Also known as stomach flu, viral gastroenteritis is an infection associated with uncomfortable symptoms like diarrhoea and nausea. Food poisoning can cause similar symptoms, but it is acquired by eating foods contaminated with certain germs, often bacteria.
If you are feeling unwell and trying to figure out the cause, consider the timing of symptoms. With foodborne illness, a person can experience health effects from two to six hours after eating contaminated food. On the other hand, symptoms of stomach flu typically occur within one to two days after contracting the virus.
As for how long each condition lasts, bouts of food poisoning often resolve pretty quickly. Once the contaminated food is eliminated from your system, you should start to feel better. With stomach flu, symptoms can last for two days or longer depending on the severity of the illness.
While the gastrointestinal symptoms of foodborne illness and stomach flu are similar, viral gastroenteritis can sometimes cause additional health problems. If your stomach issues are accompanied by fever, it is likely that you are fighting a bout of stomach flu.
It is also important to note the difference between viral gastroenteritis and influenza, which is a viral respiratory infection. Influenza causes shortness of breath, coughing, and other respiratory symptoms, and the viral infection can also lead to fever and chills. However, influenza rarely causes nausea and other stomach issues in adults, although children with the flu may experience gastrointestinal symptoms.
You can lower your risk of foodborne illness greatly by doing the following:
As for viral gastroenteritis, proper hygiene and handwashing can help you avoid germs. Cleaning and sanitizing your home regularly to eliminate germs from household surfaces and objects is also crucial. And if you know someone who’s ill, limit contact until their symptoms improve.