Prevent Gastroenteritis this monsoon!

Gastroenteritis or food poisoning is a viral infection of the intestines and stomach. Some of the symptoms of gastroenteritis are diarrhea,vomiting, fever, chills and even stomach cramps. Mild cases of food poisoning can be treated with over the counter medications. However, if the person develops high fever accompanied by blood in the vomit or the stools, it can be serious and he/she may have to be admitted in the hospital for advanced treatment.

Some facts that you should know about gastro enteritis are;

1.       Gastroenteritis is commonly caused by bacteria like Ecoli, Salmonella, Campylobacteria and virus like Norovirus. The virus is commonly transmitted through contaminated water, raw or under cooked food and unhygienic personal hygiene.

2.       Both children and adults can be affected by this disease. It is recommended that a child if infected, should be treated immediately.

3.       Gastroenteritis is highly transmittable as the viruses thrive on faeces and vomit and hence spread easily. The virus may also spread through even a sneeze. Patients can be responsible of spreading the virus upto 48 hours after their symptoms have stopped.It is imperative that the people living around the patient take all the precautions.

4.       To know more details about gastroenteritis, a sample of the patient’s stool would give a better understanding.

5.       Gastroenteritis due to bacteria spread due to poor personal hygiene. It is important that people wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water after using the washroom,cleaning nappies etc. Pets and rotten food can also be home to these infectious viruses.

6.       It takes almost 6- 12 hours for the symptoms of gastroenteritis to be noticed and its recovery depends on the severity of his condition.It is advisable that a person continues to consume bland food for a few days despite having an increased appetite after being infected with gastroenteritis.

7.       Dairy products, sugar, oily food, alcohol, smoking must be avoided when infected with food poisoning.

Kharghar Medicity Hospital is a multispecialty hospital in Kharghar and it caters to ailments. It has a team of experienced and well trained doctors and  equipped to deal with any emergency. Contact the general physician at Kharghar Medicity Hospital in case you suffer from Gastroenteritis.