Stomach viruses — commonly though incorrectly called " stomach flu " — make us miserable. No one wants to spend days dealing with vomiting and diarrhea.
If you add in a fever, nausea, and weakness on top of that, it adds up to misery. Not many people consider leaving the house when the stomach flu hits. It often starts out with repeated bouts of vomiting and it's difficult to go anywhere when you can hardly stay out of the bathroom. But sometimes the symptoms lessen but still linger and you may wonder how long you really need to stay home to keep from spreading it to other people. This question can be even harder for parents to answer when their kids are sick.
If you need to get back to work and aren't sure if your child is well enough to go to school -- what are the guidelines? In general, you need to stay home or keep your kids home for 24 hours to 48 hours after the symptoms of the illness subside.
This includes vomiting and diarrhea. And don't forget the fever. If your child is running a fever , she is contagious and is more likely to spread her germs to everyone she comes into contact with. Even without a fever, stomach viruses are highly contagious and spread easily from person to person when you have symptoms.
It can be tempting to send your child to school if they went all night without vomiting or having diarrhea, but waiting a full 24 hours after the last episode occurred is important because the symptoms could return.
If you make it a full day and night with no symptoms, it is unlikely that they will reappear after that.
If you are dealing with a stomach virus and want to make the symptoms stop as quickly as possible, there are several steps you should take right away. Many people unknowingly prolong their illness and symptoms because they treat them incorrectly.
You should not eat or drink immediately after vomiting. Allowing your stomach time to rest after it has expelled everything in it is important. You need to wait at least 15 minutes after vomiting before you try to take even a small sip of water. Increasing your intake of water by a small amount will ensure that your body can handle it without repeated bouts of vomiting.
Treating your symptoms properly when you have a stomach virus is essential to recovering quickly. Once you are symptom-free for a full 24 to 48 hours, you can return to work or school. The true length of time that you are contagious when you have a stomach virus depends on which virus is causing your symptoms. Two of the most common causes of "stomach flu" — norovirus and rotavirus — can be spread for up to 2 weeks after you have recovered. They also are contagious before symptoms appear, so it can be difficult to avoid spreading them to others since you won't even know you're sick.
Frequent and proper handwashing is the best way to cut down on the spread of the virus. Remembering to wash your hands very frequently, especially after using the bathroom, changing diapers and before and after eating is the most effective way to decrease the chances that you catch or spread a stomach virus. If you have a young child, there is a rotavirus vaccine available to help prevent this very serious cause of severe diarrhea in kids.
Stomach flu has no relationship to influenza but is rather a term popularly used to describe gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is usually caused by viruses such as rotavirus but can also be caused by bacteria like Campylobacter and E.
Stomach flu gastroenteritis typically causes diarrhea and vomiting as well as abdominal cramping. Viral infections often manifest with fever, fatigue, headache, and muscle pain. Bacterial infections can sometimes cause bloody stools. The stomach flu causes inflammation, irritation, and swelling in the gastrointestinal GI tract. In most cases , it is relatively short lived and does not require treatment. Several viral infections can be responsible for viral gastroenteritis, including :. Despite its name, none of the viruses that cause the stomach flu are related to influenza.
Different viruses affect the GI tract, causing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In this article, we provide more information on the duration of stomach flu, including how long it remains contagious. We also offer some tips on recovery. Stomach flu typically does not last for a long period. However, different viruses may cause people to feel sick for different lengths of time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC , norovirus is the most common cause of stomach flu, causing 19—21 million cases in the United States each year.
Norovirus symptoms generally last for about 1—2 days. The virus spreads very easily and can stay on surfaces for several days or even weeks. Due to this, it can spread particularly easily in shared enclosed spaces, such as day care centers and nursing homes. The CDC say that the virus becomes transmissible from the day a person starts feeling symptoms to a few days after the symptoms ease.
Therefore, it is important for a person with norovirus to avoid close contact with others for several days once they recognize that they have symptoms.
The CDC recommend that people take the following steps to avoid catching the virus or prevent its transmission:. According to the CDC , the people most at risk of getting rotavirus include:. A vaccination is available for rotavirus. Doctors typically give babies a dose of the vaccine two to three times between the ages of 2 and 6 months. Rotavirus can cause fever, stomach pain, vomiting, and severe, watery diarrhea. A person normally develops symptoms about 2 days after exposure to the virus.
The symptoms can take 3—8 days to clear. A person may get rotavirus from touching contaminated stool, objects, or food. The American Thoracic Society state that adenovirus actually comprises several different viruses. Cases in adults are usually caused by norovirus the "winter vomiting bug" or bacterial food poisoning.
Gastroenteritis can be very unpleasant, but it usually clears up by itself within a week. You can normally look after yourself or your child at home until you're feeling better.
Try to avoid going to your GP, as gastroenteritis can spread to others very easily. Phone the service or your GP if you're concerned or need any advice. What to do if you have gastroenteritis. Looking after a child with gastroenteritis. Getting medical advice for your child. Some people also have other symptoms, such as a loss of appetite, an upset stomach , aching limbs and headaches.
The symptoms usually appear up to a day after becoming infected. They typically last less than a week, but can sometimes last longer. If you experience sudden diarrhoea and vomiting, the best thing to do is stay at home until you're feeling better. There's not always a specific treatment, so you have to let the illness run its course. You don't usually need to get medical advice, unless your symptoms don't improve or there's a risk of a more serious problem.
Gastroenteritis can spread very easily, so you should wash your hands regularly while you're ill and stay off work or school until at least 48 hours after your symptoms have cleared, to reduce the risk of passing it on see Preventing gastroenteritis.
You don't normally need to see your GP if you think you have gastroenteritis, as it should get better on its own. Visiting your GP surgery can put others at risk, so it's best to phone or your GP if you're concerned or feel you need advice. Your GP may suggest sending off a sample of your poo to a laboratory to check what's causing your symptoms. Antibiotics may be prescribed if this shows you have a bacterial infection. You can look after your child at home if they have diarrhoea and vomiting.
There's not usually any specific treatment and your child should start feeling better in a few days. You don't normally need to get medical advice unless their symptoms don't improve or there's a risk of a more serious problem. Make sure you and your child wash your hands regularly while your child is ill and keep them away from school or nursery until at least 48 hours after their symptoms have cleared see Preventing gastroenteritis.
You don't usually need to see your GP if you think your child has gastroenteritis, as it should get better on its own, and taking them to a GP surgery can put others at risk. Your GP may suggest sending off a sample of your child's poo to a laboratory to confirm what's causing their symptoms. Antibiotics may be prescribed if this shows they have a bacterial infection.
You can catch the infection if small particles of vomit or poo from an infected person get into your mouth, such as through:. A person with gastroenteritis is most infectious from when their symptoms start until 48 hours after all their symptoms have passed, although they may also be infectious for a short time before and after this.
It's not always possible to avoid getting gastroenteritis, but following the advice below can help stop it spreading:.
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