Viral gastroenteritis, often called the “stomach flu,” is a nasty bug that causes diarrhea and vomiting. Often, viral gastroenteritis can be managed at home and does not require a trip to the emergency department.
In this video, learn when viral gastroenteritis is an emergency, according to Preeti Parikh, MD, Pediatrician at The Mount Sinai Hospital.
Preeti Parikh, MD is the Executive Medical Director at GoodRx and served as the Chief Medical Officer of HealthiNation.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Norovirus facts and stats.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2018). Treatment of viral gastroenteritis (“stomach flu”).
Stuempfig, N. D., et al. (2025). Viral gastroenteritis. StatPearls.
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Written by:
Lauren Smith, MALauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.
Reviewed by:
Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPHPatricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.
