Duration of gastro-enteritis

Introduction

The gastro-intestinal flu, contrary to its name, does not have much to do with the typical flu viruses. A variety of causes can cause inflammation of the digestive tract, which is colloquially subsumed under gastro-enteritis. The triggers range from bacterial and viral pathogens to intestinal parasites, toxins and harmful substances. The inflammation must therefore be differentiated according to its cause, severity and therapeutic method, which is why the cure, prognosis and duration of the disease can vary.

How long does a stomach flu last?

Although it is not possible to give an exact number of days for healing, it is possible to give an approximate framework for recovery. Conventional gastrointestinal flu, which is seasonally caused by bacteria or viruses, subsides on average within a week. The duration of the illness usually refers to the subjective impression of the patient.

Once the symptoms have subsided completely and the patient feels healthy, the flu can be called over. The medical duration of the illness differs, however, as infection and the spread of the pathogens in the body already takes place before the symptoms begin, and even after the symptoms have subsided there is often still an excretion of infectious pathogens. Each pathogen has a different time of incubation and healing.

In the case of food poisoning, healing can often be expected within less than two days. The Norovirus typically exists for about 3 days. However, gastroenteritis can also have rarer causes that require more protracted therapy.

If the symptoms remain severe after about a week, a doctor must be consulted to determine the exact cause and treat the symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhoea. The therapy and healing of parasitic or other persistent pathogens can sometimes take several weeks. It is important to note, however, that even if the illness lasts only a short time, it is still possible for certain pathogens to infect others for weeks.

The incubation period begins from the first infection with the pathogen and describes the time in which the pathogen multiplies and colonises the body. The incubation period ends with the first appearance of symptoms. Each gastrointestinal pathogen has different incubation periods.

This depends on the nature of the pathogen, its rate of reproduction and its aggressiveness. Seasonal gastro-enteritis is known to break out very quickly and to be particularly aggressive. Symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea often occur quickly and violently.

The incubation period often indicates a potential infection. The exact time depends on the pathogen, the immune system, the patient’s state of health and the body temperature. For example, the norovirus can break out within half a day or only after 2-3 days.

The duration of the symptoms noticeable to the patient is only between 2-6 days for most gastrointestinal influenza viruses. The disease often occurs suddenly with gushing vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea. With an intact immune system in normally healthy people, the body can fight the infection within two days, so that the symptoms become weaker and are eliminated after a maximum of one week.

An unnoticeable symptom can be the further excretion of the pathogens with the stool. Even if the stool has regained a normal consistency, infectious viruses or bacteria may be present in some cases. Depending on the original pathogen, individual pathogens can still be detected days to a few weeks later.

The most common pathogen of the gastro-intestinal flu, the norovirus, is still excreted about 2-3 days later. This could also be of interest to you:

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The exact duration of infection cannot be determined subjectively by the patient. Seasonal outbreaks of gastro-enteritis occur regularly at home or in public institutions such as hospitals and old people’s homes, as an infection extends beyond the duration of symptoms.

The norovirus in particular is excreted in the stool on average about 2 days after the symptoms have subsided and can lead to further infections via the air or through contact with the stool. In hospitals, if norovirus is suspected, patients must be isolated from other patients for several days after recovery. The total duration of the average gastrointestinal infection until the end of infectivity is on average 7-10 days.

The gastro-intestinal flu is one of the most common reasons for sick leave. The symptom constellation of sudden vomiting with diarrhoea leads in most cases to a 3-4 day sick leave. At the end of this period, most of those affected feel healthy again and recover. If the symptoms persist after this period, a new visit to the doctor is necessary to prolong the sick leave and to carry out further examinations to diagnose the exact cause of the inflammation.