1 week ago

H1N1 Can Cause Stomach Symptoms That Mimic Food Poisoning

H1N1, also called swine flu, usually affects the breathing system.

It can also cause stomach problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and cramps.

Sometimes these stomach symptoms appear before coughing or fever.

This can make the illness look like food poisoning or a stomach infection.

However, H1N1 is an influenza virus, not a stomach virus.

Vomiting and diarrhoea can make the body lose water and important salts.

Young children, pregnant women, older adults and people with other health problems may be more vulnerable to dehydration.

The flu medicine oseltamivir can also cause nausea and vomiting in some people.

Medical help is important for severe or worsening symptoms, breathing trouble, confusion, blood, or signs of dehydration.

Key facts

Common digestive symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, watery generally non-bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain and reduced appetite.
Primary infection type: H1N1 is an influenza virus that mainly affects the respiratory system.
Possible diagnostic confusion: Digestive symptoms may be mistaken for food poisoning or gastroenteritis.
Dehydration risk: Vomiting and diarrhoea can cause loss of water and electrolytes, with fever potentially increasing fluid loss.
Higher-risk groups: Young children, pregnant women, older adults, people with underlying medical conditions and people unable to keep fluids down.
Medication side effect: Oseltamivir can cause nausea and vomiting in around 10% of people, according to the cited doctor.
Urgent warning signs: Persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, dehydration signs, blood in stool or vomit, breathing difficulty, confusion, extreme weakness or rapidly worsening symptoms.

NDTV · 1 week ago