7 Things We Want You to Know About the Stomach Flu

Few illnesses can really lay you out like the stomach flu, which can chain you to the bathroom for days. Yet millions of Americans go through this illness each year and they do get to the other side, just like a regular flu.

So that you’re better prepared for the next inevitable bout of stomach flu in your family, the team here at Michigan Avenue Primary Care looks at a few myths and facts surrounding this common illness.

Stomach flu isn’t really a flu

While it earned the name stomach flu, this illness isn’t a flu in the traditional sense and is entirely unrelated to influenza. A more accurate name for this type of viral infection is viral gastroenteritis.

Stomach flus don’t occur in your stomach

Another interesting fact about the so-called stomach flu is that it doesn’t occur in your stomach. In reality, the virus sets up your intestines.

Norovirus is the most common stomach flu

Norovirus is the most common type of viral gastroenteritis, affecting between 19 and 21 million Americans each year.

Stomach flus are contagious

Since viral gastroenteritis is a viral infection, it is contagious and can be passed around a family very easily, especially if the family shares a bathroom. The virus is passed through feces and vomit.

The symptoms of viral gastroenteritis

The symptoms of viral gastroenteritis come on strong after incubating for about a day or two and include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain, such as cramps

You can also lose your appetite, for fairly obvious reasons.

Stomach flu versus food poisoning

Many people confuse the stomach flu with food poisoning, which affects even more people annually than viral gastroenteritis — about 48 million people get sick from foodborne illnesses each year in the US.

Bacteria in food cause food poisoning, and symptoms often appear very quickly after ingestion — about 2-6 hours. These symptoms are very similar to those of the stomach flu, with vomiting and diarrhea as the hallmarks. The good news is that symptoms from food poisoning often go away more quickly than they do with a viral infection.

The reason why it’s helpful to know which one you’re dealing with is that foodborne illnesses aren’t contagious, but you might want to check your food more carefully.

Complications of stomach flu

Most viral gastroenteritis illnesses run their course in about a week and don’t require medical care. That said, certain demographics are more at risk for severe symptoms, including:

• Infants
• The elderly
• People with weakened immune systems
• People with preexisting gastrointestinal issues

The biggest stomach bug complication is dehydration, which can affect vital organs. So, it may be a good idea to come see us for a sick visit if you or your loved one is more at risk.

For expert care of your stomach illness, please contact us at our Chicago, Illinois, clinic, which is located in The Loop. You can also visit our urgent care center during operating hours, M-F, 8 am to 4 pm.