how do you know if you have a sickness virus or if you have food poisoning?

Answer 1

you need a dr to diagnose what you have . in general though food poisoning is more severe. it can come on quite sudden,ly, agonising belly cramps and you'll need a bucket for both ends..probably at the same time

Answer 2

Flu" is actually short for influenza, a respiratory disease that does not cause diarrhea. On the other hand, gastroenteritis (gastro) is the name of the disease that can cause any of the following unpleasant symptoms: nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, fever, chills, headache, loss of appetite and diarrhea. The symptoms can be mild and last about 24 hours or they can be very severe, lasting weeks and even causing death"I went to the hospital and the doctor told me I had food poisoning." This is sometimes heard from people who have actually been suffering from gastro. In fact, a lot of gastro, particularly in the winter months, is caused by viruses and NOT by the bacteria which are more associated with food poisoning. While symptoms can be very similar, the organisms causing the illness are very different as well as the way the illness is spread.

A virus called "Norwalk-like virus" is responsible for causing most of the viral gastro illnesses. Symptoms appear to be just like food poisoning (which is why doctors make the mistake). Most people have nausea, some vomiting, but mainly diarrhea which lasts around 24 hours. Even after the symptoms have gone, people continue to shed the organism for an additional 48 hours, making the spread of the virus large scale! It is very hard to isolate the virus causing the gastro. To assist in its identification, stool samples have to be taken as soon as the person starts to have diarrhea. The sample has to be examined under an electron microscope in order to identify the virus particles because they are so small.
Salmonella, Campylobacter and E.coli are the more common bacteria that cause food poisoning. Sometimes people have mild symptoms and the illness goes unreported. Usually the bacteria cause more severe symptoms which last for days or even weeks, and people have to be treated at a hospital for dehydration. These organisms are easier to detect (than the virus) by the laboratory. Stool samples should be collected and taken to a lab.

Answer 3

a virus usually comes with a fever and all the other symptoms of food poisoning ..food poisoning usually lasts only a day or two..while the flu virus can last up to two weeks..depending on how quick the symptoms appeared can also determine what it is..food poisoning happens rather quickly..an hour or so after you eat it..while you can have a few symptoms of getting sick such as a sore throat, body aches, fever before the actual vomiting and diarrehea

Answer 4

There honestly is no way to tell personally if you have a virus or food poisoning because you get some of the same symptoms, the best way to get the answer to that is to seek it from a professional.

Answer 5

''Classical food poisoning with staphylococcal organisms usually appears within three hours of eating the contaminated food. The illness normally begins with nausea, leading to severe vomiting.

Other types of food poisoning such as campylobacter may only cause diarrhoea and abdominal cramps, without vomiting, although vomiting can occur in some cases.

Some forms of food poisoning have an incubation period of up to several days so it can be hard to identify the source of contamination.''


Please see the link below. They have more specific info

Answer 6

Sometimes you don't. But food poisoning tends to show shortly after eating, while other viruses can show at any time.

Answer 7

depends on your symptoms really. samples may need to be taken. are your bowel habits effected? is it a different colour, consistency, or more frequent? go to the doctors. keep drinking water so you don't dehydrate. cut out dairy products as they may aggrivate the problem

Answer 8

.you get similar symptoms tummy cramps sickness and diarrhoea just starve yourself but drink plenty,not milk.As your system is getting rid of something bad inside you its better to get rid of it naturally,but drink fluids to stop your body dehydrating

Answer 9

Here's a novel idea. I let the Dr. tell me.

Answer 10

more visits to the bathroom with how's yours father and take a spare toilet roll with you and todays newspaper