is there an absolute way to tell the difference between food poisoning and stomach flu?

Answer 1

Food poisoning tends to make you dehydrated and tightens your muscles. But that's not an absolute.

Answer 2

NO. Both terms are not technical terms. They both are lay person type terms, but especially stomach flu.

The word "flu" is a shorthand version of the word "influenza". When used correctly both "flu" and "influenza" mean exactly the same thing. Both of these illnesses, the flu and influenza, are caused by a virus and this virus when attacking adults does not upset the stomach. In little children sometimes it can upset the stomach. But usually "stomach flu" does not even mean "flu", but something else. The name "stomach flu" is what is actually called a misnomer.

Most people who say they have or had "stomach flu" really had some other virus (not influenza) or a bacteria or some other agent that caused them to have stomach problems. Often the cause is one of those common viruses or bacteria or even a chemical or toxin that results in what is called "food poisoning". Common agents are the noro virus or salmonella bacteria. Another food poisoning type of bacteria you will hear about a lot is E. Coli. These and many other viruses and bacteria can cause either what people will call the "stomach flu" or what will be food poisoning.

Answer 3

I've lost 5 kilos in my first week. It's my 10th day and I have included salad with some protein (eg. egg/ lean chicken) as you suggested. After 4 years of trying, the fat is finally coming off. It truly feels like magic!

Get started today!

Answer 4

if you are food poisioned it can sit in your system up to 7 days before causing symptoms, simply because it could take that long for your stomach to digest the food. then when you eat something to set it off that is when you start getting sick. naturally the last thing you ate will be what comes up so naturally people think that is what makes them sick. go to doc for best answer.

Answer 5

Yes take a sample to the docs.

Answer 6

Food poisoning: A short-lived type of illness with a range of symptoms, the most common of which are diarrhoea and vomiting, which occurs after consuming contaminated food. It is usually caused by bacteria (the most common cause), viruses or toxins naturally present in fish or plants. May also be caused by metals and chemicals. Positive diagnosis has to be carried out by a pathology laboratory.
High risk food: Food which easily supports the growth of organisms and requires little or no further preparation or treatment.
Control measure: Actions required to eliminate or reduce hazards to a safe


On this Page:
Article Excerpts About Symptoms of Flu
List of Symptoms of Flu
Flu as a cause
More about Symptoms of Flu
Medical articles and books on general symptoms of disease
▲TopArticle Excerpts About Symptoms of Flu:


The symptoms start very quickly and are

Headache
Chills
Dry cough
Body aches
Fever
Stuffy nose
Sore throat
Typically, the fever begins to decline on the second or third day of the illness. The flu almost never causes symptoms in the stomach and intestines. The illness that some people often call "stomach flu" is not influenza. (Source: excerpt from The Flu, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)
Flu can cause fever, chills, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, as well as headache, muscle aches, and often extreme fatigue. Although nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can sometimes accompany the flu, especially in children, gastrointestinal symptoms rarely occur. The illness that people call "stomach flu" is not influenza. (Source: excerpt from What to Do About the Flu - Age Page - Health Information: NIA)

Call your doctor if you have any signs of flu and:

Your fever lasts; you may have a more serious infection.
You have breathing or heart problems or other serious health problems.
You are taking drugs to fight cancer or other drugs that weaken your body's natural defenses against illness.
You feel sick and don't seem to be getting better.
You have a cough that begins to produce phlegm.
You are worried about your health. (Source: excerpt from What to Do About the Flu - Age Page - Health Information: NIA)

▲TopList of symptoms of Flu:
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Flu includes the 20 symptoms listed below:

Headache
Fever
Chills
Sneezing
Runny nose
Nasal inflammation
Blocked nose
Dry cough
Sore throat
Sweating
Body aches
Muscle aches
Limb pain
Joint pain
Loss of appetite
Prostration
Exhaustion
Fatigue
Weakness
Myalgia
Note that Flu symptoms usually refers to various symptoms known to a patient, but the phrase Flu signs may refer to those signs only noticable by a doctor:

▲TopAlternative Diagnoses List for Flu
The list of other diseases or medical conditions that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses for Flu includes:

Common Cold
Respiratory syncytial virus
SARS
A variety of conditions can have or start with flu-like symptoms:
Mastitis - breast infection in nursing mothers.
[See the full list of 45 alternative diagnoses for Flu]
▲TopOther Causes of these Symptoms
Click on any of the symptoms below to see a full list of other causes including diseases, medical conditions, toxins, drug interactions, or drug side effect causes of that symptom.

Blocked nose - see all causes of Blocked nose
Body aches - see all causes of Body aches
Chills - see all causes of Chills
Dry cough - see all causes of Dry cough
Exhaustion - see all causes of Exhaustion
Fatigue - see all causes of Fatigue
Fever - see all causes of Fever
Headache - see all causes of Headache
Joint pain - see all causes of Joint pain
Limb pain - see all causes of Limb pain
Loss of appetite - see all causes of Loss of appetite
Muscle aches - see all causes of Muscle aches
Myalgia - see all causes of Myalgia
Nasal inflammation - see all causes of Nasal inflammation
Prostration - see all causes of Prostration
Runny nose - see all causes of Runny nose
Sneezing - see all causes of Sneezing
Sore throat - see all causes of Sore throat
Sweating - see all causes of Sweating
Weakness - see all causes of Weakness
More ways to research these symptoms: To research other symptoms use the symptom center, or to research causes of more than one symptom in combination, try our multi-symptom search.


▲TopMore about symptoms of Flu:
More information about symptoms of Flu and related conditions:
Other diseases with similar symptoms and common misdiagnoses
Tests to determine if these are the symptoms of Flu
Symptoms that may be caused by complications of Flu
Associated conditions for Flu
Risk factors for Flu



▲TopFlu as a Cause of Symptoms or Medical Conditions
When considering symptoms of Flu, it is also important to consider Flu as a possible cause of other medical conditions. The Disease Database lists the following medical conditions that Flu may cause:
Atypical lymphocytes
Atypical lymphocytes
Dacryoadenitis
Dacryoadenitis
Headache
Headache
Myalgia
Myalgia
Myocarditis
Myocarditis
Myositis
Myositis
Nausea and vomiting
Nausea and vomiting
Pericarditis
Pericarditis
Pharyngitis
Pharyngitis
Pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pyrexia
Pyrexia
Suppurative otitis media
Suppurative otitis media
Taste disturbance
Taste disturbance
Upper respiratory tract infection
Upper respiratory tract infection
- (Source - Diseases Database)


▲TopMedical articles and books on symptoms:
These general reference articles may be of interest in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:
Online Diagnosis
Self Diagnosis Pitfalls
Pitfalls of Online Diagnosis
Symptoms of the Silent Killer Diseases
Lesser known silent killer diseases
Books on signs and symptoms
[Full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis]


▲TopAbout signs and symptoms of Flu:
The symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Flu. This signs and symptoms information for Flu has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of Flu signs or Flu symptoms. Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Flu may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they are indeed Flu symptoms.


▲TopOther Medical Articles:


Next pages:
Diagnostic Tests for Flu
Signs of Flu
Complications of Flu
Wrong diagnosis of Flu
Wrong diagnosis of Medication Causes of Flu
Research your symptoms
Research multiple symptoms
Diseases and treatments
Online Diagnosis
Misdiagnosis Overview
Full list of premium articles on symptoms, diagnosis and misdiagnosis

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