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More commonly known as a stomach bug, gastroenteritis is a fairly common and often highly contagious condition. Short-lived, gastro outbreaks strike every year in France during the winter months. The symptoms can be quite tough to deal with.

What are the symptoms of gastroenteritis?

Gastroenteritis is often viral in origin — and in that case highly contagious — but it can also be caused by bacteria or parasites. Gastro is an inflammation of the digestive lining, the stomach and the intestine, which often occurs in outbreaks. It is sometimes called intestinal flu to describe gastroenteritis. It is spread through contact with an infected person, or by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. This infection remains common; the affected digestive tract causes vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and fever. The symptoms of this condition often begin 12 hours after exposure, with abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. The sick person recovers spontaneously within one to three days. An infected person is considered to remain contagious for around 2 days after the symptoms disappear. Babies, elderly people, individuals with a weakened immune system or those suffering from chronic conditions may develop more severe forms of the illness, particularly because of a higher risk of dehydration. The symptoms of dehydration are particularly important to watch for. Diarrhoea, fever and vomiting can indeed lead to fluid loss and dehydration. It can be recognised by the following symptoms: thirst, a dry mouth and tongue, the dehydrated person urinates little or not at all, struggles to stay awake and feels drowsy. It is essential not to wait before consulting a doctor in the event of dehydration.

What causes gastroenteritis?

Gastro is characterised by an inflammatory infection of the stomach and intestines, causing gastric symptoms: diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps, and sometimes fever. Gastroenteritis is mainly caused by viral and bacterial infections, but it can also have other causes:
 • Viral gastroenteritis is caused by viruses: adenovirus, rotavirus, norovirus and enterovirus. Contamination generally occurs through contact with contaminated objects and surfaces, contaminated water, food, or direct contact with an infected person. Viral gastro often affects children;
 • Bacterial gastroenteritis is caused by bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), salmonella, shigella, campylobacter and other bacteria. These bacteria can be found in contaminated food, contaminated water, or spread through direct contact with an infected person;
 • Parasitic gastro, transmitted by intestinal parasites, for example present in contaminated water or food;
 • Gastroenteritis is sometimes close to food poisoning in terms of gastrointestinal symptoms, due to the consumption of food contaminated with toxins produced by bacteria (notably staphylococcus);
 • Or other factors, such as: food allergies, stress, medication, ingestion of toxic substances or other underlying medical conditions;
Generally characterised by acute gastrointestinal symptoms, gastroenteritis is usually short-lived. It resolves on its own — though it is worth remembering that rehydration is a key part of treatment, to prevent dehydration, particularly in babies, children and elderly people. If your symptoms worsen, or if you show signs of dehydration, you can consult a doctor without an appointment at any time on Feeli.

Fast access to a consultation as soon as gastro symptoms appear

When gastroenteritis is viral, as is most often the case, antibiotics have no effect on it. There are no medications dedicated specifically to this condition or specific to gastro. Certain medications can nonetheless ease the symptoms. An anti-emetic can reduce nausea and vomiting, while a painkiller and antispasmodic can bring down fever and relieve pain. Anti-diarrhoeal medication is also effective. Self-medication should be avoided. As soon as symptoms appear, for proper care and to avoid spreading the infection around you, it is possible to consult a general practitioner without delay, especially if the person affected is an infant, a child, a pregnant woman or a vulnerable person. Feeli offers medical consultations without an appointment — no need to wait, consult as soon as you need to or as soon as the first symptoms of vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea appear. If the doctor prescribes a treatment, the prescription will be placed directly in your Feeli user area — no need to print it. You can go to the pharmacy, where it will be accepted as it is. Get your medication and care, and look after yourself without delay. Always consult a doctor if you notice blood in your stools, if the abdominal cramps caused by the gastro are very severe, if symptoms do not improve after 72 hours, or if you feel intense fatigue. A few recommendations, hygiene measures and tips can help prevent the spread of gastroenteritis. Handwashing is very easy to practise and works well. It is important to wash your hands with soap regularly, before and after meals as well as after every trip to the toilet. During a gastro outbreak, it is best to avoid cloth table napkins, which are a breeding ground for germs, in favour of disposable ones.

How do you treat gastro?

