Each year, many people are afflicted by the stomach flu and food poisoning. However, it can be hard to differentiate between the two. Because the symptoms for the stomach flu and food poisoning so closely parallel each other, you may not know how to treat your symptoms properly.
What is the right course of action when you are sick with either the stomach flu or food poisoning? The first step in alleviating your symptoms is getting to the root of your digestive woes.
Is it the stomach flu?
Although it is called the stomach flu, the illness is not like influenza. The stomach flu, commonly referred to as the Norovirus, is a very common and highly contagious viral infection. You can contract the Norovirus by coming in contact with an infected person, contaminated food or water, or touching contaminated surfaces.
The Norovirus causes inflammation of the intestines and the stomach. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that the stomach flu is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States, and each year it is responsible for 19 to 21 million illnesses, with 56,000 to 71,000 hospitalizations and 570-800 deaths.
While some symptoms of stomach flu are similar to food poisoning, others are not. For example, the most common symptoms found in people who have the Norovirus are: