Feeling sick to your stomach always makes people feel uneasy. Most people search for the cause. The Stomach Bug and Food Poisoning are the most common factors for a stomach virus. They share a lot of the same symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and muscle aches. So how can you tell the difference?
Food Poisoning
Food poisoning is caused from eating or drinking a product that is contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or parasites. One way people often get food poisoning is through consuming raw or undercooked meats. You will begin to show signs 2-6 hours after consuming the product, so it happens fast. It is also shorter lasting than the stomach bug virus. Food poisoning usually lasts between 1 and 3 days. Just because it’s shorter doesn’t mean that it is any less severe than the stomach bug. More often than not, food poisoning is accompanied by more severe symptoms than the stomach bug. The symptoms of food poisoning are diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and cramps, or a fever. As mentioned above, these symptoms are often more severe. There are definitely ways to prevent getting food poisoning. These ways include not consuming any raw or undercooked meats, keep dairy products at the correct temperature, and as a rule of thumb do not consume anything that has been left out for more than two hours.
Stomach Virus
The Stomach Bug is a viral infection that attacks your digestive system. This viral infection is highly contagious and fast growing. You usually won’t know you have been contaminated until 24 to 48 hours after coming into contact with the virus. The stomach bug will last usually up to 2-3 days but in some cases, it could last up to 10 days with symptoms including, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, low-grade fever, and / or dizziness. Sadly, the only treatment is through rehydration, over the counter drugs, and plenty of rest. A couple of ways to prevent getting the stomach bug is to keep your hand cleans, keep anyone who is infected at a distance, and clean and disinfect any surfaces that may be contaminated.
While these two stomach infections are very similar in condition, their origin, length, and severity differ. It is important to know the differences between these two, so you know what to expect.
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