2. Viral Infections: The Stealthy Catalysts
You might not associate viral infections with gastroparesis, but the connection is real and often under-recognized. Viruses like norovirus or rotavirus commonly cause what’s known as post-infectious gastroparesis. The infection may have come and gone, but it leaves your stomach in a state of dysfunction.
So how do viruses stir the gastroparesis pot? The answer lies in inflammation. In the wake of the viral invasion, your stomach lining can become inflamed. This inflammation then interferes with the muscle contractions that move food through your digestive system.
Interestingly, viral-induced gastroparesis can show up months after the original infection. Imagine catching a standard stomach bug, recovering, and then months later finding that your stomach has basically gone on strike. Yes, it’s a sneaky and often confusing cause.
What makes this form of gastroparesis particularly unnerving is its unpredictability. Unlike diabetes, where long-term exposure to high sugar levels gradually leads to complications, viral infections can cause an almost sudden onset of symptoms. One day you’re fine; the next, you’re not. (2)
