Learn The Critical Differences Between The Causes Treatments And Symptoms Of Food Poisoning And Stomach Flu With Ivee
Food poisoning and stomach flu can cause uncomfortable symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and cramps. However, while these illnesses can make you miserable with similar symptoms, their causes and treatments have some differences.
Causes of Food Poisoning and the Stomach Flu
Food poisoning and stomach flu both have their own unique causes. Below are the main factors that can make you sick with each.
Food Poisoning
Food poisoning, also known as food-borne illness, is caused by eating food that is contaminated with viruses, bacteria, or parasites, also known as infectious organisms, and all of these organisms can make you feel sick.
Food can become unsafe to eat and potentially make you sick when it’s improperly cooked or stored the wrong way before you eat it. Sometimes, the source of contamination enters the picture before the food is even harvested.
Illness-causing organisms may also start growing on the food due to cross-contamination, which occurs when the food is exposed to harmful microorganisms while it is being grown or processed.
Some of the most common causes of food poisoning are the following bacteria, viruses, and parasites:
Campylobacter
An infectious bacteria that causes around 1.5 million cases of illness every year in the U.S. alone. This bacteria can make you sick when you’re exposed to it in raw or improperly cooked poultry.
According to the CDC, food-borne illness caused by this bacteria often requires treatment with antibiotics.
E. coli
Giardia
How Can You Prevent Gastroenteritis
You cannot always avoid getting gastroenteritis, but good hygiene will definitely reduce the risk. Wash your hands properly and regularly, remembering to wash both sides and between your fingers really well. Use hand sanitiser between washes. Change your bedding regularly, avoid sharing cutlery and towels and be careful when preparing meals. Clean and disinfect bathroom surfaces after each use.
Food Poisoning Vs A Stomach Bug: How To Tell Them Apart
When trying to figure out if you are suffering from food poisoning or a stomach bug, there are some key things which can help you quickly pinpoint the culprit.
Onset:Food poisoning has a more rapid onset. If you eat contaminated food, you can become sick in as little as an hour or two. If you go out to a restaurant and are throwing up a few hours later, then itâs more likely that you have food poisoning.
Abdominal pains:Both food poisoning and stomach bugs can cause abdominal pains, but they are usually more severe with food poisoning. With a virus, you may have a dull ache in your stomach, but you probably wonât get the sharp, stabbing pains that often come with food poisoning.
Family sickness:If your entire family comes down with a sickness at the same time, then itâs likely from something you all ate. Viruses, on the other hand, often spread from person to person, which means you will have different onsets of sickness than with food poisoning.
Duration:Both sicknesses can last up to 10 days, but food poisoning is more likely to clear up in a very short amount of time. If you feel better after a few hours or a after a nightâs sleep, thereâs a good chance it was a stomach bug.
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Diagnosis Of Food Poisoning And The Stomach Flu
Food poisoning and Stomach flu are often diagnosed by your doctor based on the history and symptoms. If the symptoms are mild and improve over a short period of time you might not require any tests.
Although if they persist you need to consult a health care professional and might require investigations like a stool or blood tests for diagnosis after an initial medical history and physical evaluation. The goal of an initial evaluation is to distinguish the mild disease from severe disease.
Stomach Flu Vs Food Poisoning
Stomach Flu is more of an intestinal disease which is viral and stays for a few days. It is a wider term which can include Food Poisoning.
It is technically known as gastroenteritis. It is commonly marked by watery diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, sometimes fever, vomiting and nausea quite often.
Food Poisoning, on the other hand, which is caused by eating or consuming contaminated food. It is a smaller term which can be included in Stomach Flu.
It has the alternative name of foodborne illness and is caused mainly due to infectious organisms such as virus, bacteria or parasites, or their toxins.
There are several differences despite the similarities they may have. What is outrightly similar between the two of them is that they are identified as sickness and/or pain in the abdomen.
Quite a few of their symptoms are similar to each other which is why they are confused with each other.
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How Can I Prevent From Getting The Stomach Flu Or Food Poisoning
How can you prevent getting the stomach flu?
- The best way to prevent getting this type of “flu” is to avoid contact with anyone suffering from the disease .
- Wash your hands frequently if you have been around a person who is sick.
- A vaccine is available against rotavirus, one of the most common causes of this type of “flu.”
How can you prevent getting food poisoning?
- Prevention of food poisoning involves careful attention to food storage and preparation. While it is not completely possible to prevent poisoning from contaminated food that was later sold, there are steps you can take to prevent food poisoning at home.
- Keep the kitchen and your food prep area and kitchen tools clean.
