This week our family was struck by viral gastroenteritis (a.k.a. stomach flu). The disease spreads very rapidly and is quite scary in the beginning, but like most viral infections, is self-limiting.

Viral gastroenteritis isn't quite common in India. In case you're also sick with gastro, here are a few precautions and "remedies" that are working for us.

This thing is very contagious. Wash your hands often, and don't share food within the family. That's hard to do with kids, but it has to be done. Eating outside is probably how you contracted the disease, so stick to homemade stuff for a few weeks. Don't cook food for the family if you're sick. Wash your clothes and linen and clean your toilets, more often that you usually do.

Drink plenty of ORS and Electral. Drink cold stuff... this is one of those diseases where drinking cold stuff and staying cool is a good thing. You'll need antacids right in the beginning, when you're still vomiting. Later, Dependal will help with the diarrhoea. Kids will have a lot of trouble holding food, but creative cooking helps.