Stomach Flu (Gastroenteritis) - What Actually Is It?

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You may hear about stomach flu? There are some people who often complain that they get stomach flu when experiencing a bout of diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. But in fact, your doctor might say that this term doesn’t exist and misnomer. Many doctors prefer to use the term of gastroenteritis instead of stomach flu, which means inflamed or irritated gastrointestinal-tract (intestines & stomach).

You may also like to know about stomach ulcer symptoms, before continuing! On the other hand, the term of flu (or familiar known as influenza) is referred to a respiratory problem or infection that affects the lungs.

So, what is stomach flu which actually means ‘gastroenteritis’?

It is usually referred to the sudden onset of diarrhea, nausea and vomiting! There are several causes that can cause gastroenteritis, but mostly caused by parasites, viruses or bacteria, which usually can spread through the contaminated drinking water or foods. There are also some chemical toxins (particularly in the seafood) that also can lead to this disorder. Moreover medications, food allergies or even caffeine also can be the causes & trigger-factors of non contagious gastroenteritis. 

What are kind of parasites, viruses and bacteria that can cause gastroenteritis?

1. For parasites include; cryptosporidium and Giardia. Giardia usually lives in the intestines of infected animals or people and mostly can spread easily if polluted water is swallowed by someone.
2. For viruses include; norovirus, calcivirus, rotavirus, and astrovirus! Some of them can be found in a certain place, like lingering on doorknobs.
3. For bacteria include; Shigella, Salmonella, Escherichia and campylobacter! Most of them can be found in food and can spread not too difficultly from person to person.

How about with the symptoms?

The common symptoms of gastroenteritis may include:

1. Like mentioned before, you may get the nausea, vomiting and even diarrhea (mild to moderate)! Furthermore you may feel low-level fever of around 99 degrees of Fahrenheit.
2. In some cases, people with stomach-flu may feel painful bloating.

And along with the progress of the disease, some more serious & severe symptoms may occur which include:

1. You may experience serious dehydration. This sign is more common in debilitated adults and children.
2. The temperature of fever increase to be more than 101 degrees of Fahrenheit.
3. You will get abdominal swelling.
4. You have longer duration of vomiting (can be more than 2 days).
5. And one of the most serious symptoms is the stool or vomit that contains blood!

*** See a doctor promptly if you in doubt to your condition for clearly diagnosis and best advice of the treatment!