Why is gastroenteritis so painful

Learn more about gastroenteritis in children and how to be a Soapy Hero! This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. The type of pain felt in the abdomen can vary greatly. Children may feel stomach pain for a range of reasons and may need treatment.

Around half of cases of anal fissures heal by themselves with proper self-care and avoidance of constipation. Anthrax is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial disease that occasionally infects humans.

The Western obsession with cleanliness may be partly responsible for the increase in allergic asthma and conditions such as rhinitis. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.

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The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Symptoms of gastroenteritis Causes of gastroenteritis Infectious gastroenteritis Diagnosis of gastroenteritis Treatment for gastroenteritis Prevention of gastroenteritis Where to get help. It's not always possible to avoid getting gastroenteritis, but following the advice below can help stop it spreading:.

Take extra care when travelling to parts of the world with poor sanitation, as you could pick up a stomach bug.

For example, you may need to boil tap water before drinking it. Home Illnesses and conditions Stomach, liver and gastrointestinal tract Gastroenteritis. About gastroenteritis Gastroenteritis is a very common condition that causes diarrhoea and vomiting. It affects people of all ages, but is particularly common in young children. This page covers: Symptoms of gastroenteritis What to do if you have gastroenteritis When to get medical advice Looking after a child with gastroenteritis Getting medical advice for your child How gastroenteritis is spread Preventing gastroenteritis Symptoms of gastroenteritis The main symptoms of gastroenteritis are: sudden, watery diarrhoea feeling sick vomiting, which can be projectile a mild fever Some people also have other symptoms, such as a loss of appetite, an upset stomach , aching limbs and headaches.

What to do if you have gastroenteritis If you experience sudden diarrhoea and vomiting, the best thing to do is stay at home until you're feeling better. To help ease your symptoms: Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration — You need to drink more than usual to replace the fluids lost from vomiting and diarrhoea. Water is best, but you could also try fruit juice and soup. Take paracetamol for any fever or aches and pains.

Get plenty of rest. If you feel like eating, try small amounts of plain foods, such as soup, rice, pasta and bread. Use special rehydration drinks made from sachets bought from pharmacies if you have signs of dehydration , such as a dry mouth or dark urine — read about treating dehydration.

You can also ask your pharmacist or GP for advice about whether they're suitable. When to get medical advice You don't normally need to see your GP if you think you have gastroenteritis, as it should get better on its own.

Get medical advice if: you have symptoms of severe dehydration , such as persistent dizziness , only passing small amounts of urine or no urine at all, or if you're losing consciousness you have bloody diarrhoea you're vomiting constantly and are unable to keep down any fluids you have a fever over 38C Looking after a child with gastroenteritis You can look after your child at home if they have diarrhoea and vomiting.

To help ease your child's symptoms: Encourage them to drink plenty of fluids. They need to replace the fluids lost from vomiting and diarrhoea. Water is generally best. Avoid giving them fizzy drinks or fruit juice, as they can make their diarrhoea worse.

Real flu influenza affects only your respiratory system — your nose, throat and lungs. Gastroenteritis, on the other hand, attacks your intestines, causing signs and symptoms, such as:.

Depending on the cause, viral gastroenteritis symptoms may appear within one to three days after you're infected and can range from mild to severe. Symptoms usually last just a day or two, but occasionally they may persist as long as 10 days. Because the symptoms are similar, it's easy to confuse viral diarrhea with diarrhea caused by bacteria, such as Clostridium difficile, salmonella and E.

If you have an infant, remember that while spitting up may be an everyday occurrence for your baby, vomiting is not. Babies vomit for a variety of reasons, many of which may require medical attention. You're most likely to contract viral gastroenteritis when you eat or drink contaminated food or water, or if you share utensils, towels or food with someone who's infected. Some shellfish, especially raw or undercooked oysters, also can make you sick. Although contaminated drinking water is a cause of viral diarrhea, in many cases the virus is passed through the fecal-oral route — that is, someone with a virus handles food you eat without washing his or her hands after using the toilet.

Each gastrointestinal virus has a season when it's most active. If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, for instance, you're more likely to have rotavirus or norovirus infections between October and April.

This barrier however can be damaged in acute infectious gastroenteritis. Foreign substances can then enter the deeper tissues of the gut and promote inflammation. A study examining patients who had gastroenteritis caused by Shigella found that there were increased mast cell numbers in the gut. Mast cells are known to secrete the hormone serotonin which is important for signalling in the enteric nervous system.

This then may be another mechanism by which post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome can develop. Researchers have also studied what happens, at a cellular level, in the gut after acute gastroenteritis. Interstitial cells of Cajal are known as the pacemaker cells of the gut and help digest food and move it through the gut. These cells were altered in mice that were exposed to a type of bacterial gastroenteritis.

We have a reasonably good understanding of the causes of infectious gastroenteritis and treatment. We are learning to appreciate the significance of a disordered immune system for long-term gastrointestinal symptoms. This opens the possibility for selective use of anti-inflammatory drugs or immune-modifying medications in patients recovering from infectious gastroenteritis.