Is it Stomach Flu or Food Poisoning?
Everyone gets an upset stomach. However, when your stomach ache becomes persistent or severe, it is possible that you may be dealing with food poisoning or the stomach flu.
There is a huge difference between food poisoning and stomach flu, and it is important that you know which one you are experiencing. At Physicians Premier, your Potranco ER, our board-certified emergency physicians can identify if what you have is the stomach bug, gastrointestinal distress, or if it is something more serious.
Remember, the right treatment can make a big difference in your recovery. Here are the symptoms:
Symptoms of stomach flu:
- Sweating and chills
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Stomach pain
- Body aches
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Congestion
- Lack of energy
Symptoms of food poisoning:
- Sweating and chills
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Severe pain and stomach cramps
- Lack of appetite
- Lack of energy
- Nausea
- Vomiting
If you start to manifest symptoms such as bloody vomit, bloody diarrhea, mucus vomit, diarrhea that lasts for more than three days, severe cramping, blurred vision, high fever, abdominal pain on the right side, confusion, or tingling arms, come to us immediately.
The most common concern with a gastrointestinal condition is dehydration. You need medical attention and intervention when you can’t keep yourself hydrated. Do try to replenish with fluids that are packed with electrolytes. However, if you start to show symptoms of dehydration such as excessive thirst, dark urine, and dizziness, seek immediate medical help.
If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, come to Physicians Premier, your Potranco ER, right away. If it is a stomach flu, we can give you treatment to help reduce the duration of time that you are sick. If you have food poisoning, we would need to run some tests and get a stool sample so we can identify the cause and give you immediate treatment.
