Stomach flu and diarrhea make you go back and forth

Digestive problems are one of the most common health complaints. It feels like everyone has had diarrhea or stomach flu, aka vomiting, at least once in a lifetime. Both of these digestive disorders have similar symptoms, so it is very difficult to distinguish between ordinary people. So, do you have diarrhea or vomiting? Here's how to tell the difference…

What's the difference between diarrhea and stomach flu (vomiting)?

Diarrhea and stomach flu can both be caused by consuming food and drinks that have been contaminated with viruses, bacteria, and / or parasites. Both also show similar general symptoms, namely abdominal pain and bowel movements back and forth in the form of loose, irregular stool.

Although they have similar causes and symptoms, these two digestive problems are actually different. If you have diarrhea, it doesn't mean you have gastroenteritis or the stomach flu. The reason is, diarrhea is actually a symptom of a disease, is not a type of disease that stands alone.

Meanwhile, stomach flu is a type of infectious disease known in medical terms as gastroenteritis. The stomach flu, aka gastroenteritis, is a disease that can cause diarrhea because this infection causes inflammation of your digestive tract. Apart from gastroenteritis, diarrhea can also be caused by IBS, Crohn's disease, and colitis (inflammation of the intestines) because these three conditions can be caused by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.

So, it can be concluded that diarrhea and stomach flu are two different things.

Symptoms are different

Although the stomach flu also shows symptoms of diarrhea, you also need to know other symptoms to be able to distinguish whether your diarrhea is really caused by gastroenteritis or other health problems.

The stomach flu causes symptoms of nausea and vomiting (hence the name "vomiting", aka vomiting and poop) and stomach cramps. When caused by a virus, symptoms include fever, headache and muscle aches. If the cause is a bacterial infection, diarrhea may be accompanied by blood. These symptoms generally appear 12-72 hours after eating or exposure to the agents that cause stomach flu.

Meanwhile, diarrhea is only a complaint of frequent bowel movements (more than 3 times per day) with a liquid stool consistency and does not show any other symptoms.

The length of time to heal is also different

Gastroenteritis generally resolves less than 1 week after first exposure to the infection if it is caused by a virus. However, if it is caused by bacteria, it can take weeks to heal.

The speed with which diarrhea recovers also depends on the cause. If diarrhea is caused by IBS colitis, diarrhea may last up to 3 months because IBS is a chronic disease.

What to do if you have stomach flu and diarrhea?

Drink lots of water to maintain body fluid balance. Symptoms of diarrhea and stomach flu can cause dehydration due to vomiting and bowel movements back and forth.
You can also try anti-nausea medications such as Ondansetron.
Take diarrhea medicine to stop the diarrhea symptoms you are experiencing.
Take zinc supplements to help reduce the severity of diarrhea and help speed up the healing process.
Keep yourself clean. Always wash your hands before and after eating. Make sure the food you eat is clean and not contaminated with anything.

We recommend that you consult your doctor if you experience digestive problems to find out the exact cause and the right way to treat it.