Stomach virus vs. influenza: What is the difference?

Stomach flu is an infection of the stomach and intestines, whereas influenza (flu) is a respiratory infection of the throat, nose, and sometimes lungs.

Stomach flu is typically due to a virus, but it can also be the result of bacteria. The condition is different from food poisoning and can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Influenza infections cause flu symptoms that include a sore throat, runny nose, and body aches.

Keep reading to learn more about the similarities and differences between stomach flu and influenza.

Definitions

Stomach flu is an infection in the intestines and stomach. Doctors refer to it as viral gastroenteritisTrusted Source. It can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and nausea or vomiting.

Although some people may refer to viral gastroenteritis as stomach flu, the viruses that cause influenza are different from those causing gastroenteritis.

People may develop stomach flu symptoms rapidly, but they typically last less than a weekTrusted Source.

InfluenzaTrusted Source is a respiratory viral infection that some people refer to as flu. Influenza viruses cause infection, which occurs in the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. People may experience symptoms that include fever or chills, a cough, sore throat, and body aches.

The following table gives an overview of both conditions:

	Stomach flu	Influenza
Definition	Infection of the intestines and stomach, typically due to viruses, such as norovirus.	Respiratory infection of the nose, throat, and sometimes lungs, due to influenza viruses.
Symptoms	watery diarrhea abdominal pain nausea vomiting fever	cough sore throat runny or blocked nose fever and chills body aches headache fatigue vomiting and diarrhea, which is more commonTrusted Source in children
Causes	Several types of virus, such as: norovirus rotavirus adenovirus astrovirus Bacteria or parasites may cause stomach flu through contaminated food and drink.	Influenza viruses cause influenza, particularly influenza viruses A and B. The virus can pass between people through infected droplets from sneezing, coughing, or talking closely with another person.
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