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GB_RN

(3,240 posts)
6. Stomach Flu. Damn I Hate That Labeling.
Sun Dec 29, 2024, 08:04 AM
Sunday

There’s no such thing as “stomach flu.”
Flu, short for influenza, is an illness caused by the influenza virus, and is an upper respiratory tract infection, just like the common cold. The URT consists of the nose (nasal cavity and nostrils), sinuses, mouth, pharynx (upper throat), and larynx (voice box. Pronounced lair-inks, not lair-nicks).

Lower URT infections, like bronchitis and pneumonia, affect everything below the larynx. Main stem bronchus through the lungs.

Norovirus (and other, similar infections), is an upper gastrointestinal (digestive) tract infection. Those diseases affect the stomach and upper portion of the small intestine. Lower GI infections affect the GI tract below that point. Examples would be amoebic dysentery, and C. difficile (aka, C. diff). These cause large bowel inflammation and usually, diarrhea. Bad and I mean awful cases of diarrhea. C. diff has a unique odor (and consistency - looks like it’s full of seeds), and an ICU nurse can tell a C. diff infection just from that odor.

Maybe I’m being particular, or maybe it’s my OCD, but I hate when something is labeled incorrectly.

Thanks for listening to my TED Talk! 😁

I will add that alcohol hand sanitizers do not kill norovirus or other non-enveloped viruses. WASH w soap/water! hlthe2b Sunday #1
I received a notice about that Moderna trial... Hugin Sunday #2
I think if you are in the control group and the product works multigraincracker Sunday #3
Walter Reed has been working on a "pan-coronavirus" vaccine since the pandemic with promising results PSPS Sunday #8
Yes. I have been following that. Though this is for Coronaviruses only hlthe2b Sunday #12
We just had it spinbaby Sunday #4
There is a lingering respiratory, head cold, coughing, mucus thing Historic NY Sunday #5
Ive had that since mid November. Finally shook it just before Xmas. Was on an antibiotic for a month Cheezoholic Sunday #10
Stomach Flu. Damn I Hate That Labeling. GB_RN Sunday #6
I'm with you flu is a totally different thing LetsGetSmartAboutIt Sunday #7
This is why I will never go on a cruise Freddie Sunday #9
Re: "stomach flu"- For decades the medical and scientific community has tried to get the media to stop referring to ALL hlthe2b Sunday #13
Informative! Thank you. mahina Sunday #14
Thanks! GB_RN Sunday #19
Thank you! Bluebelle76 Sunday #16
Thanks! GB_RN Sunday #18
Thanks for ranting so I didn't have to. Easterncedar Sunday #20
For Sure! GB_RN Monday #23
I always thought that "stomach flu" was a euphemism for diarrhea for when you call in sick. CTyankee Monday #24
Yeah... GB_RN Monday #26
well, it works fine in the "call in sick" euphemism. Nobody wants you around anyway! CTyankee Monday #28
Bacteria and viruses are getting ready for trump2 Turbineguy Sunday #11
I'm visiting my mother in law in Arizona and we went to a place called the Arizona broadwalk kimbutgar Sunday #15
My elderly parents Unladen Swallow Sunday #17
How to treat norovirus disease if you get it? Batshit_Bruin_CA Monday #21
Wouldn't that be a question for your primary care provider? CTyankee Monday #25
This message was self-deleted by its author Batshit_Bruin_CA Monday #22
I have had this stuff Jilly_in_VA Monday #27
Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»US Norovirus Surge Worst ...»Reply #6