Our urgent care providers are knowledgeable at assessing and treating stomach flu in Novi MI and are looking forward to taking care of you. They can also determine when you need more advanced care with a specialist or at the emergency department.
Gastroenteritis
Viral gastroenteritis, also known as the stomach flu, is an intestinal infection that can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever.
Gastroenteritis is most commonly contracted through contact with an infected person or by eating contaminated food or water. Healthy adults are likely to recover without complications, however, infants, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems, viral gastroenteritis can be very serious.
Symptoms Of Viral Gastroenteritis May Include:
- Abdominal pain and cramps
- Watery diarrhea
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Muscles aches or headache
- Low-grade fever
If you are not able to keep down liquids for 24 hours, are vomiting blood, are dehydrated (excessive thirst, dry mouth) or have bloody bowel movements, you should see a medical professional as soon as possible.
Diagnosing Gastroenteritis
Viral gastroenteritis will be diagnosed based on your symptoms and a physical exam. A stool sample may be submitted to rule out bacterial or parasitic infection.
How to Treat Gastroenteritis
While there is no specific medical treatment for viral gastroenteritis, there are ways we can help to lessen symptoms. There are medications that can help with nausea, vomiting, and pain associated with gastroenteritis. At home, patients should take the steps to stay hydrated by drinking clear fluids slowly, and get plenty of rest to regain strength. Individuals should ease back into eating by gradually eating easy-to-digest, bland foods to avoid nausea. Avoiding dairy products, alcohol, caffeine, or fatty foods can also help.
We are often asked if we can treat people over the phone for stomach flu in Novi MI. While some conditions may permit a telemed visit, most ailments are better diagnosed when we can put our eyes on our patients. Most conditions are common but we can often find something on an exam that may point us in a direction to a better diagnosis.
One of the things we take pride in is that we make sure to communicate with your primary provider when we make a diagnosis or get closer to figuring out why you have your current symptoms. After your visit we will send over any results we have from tests that we perform and any paperwork that will help your primary doctor continue to care for you. We understand what it means to be patient centered!
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. If you have any questions or concerns we cannot wait to care for you! PrimeCare Urgent Care, PLLC does not provide any warranty or liability for your use of this information.