Gastrointestinal Viruses

Gastrointestinal Viruses

Although tropical diseases and food poisoning may cause sudden vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea, viral infections are very commonly the cause of these symptoms. These are usually transmitted through stool-to-mouth contact. Personal hygiene, particularly hand washing eliminates the infectious cycle. Toddlers often bring intestinal viruses into a household. Insects,including flies and mosquitoes may act as carriers (vectors). Their incubation period lasts 2-5 days. Symptoms may be limited to the throat with soreness or tonsillar enlargement, but skin rash, and serious illness— hepatitis, viral meningitis, or pericarditis (inflammation of the pericardium)— is also seen. Pleurodynia (pain in the pleura or coverings of the lungs) also occurs in these viral infections, as well as malaise, sore throat, anorexia, fever and severe muscle and abdominal pain. Cardiac disease brings symptoms of heart murmurs, electrocardiographic changes, and even heart failure.
By far more common, though, is the illness we term viral gastroenteritis,also called “winter vomiting” or “intestinal flu”. This disease is highly contagious; many cases are often seen in one family. Onset usually occurs within 48 hours, and recovery is rapid. Less commonly, mild diarrhea may persist for several weeks. General measures for the treatment of any infection,including adequate fluid intake, rest, and hydrotherapy (hot packs) to relieve abdominal pain, constitute the general measures most effective in these self-limited conditions.