If you have symptoms such as sickness and diarrhoea, it can be difficult to know if they’re caused by
or a .If you have symptoms such as sickness and diarrhoea, it can be difficult to know if they’re caused by
or a .The good news is that treatment is similar for both illnesses. Even if you’re not sure which you have, you’ll usually be able to look after yourself at home.
But understanding how you got ill in the first place may help you make changes to avoid getting sick in the future.
Read on to learn more about the differences between a stomach bug and food poisoning, from causes and symptoms to treatment and prevention.
Food poisoning is caused by eating something that’s been contaminated with germs, such as bacteria. This can happen if food isn’t stored or cooked properly, or is past its use-by date.
So if you notice that you become ill after eating a certain food or at a particular restaurant, for example, you may have food poisoning.
It can be difficult to work out the exact cause of a stomach bug, because they spread so easily.
They’re usually caused by a virus such as
, which you can catch from close contact with an infected person or by touching a surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth.It’s also possible to get a stomach bug from eating food that’s contaminated with norovirus.
Food poisoning and stomach bug symptoms are similar and can include:
However, food poisoning can sometimes be more severe and is more likely to cause a high fever than a stomach bug. Some types can also cause other symptoms, such as bloody diarrhoea.
Not only can you sometimes feel worse with food poisoning, but your symptoms may last longer, too. While it usually takes 2-3 days to start to feel better from a stomach bug, it can take a week to get over food poisoning.
There can also be a difference in when you start to get symptoms. With a stomach bug, you’ll usually feel ill a day or 2 after being infected. With food poisoning, symptoms typically appear within a few days, but it can sometimes only be a matter of hours, or even a few weeks.
Whether it’s food poisoning or a stomach bug, you’ll usually start to feel better in a few days and won’t need to see a doctor.
The recommended treatment is very similar and includes:
However, you should seek medical advice if you:
Get emergency medical help if you:
To
, it’s important to maintain good food hygiene. This includes:To prevent stomach bugs, you can help stop the spread of the viruses that can cause them by:
Important: Our website provides useful information but is not a substitute for medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your doctor when making decisions about your health.