Food, Health

Stomach Flu And Food Poisoning Prevention And Treatment

Antipyretics (Fever Meds) and Pain Relievers

eBuddy News

Fever sometimes occurs when one has either viral or bacterial gastroenteritis.  Viral gastroenteritis, or stomach flu, would usually register low-grade fevers.  Bacterial gastroenteritis, or food poisoning, on the other hand, would usually register high-grade fevers.  The rise in body temperature is one of the body’s first responses in fighting viruses and bacteria.  

The toxins released by these microbes trigger the body’s immune system to kick up its response to the infection.  The brain signals the muscles of the body to initiate a series of rapid contraction and relaxation cycles which is felt as shivering, but also produces the heat the body needs to help fight the infection.

Fever in itself is not a bad thing.  However, if the temperature gets too high, as in 39.4∞C or above, this is dangerous.  The body can go into seizures and convulsions brought about by the high temperature.  For this reason, antipyretics, medicine to address fevers by lowering the temperature, are sometimes recommended.  

Typical antipyretics are acetaminophen (popular brand would be Tylenol), ibuprofen (popular is Advil), or paracetamol (popular brand is Biogesic).  These are not cures, they do not eliminate nor neutralise the viruses or bacteria causing the stomach flu or food poisoning.  These medicines address only the high temperature and relieve the head aches and body aches that often come with a fever.  This relief helps a person rest more comfortably and regain energy and strength more easily.

Note that if a person hits temperatures above 39∞C, it may be best to also cool that person down quickly.  Antipyretics can take up to half an hour to take effect, by that time a person could already go into convulsions and seizures (depending on an individual’s resilience) if their temperature continues to rise.  One of the quickest ways to cool a fever is to have the person bathe.  The water’s temperature need not be particularly warm or cool (which in itself is a relative term), just whatever is comfortable for the person, but cooler would be better.