Stomach flu vs. Gastrointestinal Illness.

[Albertan mom]

Last week there were a few discussions going on about food poisoning, and the flu, and how to tell the difference between the two. I found this on a letter the school sent home. It describes symptoms of the stomach flu, or gastrointestinal illnesses:


FEVER- Gastrointestinal-possible
Flu-Sudden onset of high fever and chills(38-40) lasting3-5 days

HEADACHE-Gastro-Occasional
Flu-Prominent, severe

MUSCLE ACHES AND PAINS-Gastro-No
Flu-Usual, often severe aching

FATIGUE, WEAKNESS, MALAISE-Gastro-Possible
Flu-Extreme fatigue, can last one month

PROSTRATION-Gastro-No
Flu-Early, prominent prostration

NAUSEA-Gastro-Common
Flu-Sometimes

DIARRHEA- Gastro-usual
Flu-sometimes


If everyone in your family has eaten the same thing, and has symptoms, it is likely a food-bourne illness. (food poisoning)

The stomach flu usually takes a few days to a few weeks to work its way through your household, with family members catching it from each other.

Do not give your children anti-diarrhea medication. Let it run its course naturally.


Hope this helps!

 

[Aidensmom]

If you actually want to be able to differentiate, seeing how most symptoms have a "sometimes" for one or the other, is the muscle aches. Muscle aches equal flu. (Of course on less you happened to work out the day before.)

 

[lemondog]

I have to ask...what is "prostration?"

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

This is actually telling you the difference between a stomach virus (Gastrointestinal) and the flu, which is an upper respiratory virus with all over body aches and occasional nausea (and you can get a flu shot for this). People often think the "flu" is a stomach ailment, but it is not.

There is really no way without test to know the difference in a stomach virus and food poisoning from what I know.

 

[Snoozan]

I'm so glad I saw this thread. I get so irked when people say they've got the "flu", when you know it's really a stomach bug/food poisoning. The flu is also usually a winter ailment - you don't hear of many summertime flu epidemics! Maybe I'm wrong on that, but it would surprise me if there's too many cases of flu in the summertime.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I have to ask...what is "prostration?"

I was curious too! Was hoping disneysteve would fill us in. I looked it up and it says

Prostration is a state of extreme physical exhaustion, weakness or collapse

Yep, that goes along with influenza for sure. That feeling of being run over by a truck I suppose!

 

[LadyyRedd]

I have Ulcerative Colitis (an IBD) and let me tell you, a flare up feels NOTHING like the flu!!!

Kimya

 

[Albertan mom]

My friend has Crones, and said she would rather give birth-without pain meds- over having an attack!! (flare-up)