Q: We are a family of five and over the holidays we all came down with the stomach flu within a six-day period. It seems to be going around in our area. Are there any medications we could have taken that would have prevented us from getting sick?
Noroviruses are the most common culprit for causing what we commonly refer to as the stomach flu. This is not the same flu caused by the influenza virus, so the flu shot we get to protect ourselves from influenza provides no protection against the stomach flu.
Unfortunately, there are no preventative medications available that could have stopped your family from getting sick with the stomach flu. However, I will discuss later in the article some preventative measures that can be taken to help decrease the spread of the virus.
The stomach flu is highly contagious as only a tiny amount of virus particles needs to make it into your mouth for you to become ill. The virus can survive in temperatures ranging from freezing to 60 degrees Celsius and can live on surfaces for several days.
Outbreaks of the stomach flu can occur any time of year but are more common during the winter months. Group settings where people are in close contact such as households, daycares, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, restaurants and cruise ships are common sites for outbreaks. An outbreak usually begins when people eat food or drink water that is contaminated with norovirus. The virus then easily spreads from person to person through close contact with someone who is sick or by touching contaminated surfaces.
Symptoms typically start very suddenly 24 to 48 hours after ingesting the virus and may include nausea, vomiting, stomach pains and non-bloody diarrhea. Some people may also experience headaches, body aches, low-grade fever or chills, and a general overall feeling of being unwell.
For most healthy people, symptoms are mild to moderate in severity, last for approximately 8 to 12 hours and you usually feel better within two to three days. Seniors, babies and people with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of experiencing more severe symptoms that can last longer.
Dehydration is the most common complication of the stomach flu. It’s important to drink lots of fluids to replace what your body is losing through vomiting and diarrhea. Along with water, you should also drink fluids containing electrolytes such as Pedialyte, Hydralyte, Gatorade or Powerade.
If you are unable to drink enough fluid and are showing signs of dehydration you should go to the nearest emergency room to be assessed to receive fluids by IV. Dehydration begins with dry mouth, less frequent urination (monitor baby diapers closely), darker urine and light-headedness or headache. Severe dehydration causes extreme thirst, tiredness, pale skin, sunken eyes, potentially no tears when crying, feeling cold, faster breathing and a faster heart rate.
Unless you need to seek medical care, it’s important to stay home when you have the stomach flu. You are most contagious from the time you start showing symptoms until 48 hours after you recover.
To help reduce the spread of the virus through your household, keep your hands away from your mouth and wash them frequently, especially after using the washroom and before you eat or prepare food. Regularly clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces as something does not need to be visibly dirty to be contaminated. Avoid sharing any personal items. The virus is spread when you have direct contact or contact with a surface that has been contaminated with a sick person’s vomit or feces.
Erin Thompson (BSc, BScPharm) is a graduate of Dalhousie University and a community pharmacist practicing at Shoppers Drug Mart in Quispamsis N.B. Her opinions expressed in this column are published for educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as a diagnosis, treatment or as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.