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Viral Gastroenteritis Discharge Instructions, Adult


About this topic


The stomach flu is also known as viral gastroenteritis. It is a common infection. You may have loose stools, throwing up, or both. Most people get better in a few days without treatment. With this health problem, you may have trouble keeping fluids down. This puts you at risk of fluid loss. This illness spreads easily from person to person. ‚  


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What care is needed at home?


  • Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
  • Drink small amounts of fluid every 15 to 30 minutes. This is often better than drinking a large amount at one time. Good fluids to drink are water, sports drinks, and oral electrolyte solutions that you can buy at most supermarkets or drug stores.
  • Avoid sharing your food and drinks.
  • Stay away from others until the throwing up or loose stools have stopped.
  • Follow good hygiene practices. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 15 seconds. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers also work to kill the virus. This is very important:
    • After using the bathroom
    • Before eating
    • Before cooking

What follow-up care is needed?


Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚  

What drugs may be needed?


Your doctor may not need to order drugs. Be sure to ask your doctor before you take any over-the-counter (OTC) or other drugs and treatments. ‚  
If your signs are very bad or last for more than a few days, the doctor may order drugs to: ‚  
  • Fight an infection
  • Stop loose stools
  • Lower fever
  • Stop throwing up

Do not take antibiotics unless your doctor orders them. ‚  

Will physical activity be limited?


Your physical activity will not be limited. Make sure you get lots of rest. You may not be able to travel or go to work until the loose stools and throwing up have stopped for 24 hours. ‚  

What changes to diet are needed?


  • Take small sips of fluids often. Eat foods that have high water content like broth, Jello, and popsicles.
  • Avoid liquids such as soda, ginger ale, tea, fruit juice, and drinks with caffeine. These can make fluid loss worse. Ask your doctor what foods and drinks are safe for you.
  • Eat bland foods. These include toast, crackers, bananas, rice, chicken, applesauce, and potatoes.
  • Avoid fatty and sugary foods such as cakes, chocolates, ice cream, and take out foods.

What problems could happen?


  • Too much fluid loss

What can be done to prevent this health problem?


  • Avoid close contact with people who have this illness.
  • Clean things and surfaces in your home like door handles and phones. Use bleach to clean the area. This can help lower the spread of infection.
  • Do not share personal things like toothbrushes, towels, and drinking glasses.
  • Take extra care when traveling. Drink bottled water only and do not eat raw foods.
  • Consider being vaccinated against certain viral infections. Ask your doctor about the shots that you need.

When do I need to call the doctor?


  • Increasing stomach pain
  • Fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills
  • Signs of fluid loss. These include dark-colored urine or no urine for more than 8 hours, dry mouth and tongue, dry skin, sunken eyes, lack of energy, feeling faint, or passing out.
  • Confusion or dizziness
  • Problems like:
    • Not able to keep fluids down
    • Throwing up blood or a substance that looks like coffee grounds
    • Throwing up for more than 2 days in a row
  • Problems with your stools like:
    • More than 6 loose stools in 24 hours
    • Blood in your stool
    • Black stools or stools that look like tar
    • White or chalky looking stools
    • Loose stools for more than 2 days in a row
  • You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse

Teach Back: Helping You Understand


The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚  
  • I can tell you about my condition.
  • I can tell you how often I should try to drink fluids and good kinds of fluids to drink.
  • I can tell you what I will do if I have trouble keeping fluids down.

Where can I learn more?


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚  
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/gastro/faq.htm ‚  
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse ‚  
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/viralgastroenteritis/ ‚  

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer


This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚  

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