- Cook seafood and meats thoroughly to their recommended temperatures . Foodsafety.gov provides a chart that describes safe cooking temperatures for foods.
- Refrigerate perishable foods.
- Do not eat food if you think it may be spoiled.
How To Prevent Food Poisoning And The Flu
If you already have the flu or food poisoning, then itâs too late to prevent it. However, once you have experienced the horrible symptoms of food poisoning or viruses, you will certainly want to make sure they never happen again. Here are some steps you should take to protect yourself from the flu:
- Always wash your hands before meals, after being in public, and after using the washroom.
- Do not share food, utensils, drinks, cosmetics, or personal care items .
- If someone is sick, avoid close contact with them as much as possible.
- Get the right amount of rest, eat healthy, and exercise regularly.
When it comes to the flu vs. food poisoning the latter is the tougher of the two to prevent, but here are some tips that might help:
- Always cook meat and fish to their required internal temperature.
- Use a meat thermometer for cooking any meat.
- Wash vegetables, fruits, and other foods before eating them.
- Never eat food that has been sitting out for more than a couple hours.
- Serve food at their intended temperatures.
- After handling raw meat, wash your hands and clean utensils, surfaces, and dishware.
- Refrigerate leftovers and eat them within a couple days.
- Avoid eating out at restaurants or fast-food places on a regular basis.
- If youâre traveling, research safety precautions for food and water in your destination spot.
When you have either food poisoning or the flu, nothing is more importantthan to drink plenty of fluids.
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Stomach Flu Vs Food Poisoning: The Differences Symptoms & Treatment Tips
Picture this, you have just finished a delicious meal and while you are on your way home nausea sets in. You wonder whether it is just a case of overeating or food poisoning? Maybe it is completely unrelated to the food you just ate and is actually just a stomach virus?
This article will explore the differences between food poisoning and stomach fluwhile the symptoms may be similar, the causes and treatments differ and it is important to be able to differentiate between them and understand what is causing your upset stomach.
What Is The Prognosis For A Person With These Infections
- The prognosis for a person with the stomach flu generally is good, and most people recover without complications, and without any specific medical treatment by a doctor.
- Food poisoning also has a good prognosis, and most people recover easily in 1-2 days without long-term complications. However, in severe cases, the person may need medical treatment by a doctor or other health care professional.
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Causes Of Stomach Virus
If you have a stomach virus, you probably caught it from someone else who was infected with the same thing. Perhaps you shared a drink with someone who had the virus or kissed them hello or goodbye. Most stomach bugs are highly contagious even during the incubation period before any symptoms have appeared so it can be very easy to catch something without realizing it. You can even catch it by touching something that an infected person touched if it has any of their saliva, vomit, or stool on it that could contain the virus.
There are a few different viruses that cause the stomach flu, with the most common being norovirus and rotavirus.
Different viruses are active during different times of the year. For example, in the Northern Hemisphere both rotavirus and norovirus are most prevalent from October to April. However, there are many viruses that cause gastroenteritis so it is possible to get sick at any time of year.
How To Prevent Stomach Flu
The viruses that cause the stomach flu are not actually related to the influenza virus , so theres, unfortunately, no vaccine that can help keep it at bay. Antibiotics will not help treat the stomach bug because its a virus and antibiotics treat bacteria, adds Healthline.
The obvious prevention method is to avoid those you know who have the virus, which is not always possible. If you do come down with a stomach bug, wash your hands often and stay away from colleagues at work or school for at least 3-days after which you should feel better.
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Soothing Stomach Flu Smoothie
When the storm has passed and the afflicted person is ready to attempt food again, a Soothing Stomach Flu Smoothie is just what Dr. Mom orders.
Its perfectly gentle and contains digestion-soothing ginger and lemon, calming chamomile, plus greens for a boost of nutrition!
Simply add all the ingredients to your blender, blend, and sip slowly.
When Should I Call A Doctor
The symptoms of food poisoning dont typically last more than 48 hours. If 2 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared, its time to call a medical professional.
Remember that severe symptoms, such as bloody stool, dizziness, muscle weakness, and severe stomach cramping should be taken seriously. Dont wait for those symptoms to subside before seeing a doctor.
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How Long Symptoms Last
Food poisoning doesnt just come on faster than the stomach flu it also runs its course more quickly. Dr. Ford says viral gastroenteritis generally lingers for two days, although sometimes, it can last longer. In contrast, food poisoning hopefully is going to be out of your system sooner than that, Dr. Ford continues. It tends to be very fairly brief. I like to think of it as your body is just trying to get rid of what it took in thats not good for it.
Recipe For Food Poisoning
Womens Health says youre correct to assume that food poisoning is the result of ingesting a foodborne pathogen. As we noted before, norovirus is commonly associated with gastroenteritis and may have the most unpleasant symptoms.
