Doctors report rise in stomach bug cases as gatherings increase

Added: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]Doctors see a wave of stomach bug cases as gatherings increase this time of the year. Chris Welty reports on the trend and the tips to keep your family healthy.

[00:00:09]Lots of classrooms, almost entire classrooms have been taken out by the stomach bug. Allie Selino is a wife and mother of two. With a busy schedule, keeping her family healthy is paramount.

[00:00:19]But she says it can be a challenge. This week her son came home from school early because of an upset stomach.

[00:00:26]>> You always play the game of is it viral?

[00:00:28]Is it something he ate? Is he just sensitive? Like you just never know. And then by that time it's too late. And if they're infectious, they've already spread to somebody else. And it's it's it's a nightmare.

[00:00:38]>> actually comes in waves here in the clinic. Sometimes I'll see seven, eight, 10 cases in a few days and then I'll see none for a week or two. Dr. Chuck Mary with LCM C Health says gastrointestinal viruses are very contagious. He says shaking hands, high fives, or poor hygiene contribute to the spread.

[00:00:55]>> It'll cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever in cases, usually not that high, muscle aches and pains, just like a viral illness. The good thing is that it usually passes in one to three or four days, sometimes longer, a week or so.

[00:01:10]Dr. Mary says dehydration becomes the biggest problem. While water is key, he recommends adding electrolytes. Cuz when you have diarrhea and vomiting, you're losing electrolytes, sodium, potassium, chloride.

[00:01:23]And so we need to put those things back.

[00:01:25]Um bland foods, certainly. Everybody's heard of the BRAT diet, bananas, rice, applesauce. As for Selino, she preaches hand washing so her family does not miss out on the end of the school year. With sickness lingering, she remains cautious. You also don't want to I don't know, knock out an entire kindergarten. So it's a very difficult choice you have to make, trying to decide what's the right thing to do.

[00:01:51]Dr. Mary says he's also seen a wave of sinus and respiratory illnesses. He recommends washing your hands with soap and water, increasing your vitamin C intake, and keeping your hands away from your face and mouth. Well,