You might call it a stomach virus. Others may incorrectly refer to it as the flu. Your doctor describes it as viral gastroenteritis, a highly infectious digestive disorder caused by a virus. Several things might cause gastroenteritis, but Cleveland Clinic states that viruses cause most cases of gastroenteritis. The main symptom of this condition is diarrhea, which can cause severe dehydration or even death. You can prevent dehydration by following food treatments designed for a stomach virus.
Nothing
Do not eat or drink anything within the first few hours of becoming ill. This will give your stomach a chance to rest.
Sips and Chips
Start with a spoonful of ice chips. Let the ice chips linger in your mouth for a few moments to relieve dryness of the mouth and tongue. If your stomach tolerates ice chips, move on to small sips of water. Avoid the temptation to drink large amounts of water at first, until you know if your stomach will tolerate the fluids. Advancing too quickly may cause another bout of diarrhea and make you more dehydrated.
Clear Liquids
Once you are able to tolerate fluids, advance to clear liquids. Clear liquids describe fluids that you can see through when they are at room temperature. Examples of clear liquids are apple juice, sherbet, gelatin, and broth without meat or vegetables.
Electrolyte Replacement
Give children electrolyte replacement drinks to replace potassium, sodium and other essentials they may have lost through bouts of diarrhea. Adults may also drink commercially available sports drinks designed to replace lost electrolytes.
Full Liquids
Advance to full liquids as soon as you can tolerate them. Full liquid foods are those that are an opaque liquid at room temperature. You may have vegetable juices and tomato soup, for example. Continue to take in ample fluids to prevent dehydration. A full liquid diet does not provide sufficient nutrition, as it is low in iron, vitamins A and B12 and thiamine, according to GICare.com, so progress to solid food as soon as you feel well enough.
Soft Bland Diet
Move onto soft, bland foods. Soft foods that are easy to digest include mashed potatoes and bananas. The lining of your stomach may still be inflamed from gastroenteritis, so start with foods that are easy to digest. Avoid spicy foods. Eat and drink dairy products sparingly, as lactose can be difficult for some people to digest.
Regular Diet
Return to a normal diet after a day or two on a soft, bland diet. Continue to drink fluids until all signs of dehydration, like a dry mouth or dark urine, are completely gone.
