That feeling of knots in your stomach with nausea hitting you and it's your fourth time in the last one hour, you instantly realize there is something wrong with your stomach.

But what the two things that come to one's mind instantly are stomach flu and food poisoning.

But it is generally confusing and difficult to figure out as the symptoms of both.

The conditions are very similar to make an accurate diagnosis.

One must know the difference between the two for the right management.

What is stomach flu?

If we look at the nomenclature, it sounds like influenza because of the word flu in it.

That is misleading because influenza is associated with respiratory condition and doesn't hit your stomach with the infection.

Stomach flu is a viral infection also known as viral gastroenteritis that attacks your digestive system.

What is food poisoning, food poisoning?

In contrast with stomach flu is strictly food based, different bacteria, viruses or parasites can enter the body through that contaminated food.

One just had in his or her previous meal.

They lead to the symptoms just like that of viral gastroenteritis.

Or stomach flu cars as it is viral gastroenteritis.

The causative organisms are different types of viruses like roto virus, adenovirus, neuro vs astrovirus.

Norovirus is the most common one to be responsible for this condition.

Norovirus and roto virus caused stomach flu is highly contagious.

The mode of transmission for stomach flu includes contact with infected person, eating contaminated food and drinking spoiled water, unhygienic hands when not washed.

After using toilet food poisoning can be caused by eating undercooked rice and meat handling food items.

With unhygienic hands, eating something washed with contaminated water, drinking unpasteurized beverages such as milk juice and cider, consuming unpasteurized cheeses.

Now, let's compare the symptoms of both general symptoms of viral gastroenteritis include diarrhea, nausea and or vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach cramps, muscle aches or weakness, lightheadedness or dizziness, headaches, low grade fever.

Common symptoms of food poisoning include diarrhea, stomach or intestinal cramping, fever, headaches, fatigue chills and muscle aches, sweating, thirst.

As you can see the symptoms of both the conditions are mostly same the difference to spot between the two.

The symptoms of food poisoning start showing up with a few hours, approximately 2 to 6 after eating contaminated food and often last for 3 to 4 days.

They can also last for up to 14 days.

Whereas one experiences the symptoms of stomach flu after 24 to 48 hours of the viral exposure, it is easy to suspect food poisoning.

In case one has eaten unrefrigerated food.

And if other people who share the same food are experiencing the same symptoms, how are stomach flu and food poisoning diagnosed?

Your health practitioner will make the diagnosis based on your history and presenting symptoms to confirm the virus associated with the condition.

A rapid stool test is done.

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