I Asked Doctors What They Do (And Absolutely Avoid Doing) When They've Got A Stomach Bug
The number of NHS hospital beds taken up by patients with the virus is nearly 150% higher than last year, new figures reveal, while visits to the NHS' norovirus webpage have surged by 40% in the last week.
If you're currently down with the virus, you're not alone. We asked Dr Lawrence Cunningham, of the UK Care Guide, and Dr Deborah Lee, of Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, what they tend to do when they're off with a stomach bug.
Here are their tips...
For Dr Cunningham, the priority when dealing with a stomach bug is to stay well-hydrated. His go-tos are: water, clear broth or herbal teas which can help replace lost fluids.
If you've been vomiting a lot, Dr Lee recommends taking small sips of water as often as needed. Small sips are best, as opposed to a big glug, as it helps reduce the risk of overloading your stomach and prevents further nausea.
'The important thing is to look out for signs of dehydration: a dry mouth, lips and tongue; headache; rapid heart rate; low blood pressure; feeling dizzy; not passing much urine; and dark concentrated urine,' says Dr Lee.
If you're being sick or having very watery poos, you're going to want to alter your diet accordingly.
'Certain foods should be avoided during recovery, particularly dairy, caffeine, alcohol, and greasy or highly processed foods, as these can irritate the stomach,' says Dr Cunningham.
Dr Lee agrees with his comments, adding she would also avoid the following foods if she had diarrhoea:
High-fibre foods such as wholemeal bread, rice, cereals or pasta
Any foods that contain wholemeal flour
Fruit juice as the high sugar content can make diarrhoea worse
Nuts and dried fruits as they are also high in fibre, and dried fruits contain a lot of sugar
Raw vegetables and fruit which can harbour unwanted bacteria
Beans, lentils and other pulses which are high fibre
Cauliflower, cabbage and onions as these increase intestinal gas
Spicy foods like chilli and curry as these can irritate the gut
Boiled sweets
Chewing gum.
'When ready to eat, I say that is always best to start with bland and boring foods such as plain toast, crackers, rice or plain boiled potatoes, as these are easier to digest,' says Dr Cunningham.
Dr Lee's go-to ingredients for recovery are similar: dry crackers, scrambled egg or banana.
'We would avoid high-fat or high-sugar foods until things had got back to normal,' she adds.
'In general, there is no need for electrolyte sachets such as Dioralyte. But if the episode lasted more than 48 hours, I would probably get some.'
If you have vomiting or diarrhoea, it's best to stay home for 48 hours after your last runny poo or bout of vomiting. This is mainly to stop it from spreading to other people, but it's also important to just spend some time to rest.
'Rest is also an important part of recovery, allowing the body time to fight off the infection,' says Dr Cunningham.
'If symptoms persist for more than 48 hours, or if there are signs of severe dehydration (such as dizziness, confusion or reduced urine output), I'd recommend seeing or speaking to your GP.'
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