Cause of Stomach Flu: An Overview
The cause of
stomach flu (the medical term is viral gastroenteritis) is an infection with a stomach
flu virus. Technically, the term "stomach flu" is not correct. This is because the so-called stomach flu is not caused by the
influenza virus and it does not infect the stomach. Instead, each type of stomach flu virus causes
stomach flu symptoms by damaging the cells in the lining of the small intestine. As a result, fluids leak from the cells into the intestine and produce watery
diarrhea.
The cause of stomach flu is not bacteria (such as
Salmonella or
Escherichia coli), parasites (such as
Giardia), 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.
Viruses That Cause Stomach Flu
Rotavirus
Rotavirus is the leading cause of stomach flu among children 3 months to 15 months old, and is the most common cause of
diarrhea in children under the age of 5 years.
Rotavirus symptoms appear 1 to 2 days after exposure. Rotavirus typically causes vomiting and watery diarrhea for 3 to 8 days, along with fever and abdominal pain. This type of stomach flu virus can also infect adults who are in close contact with infected children, but the symptoms in adults are milder
(see Adult Rotavirus). In the United States, rotavirus infections are most common from November to April.
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