By MARIE METTLER
Health Educator
So ... you’re not feeling so good, you are vomiting, have diarrhea and stomach cramping lasting a day or two? Think it’s the stomach flu? Better think again.
“The stomach flu is a myth,” says Kirk Smith, DVM, PhD, supervisor of the Foodborne, Vectorborne, and Zoonotic Disease Unit of the Acute Disease Investigation and Control Section of the Minnesota Department of Health. “When people say ‘stomach flu’ it causes a lot of confusion and some people think their influenza vaccine ought to protect against it, but it’s a totally different organism.”
According to Dr. Smith, what people refer to as the “stomach flu” — vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramping last a day or two — is very often caused by Novovirus. One problem with the term “stomach flu” is the widespread belief that it is something you pick up through your daily activities, that it’s airborne, and that it can’t be prevented. Therefore, many people don’t realize that they could have picked it up from food; even worse, they don’t realize that they can spread it to others through food.
Novovirus is a group of viruses that can cause gastroenteritis, and inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Novovirus is the leading cause of foodborne illness outbreaks in Minnesota. On-the-other-hand, influenza or “flu is caused by a virus that attacks the nose, throat, and lungs.
The Minnesota Department of Health and the Koochiching County Health Department want to alert our communities and food service industry, that Minnesota is currently experiencing numerous outbreaks due to novovirus. Novovirus is by far the most common cause of foodborne disease outbreaks in Minnesota and the rest of the United States. It causes vomiting, diarrhea, and aches that can incapacitate people for up to two days.
Preventing the spread of novovirus is basic ... wash your hands often, especially after using the bathroom! Wash your hands after changing diapers; before preparing foods; before eating. Also, if someone in your household is sick, wash your hands more often and clean and disinfect surfaces with household bleach immediately after vomiting or diarrheal accidents.
To find out more about novovirus; it’s symptoms and prevention, log onto the Minnesota Department of Health Web site at www.health.state.mn.us.
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THANK YOU DR.SMITH!!!! AND...
Back to page topTHANK YOU DR.SMITH!!!! AND THANK YOU MARIE METTLER FOR POSTING IT!!!!
I am so glad someone finally cleared the air of this. I have been trying to tell people for years, the FLU has nothing to do with your stomach! So many people get sick and then say, "oh, I have the FLU."
Thank you for finally telling people.....
" IT'S NOT THE FLU!!!! "
Have a nice day!
I agree people need to know...
Back to page topI agree people need to know the difference between the actual FLU and what some people call stomach flu, ,or what i've known as a stomach virus. I know i've gotten sick a few times from food that has gone bad and felt incredibly sick and delirious for a few days. I think most people though just call it stomach flu because the sickness and pain they have can be similar to the flu just in the stomach though rather then fever coughing etc. I haven't had the flu in years and I never take and generic drugs or others for that matter each season. Washing your hands a few times a day especially after being out or in contact with anything that bacteria can be on is simple. Eating healthy, taking vitamins and exercising can all help keep you from getting sick.
I am right there with you...
Back to page topI am right there with you JASON, my kids got the FLU this winter and it was horrible..... coughing, fevers of 104 for days, not being able to move much, it was horrible!!! It took them each just over a week to start feeling better and for the fevers to stop. My youngest even got an ear infection from it so she was on meds for that, but nothing else I could do for thme but keep them comfortable.... there are some things you can do if you do get the FLU to help you feel better....
1) Take Tylenon and Ibprophen for pain and fever
2) Take Mucinex for your coughing up mucus about an hour before bedtime.( my kids took it, works like a dream!)
3) Take both decongestant and antihistamine, if you only take a decongestant it will loosen everything up but you will drown in your own snot. That's where the antihistamine comes in to help dry it up!
4) drinking cold tea with honey, hot can make your throat swell even more. Making it hurt more.
5) Staying as close to a Humidifier and having a floor fan or ceiling fan on moving air around you to keep you cool but not stationary so you don't get chills.
6) If you have a high fever and you do the "luke baths" its fine as long as you start warm and work it down to cool, if you go striaght to cool, and you start to shiver, your shivering is your bodies attempt you warm you up.
7) everyone that is sick wants to wear their nice warm comfy pj's, if you do you need to wear something that covers you but can still let air around you, wearing a sweat shirt and pants, isn't the best thing. You will being your temp up and make yourself feel even worse! If you cover up with blankets, try just a sheet first and work your way up. And of course sleep were your comfortable, I have tummy troubles with acid and what not, so my favorite place to sleep is on my couch where I can sit up but still be in a postion I can sleep in, so if you find a spot you like keep to it, no one says you HAVE TO sleep in your bed.
I hope this helps anyone who might read it. These are just things I know work for my family and others, I'm not a nurse or Doctor, so if you have issues, call them, and don't take what I say to heart it might not work as well for you. I have had my share of dealings since I am number 2 of 8 kids and I have two of my own. I hope everyone in town starts to feel better!
Warms hugs to all...
~Mom~
Ps. The best way to figure out if you have a virus or something you need to see the doctor over is this...
virus~ comes on slowly, takes a few days to get to its worst.
other~ hits hard in one day.... you go to bed and feel fine, wake up and you feel like you were just run over by a monster truck!
Thanks for the post, one...
Back to page topThanks for the post, one other thing regarding viruses which you have already pointed out. Doctors can't do anything about viruses, just do the best with treating the symptoms on your own and save your money for those oither things, those can be treated.