GI ailments

Symptoms of Gastrointestinal Illnesses Most GI ailment symptoms are easily recognizable. GI disorders generally begin with abdominal discomfort and nausea and then symptoms may differ depending on your specific ailment. GI disorders or infections may include: Viral Gastroenteritis (“Stomach Flu”) Viral gastroenteritis is a digestive illness commonly referred to as "stomach flu" − but it isn’t actually flu at all. True flu only refers to influenza, a virus affecting your respiratory system. Rather, viral gastroenteritis is an infection that affects your intestines. You can contract it by coming in contact with someone who already has the ailment or by ingesting food or water that's been contaminated with a virus, like norovirus. Gastroenteritis symptoms may take several days to appear, though they normally don't linger for more than a day or two. Exceptions may by those with rotavirus, whose symptoms can last up to nine days, and norovirus, which can last one to three days. Symptoms include:  Vomiting  Watery diarrhea  Cramping  A low fever  Nausea Food Poisoning  Food poisoning is an illness which occurs when you've eaten food contaminated by an infectious organism, such as salmonella, listeria, or E. coli. This can occur with undercooked or improperly handled food. Symptoms typically appear eight to 12 hours after eating and can last for one to two days. Food poisoning begins with abdominal cramping. Other symptoms include:  Nausea  Vomiting  Diarrhea  Fever  Cramps Gastrointestinal Infections Gastrointestinal infections can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites that settle in your GI tract. Viral or bacterial infections normally resolve in a few days, whereas parasitic infections may require medical treatment to resolve. Symptoms include:  Diarrhea  Abdominal discomfort  Vomiting  Those with parasites, particularly pinworms (common among school-age children) may experience difficulty sleeping, restlessness, and itching around the infection site.  Constipation A common, usually temporary disorder, often the result of inactivity, eating or drinking a lot of dairy products, and/or not having enough fiber or water in your diet. Constipation may resolve itself within a few days. Symptoms include:  Trouble with bowel movements  Bloating