A stomach bug, also known as the stomach flu, isn’t really the flu. When you say you have a stomach bug, what you actually have is gastroenteritis, which is an infection of your intestines. The ‘flu’, however, is influenza, a respiratory infection that causes fevers, sore throats, runny noses, and aches and pains.
Although both are contagious, the stomach flu differs from the flu in several ways. To help you understand what those differences are, here is a look at everything you need to know about stomach bugs, including symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatments.
Symptoms
When you have a stomach bug, your intestines are inflamed and irritated. This irritation can cause the following symptoms:
- Watery diarrhea—if you have bloody diarrhea, that means you have a more severe infection
- Abdominal cramps
- Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite
- Muscle aches and pains
- Headache
- Low fever
Symptoms normally appear one to three days after you are infected with the illness. They can range from mild and severe and last for up to 10 days total.
Causes
There are two main viruses responsible for spreading the stomach flu. The viruses are highly contagious, so it is easy to become infected by eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated water, or by person-to-person transmission. The viruses are:
- Norovirus: Although the virus can affect all ages, the norovirus is more common in adults. It spreads quickly through groups in confined spaces. Usually, you become infected with the virus by eating or drinking contaminated food or water.
- Rotavirus: This virus is the most common cause of stomach bugs in children. They easily become infected by touching something contaminated and then putting their fingers in their mouth. Although adults can also be infected with the rotavirus, they rarely show symptoms of it. However, they are still contagious and can spread it. Unlike norovirus, there is a vaccine for rotavirus.
Risk Factors
The following factors increase your risk for contracting a stomach bug:
- Age: Young children and the elderly are at a high risk of the virus, due to their weak or undeveloped immune systems.
- Being in a confined space with others: Those in schools, churches, dormitories, or cruise ships are all at a higher risk of catching a stomach bug.
- Certain medical conditions: Those with HIV/AIDS or other immune system suppressing diseases, are a more severe risk of contraction.
Diagnosis
By the time you are an adult, you’ve probably had a stomach bug more than once in your life. You can diagnose yourself with the stomach flu based on the symptoms, but if they are severe it is a good idea to see your doctor. You doctor can do a stool test to check for rotavirus or norovirus, and rule out a bacterial or parasitic infection.
Treatments
Unfortunately, there are no medical treatments for the stomach flu. Antibiotics don’t work well against viruses, and there is concern that overuse of antibiotics can lead to the development of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria.
The best way to treat your stomach bug is by managing your symptoms. This means spending a few days at home resting, eating a more bland diet, and staying hydrated with clear liquids. Because of symptoms like vomiting, fever and diarrhea you are at risk for becoming dehydrated, so it’s vital that you drink plenty. If you are not able to keep liquids down, eat ice chips instead.
