
• Use separate cutting boards for meat and other foods.
• Use only pasteurized milk, dairy products and juices.
• When treating stomach flu, use only purified water.
• If you travel, do not use tap water for drinking unless you know it is safe, and avoid raw fruits and vegetables unless you peel them yourself.
• Wash your hands often and wash them especially thoroughly after using the toilet or changing diapers.
• Regularly treat your kitchen and bathroom with special solutions that kill bacteria. Remember also that spray products work great for cleaning furniture surfaces.

Stomach flu or gastroenteritis is an unpleasant disease that can be avoided by constantly following simple personal hygiene methods.