Treating gastro relies on several measures:
 • Rehydration. Diarrhoea and vomiting can indeed cause significant fluid loss. It is therefore essential to drink plenty of water to avoid this complication. Pharmacies sell, for example, rehydration solutions specially designed to restore lost electrolytes;
 • Adjusting your diet. At the start of gastroenteritis, it is generally advisable to avoid solid food. After that, it is recommended to eat easily digestible foods (the BRAT diet), such as rice, bananas, apples and cooked carrots;
 • The use of medication is generally not recommended for treating viral gastro. That said, in case of fever or abdominal pain, over-the-counter painkillers can be used, such as paracetamol. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, on the other hand, are contraindicated, as they can irritate the stomach and intestinal lining;
 • Getting plenty of rest to help the body recover;
 • Prevention: following hygiene and isolation measures to avoid spreading gastroenteritis to others;
 • Consulting a general practitioner if symptoms worsen or in the presence of signs of severe dehydration (extreme fatigue, scant urine output, dry mouth, dizziness, etc.). Bacterial gastro may require antibiotics.

How long does gastro last?

Most of the time, gastroenteritis lasts from a few days to a week. Several factors can also influence how long the illness lasts, such as:
 • The cause of the gastro (viral or bacterial origin);
 • Individual factors: age, medical history, weakened immune system, etc.;
 • Treatment. It is important to drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration, reduce the severity of symptoms and speed up recovery;
 • The presence of complications, such as severe dehydration, can lengthen the illness.
Generally speaking, if symptoms persist beyond a week and worsen, it is important to consult a healthcare professional, for example through an online consultation.

How can you prevent the spread of gastroenteritis?

To limit the spread of gastroenteritis, certain precautionary and hygiene measures are recommended. Indeed, gastro is highly contagious, since viruses and bacteria are easily passed from person to person. Among the general recommendations for preventing the spread of gastro, we can mention:
 • Frequent handwashing, particularly before preparing food and after using the toilet;
 • Using hand sanitiser (antiseptic gel);
 • Avoiding contact with infected people as much as possible;
 • Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces around the home and frequently touched objects;
 • Avoiding preparing food while ill, to avoid contaminating it;
 • Washing and cooking food thoroughly, to avoid food poisoning and/or eating expired food;
 • Sometimes, vaccination.
Preventing gastroenteritis therefore relies largely on adjusting eating habits and hygiene measures.

Natural remedies for gastro?

Certain home remedies can help relieve the symptoms of gastroenteritis, but they do not treat the underlying cause. Genuine medical treatment is sometimes necessary. Natural solutions to relieve gastro symptoms may include:
 • Rest;
 • Hydration;
 • Adjusting eating habits;
 • Ginger;
 • Probiotics (to restore gut flora);
 • Peppermint to relieve abdominal cramps;
 • Washing your hands frequently.
For further medical advice, do not hesitate to turn to a healthcare professional. Doctors and specialists are available on Feeli 24/7 by teleconsultation. Take care of your health!

What bacteria and viruses cause gastro?

Gastroenteritis can be caused by different types of viruses and bacteria, and more rarely by intestinal parasites. Among these implicated micro-organisms, we can list the most common. For bacteria:
 • Escherichia coli. This bacterium is often associated with contaminated dairy products and minced meat;
 • Salmonella can cause a gastrointestinal infection, in particular through contaminated food, such as undercooked meat, eggs, etc.;
 • The bacterium Campylobacter;
 • Shigella can cause bloody diarrhoea (dysentery) and severe abdominal cramps;
 • Or Vibrio cholerae, which can cause a severe form of gastroenteritis, generally after drinking contaminated water while travelling somewhere with an unsafe water supply.
As for the viruses responsible for gastro, the most common are often:
 • Norovirus;
 • Rotavirus;
 • Or adenovirus and astrovirus.
Depending on the origin of the gastro (viral, parasitic, bacterial), symptoms can therefore vary.

The benefits of using Feeli for gastro

Online consultations on Feeli make access to care easier, and also faster to obtain. General practitioners are not evenly distributed across France, and in some regions waiting times for a consultation are long. With Feeli, there's no need to wait for a consultation, nor any need to travel. Consult a general practitioner or any healthcare professional directly from your office or your home. Whether your child has gastro, or you fall ill on a weekend or during a holiday, Feeli is ready to provide consultations. A computer or a smartphone is all you need to consult a general practitioner remotely. Feeli takes care of your health with consultations for every need, whether medical emergencies or simply the need to renew your prescription. Care is provided as quickly as possible, and the GP issues you a treatment as soon as the teleconsultation ends.