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Do’s and Don’ts of Dealing with Post-Holiday Stomach Flu

General Health

Do’s and Don’ts of Dealing with Post-Holiday Stomach Flu

The most important thing to watch out for is the risk of dehydration.

Medically Inspected by: Loreta D. Dayco, MD, Edilberto B. Garcia, Jr., MD, and Maria Christina H. Ventura, MD
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With extended social gatherings this January after the holiday season, an encounter with a post-holiday stomach flu is not entirely out of the picture. 

A stomach flu—medically known as gastroenteritis—typically presents symptoms such as stomach pain, watery diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. In some cases, it may also be accompanied by fever and headache. 

You can contract stomach flu when you consume food or water contaminated by certain viruses. Some of the most common viruses that cause stomach flu are the norovirus and rotavirus. It is also possible to catch the stomach flu when you closely interact or share food and utensils with a person carrying a virus that cause the illness.

You do not have to let this gastrointestinal illness dampen the start of your year. Take note of these guidelines when dealing with a nasty case of the stomach flu.

  • Do stock up on clear fluids.

The most important thing to watch out for in a case of gastroenteritis is the risk of dehydration. Because some symptoms cause you to become dehydrated, you need to stay on top of refueling your body with liquids to replace what was lost.

Drink only clear liquids like water, oral rehydration salts, or broth to help you rehydrate. Vomiting may also lead you to lose electrolytes like sodium and potassium, so doctors often suggest taking sports beverages to help restore electrolytes in your body.

  • Do take loperamide to address diarrhea symptoms in adults.

Diarrhea is one of the culprits that lead to dehydration. Diarrhea medicine like loperamide may help control loose bowels in adults and reduce the risk of becoming dehydrated. If you have bloody diarrhea, however, avoid self-medication and seek help from a doctor right away. The presence of blood in your stool may signify a more severe condition that needs to be addressed immediately.

  • Do remember to wash your hands regularly.

Stomach flu spreads when a person gets into contact with infected food or water. To stop the spread of the sickness to other people, practice frequent handwashing. Similarly, advise members of your household to sanitize your home regularly, particularly those you touched when you were sick, to reduce the risk of an outbreak.

  • Don’t attempt to eat while diarrhea or nausea symptoms are severe.

If you feel like your body still cannot take in food, do not force yourself to eat. Allow your digestive system to recover first for a few hours. Instead, try getting some rest and take little sips of water every now and then.

  • Don’t eat solid foods right away. 

If you have not vomited in hours and can keep your liquids down, you may try to get food into your system. Start with soft food and easy-to-digest options like rice or porridge, bananas, broth-based soups, or bread in small amounts.

If your stomach situation continues to get better, you can gradually ease back into your normal diet in the next few days so you can catch up on getting the nutrients you need. Regularly taking probiotics like Lactobacillus reuteri may also help with gut health and enhance natural resistance to intestinal infections.

Gastroenteritis in children

Managing gastroenteritis in children requires a slightly different approach from adults. When your child is struck with stomach flu, it is important to keep them hydrated and to continue with food for sustenance. Supplementing with zinc may help with severe diarrhea symptoms, while taking probiotics may improve gut immunity. If you are unsure about how to manage your child’s stomach flu, it is best to consult a pediatrician who can provide an appropriate and immediate care plan for the symptoms your child is experiencing.

Stomach flu is often not a life-threatening condition if managed well. If you experience fever, dehydration (extreme thirst, lightheadedness, dry mouth), or vomiting food, liquids, and/or blood, you may need to make an immediate visit to your doctor or the emergency room for proper medical attention.

General disclaimer

Your doctor will always be in the best position to give the appropriate medical advice for your condition. For suspected undesirable drug reaction, seek medical attention immediately and report to the FDA at www.fda.gov.ph and UNILAB, Inc. at 8-UNILAB-1 or productsafety@unilab.com.ph. Always buy your medicine from your trusted drugstores and retailers.

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