Is Stomach Flu a "Real" Illness?
As the fall months get closer, lots of focus is given to the flu virus in healthcare news and articles. Questions like, ?Is it too early to get a flu shot?? and ?Do I need a flu shot every year?? become very common dialogue at The Little Clinic between providers and patients. Some patients even ask, ?What is stomach flu?? and ?Can I get vaccinated against stomach flu??
The answer to these questions might surprise you.
Many people use the term ?stomach flu? to describe illnesses with nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. These symptoms can be caused by many different viruses, bacteria or even parasites. While vomiting, diarrhea, and being nauseous or ?sick to your stomach? can sometimes be related to the flu virus ? more commonly in children than adults ? these problems are rarely the main symptoms of influenza (flu virus).
The flu virus is a respiratory disease and not a stomach or intestinal disease, so, the term ?stomach flu? is not an actual medical diagnosis. There is no vaccine to prevent the symptoms most often referred to as ?stomach flu.?
That being case, symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea may require medical attention if severe, prolonged or accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, headache, aches, rash, etc. The young and the elderly are especially hard-hit when intestinal issues arise since these can lead to dehydration and related problems.
The Little Clinic can help if you or a family member need attention for stomach issues. Visit TheLittleClinic.comto find the clinic nearest you.
