The stomach flu is not something you want to get to start off your spring! If you have obtained the stomach flu before or not, we can all agree that nobody wants to experience having the stomach flu. AFC Urgent Care Braintree is here to educate you further on the stomach flu as well as give you tips on how to avoid the stomach flu this spring!

Symptoms

If you have children in school, unfortunately, they are at the most significant risk of acquiring stomach flu through one of their peers. It is essential to learn about the symptoms someone with the stomach flu may have. The stomach flu targets the digestive system, so some symptoms that may occur are cramps, nausea, vomiting & diarrhea. These symptoms can be paired with muscle aches & pains making the body feel exhausted & fatigued.

Treatment

If you have the stomach flu, in most cases it is not a life-threatening experience. The most common side effect is dehydration due to a lot of fluids leaving the body. A good tip is to stay hydrated with drinks like water & other drinks like Gatorade to boost your bodies electrolytes that it may have lost in the process. Fever & aches can be treated with Tylenol or Advil; however, the pain will most likely return as long as your body is fighting this infection.

How to Prevent the stomach flu

Naturally, the stomach flu has no cure, so prevention is the best medicine! Every year make sure to go & get the newest flu vaccine. The flu vaccine will decrease your chance of getting the stomach flu by 80%! If you have health insurance the shot will more than likely be covered so there is no reason to skip out on the chance! Another way to proactive preventative health is to wash your hands. The flu is passed on by physical contact. A good habit to get into is bringing hand sanitizer with you when you go out in public to always be able to wash your hands on the go! We hope these tips will help you stay away from the stomach flu this season!