6 Clues You’re Sick with a Stomach Virus

That thing we call the stomach flu? It’s actually not the flu at all. The real name for this kind of illness is “gastroenteritis.” Stomach bugs can be caused by a variety of different viruses that infect and inflames the lining of the intestines.

This stomach virus is often referred to as a flu because they can share a lot of similar symptoms, according to Preeti Parikh, MD, a pediatrician at The Mount Sinai Hospital and Executive Medical Director at GoodRx.

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Written by:

Lauren Smith, MA

Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

Reviewed by:

Brian Clista, MD

Dr. Clista is a board-certified pediatrician who works in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He previously served as a National Health Service Corporation Scholar in the inner city of Pittsburgh for 11 years.

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