喵咪社区

Is your stomach pain from food poisoning or the stomach flu? It can be hard to tell, since both conditions share some symptoms and the two are related, which makes any confusion understandable.

Both food poisoning (foodborne illness) and the so-called stomach flu (technically it鈥檚 not the flu virus) fall under the term acute , a condition in which a virus, bacterium or parasite causes inflammation in the lining of your intestines. That inflammation can lead to unpleasant symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, stomach pain or diarrhea.

鈥淏y definition, foodborne illness and stomach flu can present with the same symptoms,鈥� says Rose Taroyan, MD, a family medicine physician with 喵咪社区.

There are some subtle differences, however. 鈥淚f you have nausea or vomiting, stomach pain, watery or bloody diarrhea and fever after eating spoiled food or trying out a new restaurant, consider that you may have a foodborne illness. In that case, your symptoms may appear quickly 鈥� within eight to 16 hours of eating contaminated food. Your food history will provide clues, and a stool culture can sometimes provide answers,鈥� Taroyan explains.

Stomach flu, on the other hand, is usually accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting, according to Taroyan, but it is possible to have vomiting without diarrhea. You may also see signs of dehydration. 鈥淰iral gastroenteritis typically peaks in the winter and spring months,鈥� she adds.

The culprits behind all the trouble

Your symptoms may differ slightly, depending on what鈥檚 causing the illness. The most common way these microorganisms get into your body and disrupt your gastrointestinal system is through (hence food poisoning) or contact with someone who鈥檚 infected. Below are the causes and when their symptoms might appear, which can help you differentiate among them.

• Norovirus
  Norovirus isn鈥檛 the same thing as the flu virus, but it鈥檚 still a virus; and according to Taroyan, it鈥檚 the most common cause of . Symptoms usually set in 12 to 48 hours after contamination.

• Staphylococcus aureus
  Staph bacteria, which are most often found in foods that typically aren鈥檛 cooked after they鈥檙e handled 鈥� such as deli meats and pastries 鈥� work fast. Within six hours (and sometimes in as little as 30 minutes), this infection will lead to vomiting, nausea, stomach cramps and diarrhea.

• Salmonella
  By the time you experience symptoms of food poisoning from salmonella, a bacteria that thrives in foods such as raw or undercooked meat, eggs and raw fruits and vegetables, you might not even remember the food that did it. That鈥檚 because salmonella symptoms, which include stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea and fever, can take anywhere from 12 hours to a full three days to appear.

• E. coli
  Presenting three to four days after contamination, symptoms caused by the E. coli bacteria are impossible to ignore. They include bloody diarrhea, severe stomach pains and vomiting. This type of food poisoning merits a , as it can have serious complications.

What to do if you get sick

With the exception of E. coli, gastroenteritis typically resolves on its own, whether it鈥檚 food poisoning or stomach flu. Dehydration is the biggest cause for concern with gastroenteritis, because your body loses water through diarrhea and vomiting. For that reason, it鈥檚 important to stay hydrated.

鈥淭he 鈥楤RAT鈥� diet (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast) is very helpful to prevent dehydration,鈥� Taroyan says.

It鈥檚 also wise to stay home from work and other activities if you鈥檙e experiencing symptoms. However, if you notice blood in your stool, a high fever, dehydration or diarrhea that lasts longer than three days, make an exception and see your doctor.

Stay ahead of the game

The best prevention against food poisoning is washing your hands with soap and water; rinsing fruits and vegetables before eating them; washing hands, knives and cutting boards after they touch raw food; and cooking foods thoroughly. To prevent getting the stomach flu, avoid those who have it. If you do come into contact with someone who has it, wash your hands frequently.

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