Gastroenteritis
(Stomach Flu)

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Medical Author:

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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• Gastroenteritis Overview
• Gastroenteritis Causes
• Gastroenteritis Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Gastroenteritis Diagnosis
• Gastroenteritis Treatment
• Gastroenteritis Self-Care and Home Remedies
• Gastroenteritis Medical Treatment
• Gastroenteritis Medications
• Next Steps
• Gastroenteritis Follow-up
• Gastroenteritis Prevention
• Gastroenteritis Infection Pictures
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors
• Related gastroenteritis (stomach flu) article:
  Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu) - on MedicineNet
• Read more on Gastroenteritis from Healthwise
• Viewer Comments: Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu) - Symptoms
• Viewer Comments: Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu) - Treatment

Gastroenteritis Overview

Gastroenteritis is a condition that causes irritation and inflammation of the stomach and intestines (the gastrointestinal tract). The most common symptoms are

• diarrhea,
  
  
• crampy abdominal pain,
  
  
• nausea, and
  
  
• vomiting.

Many people also refer to gastroenteritis as "stomach flu." This can sometimes be confusing because influenza (flu) symptoms include

• headache,
  
  
• muscle aches and pains, and
  
  
• respiratory symptoms, but influenza does not involve the gastrointestinal tract.

The term stomach flu presumes a viral infection, even though there may be other causes of infection.

Viral infections are the most common cause of gastroenteritis but bacteria, parasites, and food-borne illnesses (such as shellfish) can also be the offending agents. Many people who experience vomiting and diarrhea that develops from these types of infections or irritations think they have "food poisoning," when they actually may have a food-borne illness.

Travelers to foreign countries may experience "traveler's diarrhea" from contaminated food and unclean water.

The severity of infectious gastroenteritis depends on the immune system's ability to resist the infection. Electrolytes (these include essential elements of sodium and potassium) may be lost as the affected individual vomits and experiences diarrhea.

Most people recover easily from a short episode of vomiting and diarrhea by drinking fluids and gradually progressing to a normal diet. But for others, such as infants and the elderly, loss of bodily fluid with gastroenteritis can cause dehydration, which is a life-threatening illness unless the condition is treated and fluids restored.