Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu)

• What is gastroenteritis?
• What causes gastroenteritis?
• What are the symptoms of gastroenteritis?
• Is gastroenteritis a serious illness?
• Is the illness contagious? How are these viruses spread?
• How does food get contaminated by gastroenteritis viruses?
• Where and when does gastroenteritis occur?
• Who gets gastroenteritis?
• How is gastroenteritis diagnosed?
• How is gastroenteritis treated?
• Can gastroenteritis be prevented?
• Is there a vaccine for gastroenteritis?

diarrhea or both. It is often called the "stomach flu," although it is not caused by the influenza viruses.

Salmonella or Escherichia coli) or parasites (such as Giardia), or by medications or other medical conditions, although the symptoms may be similar. Your doctor can determine if the diarrhea is caused by a virus or by something else.

headache, fever, and abdominal cramps ("stomach ache"). In general, the symptoms begin 1 to 2 days following infection with a virus that causes gastroenteritis and may last for 1 to 10 days, depending on which virus causes the illness; however, most episodes last from 1-3 days.