Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe has been hospitalized due to gastroenteritis. Madrid said Mbappe would “undergo a series of tests and follow the appropriate course of treatment.”After Lionel Messi, Mbappe is arguably the biggest star in the show, with Madrid one of the favorites to lift the trophy in the inaugural edition of the tournament. Mbappe’s absence is a blow to the tournament, which FIFA president Gianni Infantino hopes will be one of the elite events in soccer and rival competitions like the Champions League and Premier League in popularity and value.
What is acute gastroenteritis ?
Gastroenteritis is another way of saying “your gut is inflamed”—it’s the classic “stomach flu,” most often caused by viruses like norovirus or rotavirus. Medically, it means your stomach and intestines are messed up, with the usual symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, fever, and sometimes chills .It’s borderline cruel that when you’ve got a big tournament or championship coming up, your gut decides to pack up and leave. For most healthy adults, it lasts a few days, but for an elite athlete on international duty? Even a short bout means lost training sessions and missed matches.At face value, stomach bug sounds harmless. But when you’re top-tier athlete, it’s not so simple. First, hydration goes haywire. Losing fluids and salts via vomiting and diarrhea can knock chronometers off-limits—think cramps, lightheadedness, fatigue—and crucially, performance drops. Symptoms appeared early during Madrid’s US training camp—likely starting with stomach cramps, a fever, and missed meals. Mbappé also skipped the open training session on Tuesday and got progressively worse by match day, prompting the medical team to hold him out .By Wednesday night, they decided he needed hospital care. He was admitted for “tests and treatment” and will likely miss at least the upcoming group-stage match against Pachuca on Sunday.
In a nutshell
Gastroenteritis, often called the “stomach flu,” isn’t actually the flu at all. It’s an inflammation of the stomach and intestines, usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Common culprits include norovirus, rotavirus, E. coli, and salmonella. It spreads easily through contaminated food, water, surfaces, or direct contact with someone who’s infected. The symptoms? Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, low-grade fever, and general fatigue. Most cases are short-lived, lasting a few days, but those few days can feel like absolute misery. Dehydration is the biggest risk, especially for young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. That’s why doctors often emphasize drinking fluids with electrolytes to replenish what the body loses through vomiting and diarrhea. Treatment mostly involves rest, hydration, and sticking to bland, easy-to-digest foods—think toast, rice, bananas, and applesauce. Antibiotics aren’t usually needed unless the cause is bacterial. Over-the-counter meds like anti-nausea or anti-diarrheal drugs can offer temporary relief but should be used with caution. Preventing gastroenteritis means practicing good hygiene: wash hands frequently, cook meats thoroughly, keep kitchen surfaces clean, and avoid sharing food or drinks. If you’re sick, it’s best to stay home to avoid spreading it further.(With inputs from AFP)
