The Difference of Stomach Pain due to Digestive Inflammation with Poisoning

Roseous.com - The Difference of Stomach Pain due to Digestive Inflammation with Poisoning. Abdominal pain is one of the most common health complaints. But not many people can immediately know what the cause behind it. For most people, how to distinguish stomach pain from digestive inflammation with food poisoning, may be difficult.

Digestive inflammation, or medical language called gastroenteritis, is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines that can cause abdominal pain until vomiting. Food poisoning can also cause the same symptoms that people often misdiagnose. To distinguish the two, you must know not only the symptoms but also the cause and the incubation period.

Here's the difference between gastroenteritis and food poisoning, as reported by Healthline and Mayo Clinic:

Gastroenteritis

The cause of gastroenteritis is a virus, such as norovirus and rotavirus. The incubation period is about 24-48 hours after exposure to the virus. You may get gastroenteritis by contact with an infected person, or eating contaminated food or drink.

Signs and symptoms of gastroenteritis include diarrhea or constipation, fever, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, stiff muscles, and weight loss. Usually symptoms lasting only a day to two days. But the condition can sometimes last up to ten days. If the symptoms do not heal in a long time, immediately consult a doctor.

The best way to prevent gastroenteritis is to regularly wash your hands, either when ill or when near a sick person and do rotavirus vaccine.

There is no specific medical treatment for gastroenteritis. Antibiotics are not effective to kill the virus. The main thing in the treatment of gastroenteritis is to prevent the occurrence of dehydration. So beware of signs of dehydration, and be sure to drink enough water. You should immediately see a doctor if you feel dehydrated.

Food poisoning

Food poisoning is caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. The incubation period is between 2-6 hours after eating contaminated or undercooked food.

Signs and symptoms of food poisoning, namely diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, weakness, malaise, muscle aches, headache, sweating, puffy eyes, difficulty breathing, and thirst. Generally these symptoms do not last more than two days. Also note that food poisoning can happen to anyone, but those most often affected are infants, children, and the elderly.

Food poisoning can be avoided by preparing food cleanly, cooking cooked meat, throwing out stale food, and so on.

Light food poisoning can be resolved at home, with adequate rest and fever-lowering drugs. Check with your doctor immediately if the poisoning is accompanied by:

• Blood or pus in the feces
• Diarrhea is more than five days in adults or more than two days in infants and children
• Fever above 38 degrees Celsius
• There are signs and symptoms of dehydration
• There are signs and symptoms of botulism

Symptoms of gastroenteritis and food poisoning are almost the same. Both can trigger stomach ache. But remember, food poisoning usually causes symptoms immediately after exposure, more severe than gastroenteritis symptoms, and shorter in terms of duration than symptoms of gastroenteritis.

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Food poisoning is more likely to require medical treatment because the symptoms are more severe than symptoms of gastroenteritis. If you are not sure what the cause of abdominal pain is experienced - whether due to digestive inflammation, food poisoning, or anything else immediately check directly to the doctor to be safe. Proper examination and proper handling by your doctor will prevent your stomach ache from getting worse.