Queen Elizabeth II in Hospital for Stomach Infection after Years of Enjoying Good Health

Queen Elizabeth II of Britain’s enduring bill of good health was marred by a few days of ill health due to a stomach infection. The Queen was supposed to visit Swansea in Wales for an important ceremony, but last Friday, it was announced that she would be unable to grace the event due to symptoms of gastroenteritis. Her spokesperson announced that the Queen would be “spending the weekend at Windsor Castle as usual.”

The Queen was confined at King Edward VII Hospital in London starting Sunday. Prime Minister David Cameron issued a statement wishing the Queen a speedy recovery, and the rest of the United Kingdom is one in their hope that the Queen would get better at the soonest time possible.

No major ailments

Queen Elizabeth II is now 86 years old and has been the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom since 1952. Her husband, Prince Phillip who is now 91 years old has been known for frequent hospital visits for the past few years, but the Queen’s last hospitalization before this event was 10 years ago for a knee operation. She had always been the picture of good health and was known to cancel only a couple of commitments for minor ailments. Last year, in October, she had to cancel an investiture ceremony due to a bad back but was not required to stay at hospital. In the same month, she had a cold and also had to cancel a visit to the British Museum.

A bout of rest for the  Queen

Sources say the Queen agreed to be confined because of her desire to get better. Before Friday, she was busy with various ceremonies involving the Archbishop of Canterbury and Olympians who received honors from her.

The Queen is now unable to fulfil her obligations scheduled for the rest of the week. Her office has already delayed a two-day visit to Rome scheduled this week for an audience with the Italian President, Giorgio Napolitano. The Queen and Prince Philip were supposed to make the trip together. This event will be moved to a later date.

Last Saturday, she was supposed to celebrate St. David’s Day with the Royal Welsh Regiment but had to stay in Windsor Castle when the gastroenteritis symptoms flared up. The ceremony that she was supposed to attend went on ahead. The national emblem of Wales was presented instead by Byron Lewis, Lord Lt. of West Glamorgan.

The speculation amongst outside medical experts is that the Queen needed to be rehydrated via intravenous means since older persons have difficulty recovering fully after a bout of dehydration.

What is gastroenteritis?

Gastroenteritis is an inflammation of the lining of the gastro-intestinal tract. The two main symptoms of gastroenteritis are vomiting and diarrhea. Gastroenteritis may be caused by a virus that usually afflicts the British during the winter months. According to guidelines observed in the United Kingdom, people affected with gastroenteritis are recommended to refrain from working for two days as the virus is highly communicable especially when the afflicted is confined indoors.