We’ve all experienced that feeling of unease and discomfort while our stomachs grumble and decide to take out their
grievances on us. It’s never a pleasant experience when you start to feel off-kilter, lethargic, and even dizzy from being
unable to keep anything down. The bathroom breaks, confusion, and panic over what’s happening certainly don’t help — was it something you ate or something you caught?
It can be hard to tell the difference between food poisoning and stomach flu. Still, some clues can help you understand
what might be happening inside your body so you can seek proper treatment – including IV therapy – and get back on
your feet more quickly!
How to Identify the Stomach Flu vs. Food Poisoning
Stomach flu and food poisoning are two common illnesses that often get confused, but there are some key differences to
help you tell them apart. A virus causes stomach flu, so it is contagious and can be spread from person to person. Food
poisoning, on the other hand, results from swallowing germs such as Salmonella or E. coli. from cross-contaminated, raw,
or undercooked foods.
When it comes to food poisoning, symptoms can vary depending on the type of germ that’s responsible. Still, the most
common symptoms include diarrhea, stomach pain or cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever.
The stomach flu and food poisoning are sometimes tricky to tell apart because they share the same common symptoms.
Both can even lead to body aches and fatigue, though this is more common with the stomach flu.
However, there is a key distinction between the two: time. Stomach flu symptoms typically take 12 to 48 hours to develop
and last between one to three days. In comparison, food poisoning symptoms typically develop faster – between 30
minutes to 8 hours after consumption – and rarely last longer than a few hours.
So, if you start feeling sick within a few hours of eating something, you likely have food poisoning. If your symptoms
develop more slowly over a day or two, you may have a stomach virus.
The Dangers of Dehydration Despite the Cause
Dehydration caused by either food poisoning or the stomach flu can be a serious issue and should not be taken lightly.
Symptoms of dehydration include feeling very thirsty, urinating less often, dark-colored urine, dry mouth and throat,
fatigue, and dizziness. When the body loses essential fluids, it becomes necessary to replenish them to avoid further health
complications. 
While drinking plenty of liquids can help, sometimes it isn’t enough to get a person back to full health. Not to mention, both conditions can make it difficult to keep fluids down. This is why IV hydration with nausea medication added to your IV is an excellent option for restoring lost fluids.
Suppose you’re dehydrated due to stomach flu or food poisoning. In that case, IV treatments deliver the fluids, antioxidants, nutrients, and vitamins your body is missing directly into your bloodstream, bypassing your upset digestive tract.
Replenish Your Fluids and Recover from Dehydration with IV Therapy
Nothing works better than IV hydration therapy to quickly restore fluid levels while allowing you time to rest and recover
from food poisoning or the stomach flu.
At GIV Mobile, our qualified nurses can customize IV treatments to alleviate your unique symptoms or deficiencies. With
our mobile IV services, we can bring the treatment directly to you, so don’t suffer from dehydration any longer. Give us a
call today and see how we can help!