However, norovirus is not the only bad thing that can creep into your system if youve eaten questionable food. It could also be bacteria, such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, Clostridium perfringens, E. coli, or Staphylococcus aureus, which are pathogens that can cause food poisoning.
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What Causes Food Poisoning
Food poisoning develops when infectious organisms such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites contaminate foods. Bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella are among the top five germs that cause food poisoning in the United States.
You may get food poisoning from eating contaminated or undercooked meat. However, affected meat isnt the only food that causes food poisoning. The following foods can also lead to foodborne illness:
- raw and undercooked eggs
- excessive thirst
- dizziness, especially when standing
Babies may have sunken eyes or fontanels when they become dehydrated. A fontanel is also known as the soft spot on a babys head. You should seek medical attention if any of these symptoms occur.
Is Food Poisoning Contagious
Food poisoning isnt usually contagious since it spreads through food. However, there are certain cases where food poisoning may spread from person-to-person. This includes the spreading of microorganisms to food or drinks by infected people who dont wash their hands after using the bathroom.
In most instances, though, harmful microorganisms are already present on foods such as fruits, vegetables and raw meat.
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How To Prevent Viral Enteritis
Protecting yourself from a stomach virus is similar to the techniques you should be following to protect yourself from COVID-19. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least twenty seconds, avoid touching your face, minimize exposure to people with symptoms, or who have been exposed to the virus.
Food Poisoning Vs The Flu: When To Worry
So when should you rush off to the doctor, and when should you just sit back and wait for your illness to resolve itself? It can be hard to figure out whatâs an actual emergency. Seek medical attention immediately if any of the following circumstances apply to you:
- Your symptoms last for more than a few days
- There is blood present in your stool
- You are experiencing a fever
- You are experiencing severe stomach/abdominal pains
- You have been eating wild mushrooms
- You are pregnant or
- You are experiencing symptoms that are not associated with regular food poisoning or the flu, such as bleeding, severe pain, or vision distortion.
If your symptoms are limited to diarrhea, moderate abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, then you can wait a few days to see if your illness resolves. Often, both food poisoning and the flu will resolve on their own.
Wash vegetables, fruits, and other foods before eating them.
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Stomach Flu Vs Food Poisoning: How To Tell The Difference
Commonly called the stomach flu, gastroenteritis is often confused with food poisoning, which causes similar symptoms. While both usually resolve without the need for medical intervention, certain symptoms can point toward serious complications. To better understand the difference between stomach flu and food poisoning, consider the following comparison.GastroenteritisUsually caused by the norovirus, enteric adenovirus, astrovirus or rotavirus, gastroenteritis results when a viral infection causes inflammation of the intestines. Although it can be acquired by eating tainted food, it is not the result of toxins, parasites or bacteria.Food PoisoningFood poisoning occurs when a person consumes food that contains an infectious organism, such as bacteria or parasites. Typically occurring during the food handling process, contamination can also result when food is left out too long or is incorrectly cooked.Identifying SymptomsGastroenteritis and food poisoning can cause very similar symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain and cramps. While most cases resolve on their own, patients can be at risk of severe dehydration due to nausea.When to see a doctorAccording to the FDA, about 1 in 6 Americans contract a foodborne illness each year. Of these, about 128,000 require hospitalization to treat various symptoms. If you experience any of the following, visit your doctor.
What To Eat When You Have Food Poisoning Or The Stomach Flu
Whether you have come down with a stomach bug or have food poisoning, here are a few tips to follow.
Losing your appetite is one of the first things that goes with viral gastroenteritis or food poisoning. But, with the loss of fluids and electrolytes, eating and drinking is still crucial when fighting against GI illnesses.
For starters, you can follow the BRAT diet, which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. These foods wont help your symptoms, rather, they are gentle enough to where they wont upset your stomach any further.
Other foods that may be kind to your stomach include cereal , saltine crackers, oatmeal or broth. Saltine crackers are beneficial to provide both calories and salt lost from dehydration. However, you shouldnt eat these foods for more than a day or two, as they lack the nutrients your body needs for energy and for other daily routine tasks.
In terms of liquids, drink plenty of water to help replenish any fluids lost. Sports drinks are a good source of electrolytes, but many versions are loaded with added sugars.
While gentle foods can help provide energy while your body fights the infection, certain foods may actually make your symptoms worse. For example, caffeine is a stimulant and can lead to more frequent bowel movements, while foods high in fat can disrupt your GI tract. Even milk can be hard to digest when youre sick due to the presence of lactose and can compound your issues.
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