Is It a Stomach Flu or Influenza?
“Gastroenteritis” is the true name for the wretched digestive system ailment that causes belly cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The medical term is a mouthful, so there’s little wonder that at some point it was transformed into “stomach flu.” Both gastroenteritis and the seasonal respiratory infection that’s commonly known as “the flu” can make a person mighty miserable. Both conditions can sometimes come with a headache, fever, and overwhelming fatigue. Beyond that, however, there are few similarities between gastroenteritis and a seasonal influenza infection.
Stomach Flu Causes & Symptoms
When your gastrointestinal system, also known as the GI tract, becomes irritated or inflamed, you may experience abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Usually, stomach flu symptoms are caused by ingestion of bacteria, a virus, or a parasite through the consumption of contaminated food or water. However, food allergies can also be the culprit.
In severe cases of stomach flu, a few days of vomiting and having diarrhea can lead to the worrisome loss of body fluids that may require medical attention. Signs to look out for include:
- Excessive thirst and dry mouth
- Reduced elasticity of the skin
- Diminished urine production
- Sunken eyes
- Lightheadedness
It’s important to keep your fluid intake up while you’re battling gastroenteritis, even though you may not feel like eating or drinking anything. Some good choices include water, clear broth, and sports drinks or Pedialyte.
Influenza Causes & Symptoms
The respiratory illness known as seasonal flu is caused by a highly contagious virus. If you have “the flu,” you likely inhaled tiny virus-bearing droplets that were spread through the air when an infected person coughed or sneezed. In some cases, the virus spreads when people touch contaminated surfaces and then their eyes, nose, or mouth.
The most common flu symptoms are:
- Fever
- Body aches and chills
- Sore throat
- Coughing
- Runny or stuffy nose
Rarely, a seasonal flu sufferer may have nausea that leads to vomiting and diarrhea, but this is far more common for children than adults.
As is true for gastroenteritis, the vast majority of seasonal flu patients will recover on their own after several days of rest and taking over-the-counter medication. However, some people can develop serious complications, including pneumonia, if their symptoms worsen and go untreated. What’s more, influenza symptoms are similar to those of a number of other respiratory infections, including COVID-19, and flu testing is the only way to know for sure that you have the flu.
When to Seek Flu Treatment
No matter which type of “flu” you have, you may benefit from medical treatment at an urgent care center. In the Cape May County, New Jersey, area, you can get walk-in treatment for either of these conditions from the board-certified physicians at Cape Regional Urgent Care. We can evaluate your symptoms, provide an accurate diagnosis, and prescribe treatment that can ease your discomfort and speed your recovery.
We have a clinical lab on site so that we can conduct testing to properly diagnose influenza, COVID-19, mononucleosis, strep throat, urinary tract infections, and other health conditions that may mimic the signs of either influenza or gastroenteritis. We also have an in-house prescription medication dispensary, which often allows us to provide the appropriate medication to our patients during their visit to our walk-in clinic—thus sparing them a separate trip to a pharmacy.
At Cape Regional Urgent Care, we’re open during extended hours every day of the week, including Saturday and Sunday. We treat walk-in patients of all ages, from infants to seniors, for many non-life-threatening injuries and illnesses, including the stomach flu and influenza. Our wait times are short, and our rates are affordable. We also accept many insurance plans. Contact us today if you need more information about the health care services we offer to those in Cape May County.
