The key difference between norovirus and food poisoning is that the symptoms of norovirus start when the virus directly attacks the intestines, while the symptoms of food poisoning start when the bacteria or other organisms, such as parasites and viruses in the contaminated foods, release enterotoxin to attack the intestine.
Gastrointestinal diseases affect the entire digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus. They can be functional and structural diseases. Some of the well-known examples are colitis, norovirus infection (stomach bug), food poisoning, and lactose intolerance.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Norovirus
3. What is Food Poisoning
4. Similarities – Norovirus and Food Poisoning
5. Norovirus vs. Food Poisoning in Tabular Form
6. FAQ – Norovirus and Food Poisoning
7. Summary – Norovirus vs. Food Poisoning
What is Norovirus?
Norovirus is also called a stomach bug or winter vomiting bug. Norovirus infections result in severe vomiting and diarrhoea that start suddenly. These viruses are highly contagious. The main symptoms of norovirus infection are feeling sick, diarrhoea, being sick, high temperature, headache, and aching arms and legs. These viruses are spread through close contact with someone, touching surfaces or objects that have viruses, and eating food that has been prepared or handled by someone with norovirus.
Figure 01: Norovirus
Norovirus can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examinations, and stool tests. Furthermore, treatment options for this condition may include oral rehydration, intravenous fluid, over-the-counter antidiarrhoeal medications, and antiviral medications.
What is Food Poisoning?
Food poisoning is a foodborne illness that results from consuming contaminated, spoiled, or toxic food containing bacteria or other organisms, such as parasites and viruses. The symptoms of this condition may include abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, mild fever, weakness, headache, diarrhoea that lasts for more than 3 days, high fever, difficulty in seeing or speaking, and bloody urine. The causative agents of this condition are Campylobacter, Salmonella, E. coli, norovirus, and Listeria. This condition can spread through contaminated food, close contact with someone with the condition, and exposure to body fluid.
Figure 02: Food Poisoning
Food poisoning can be diagnosed through physical examinations, stool tests, and blood tests. Furthermore, food poisoning can be treated through staying hydrated, resting, over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as loperamide (Imodium) and Pepto-Bismol, antibiotics (azithromycin, ampicillin, etc.), antiviral medications, anti-parasitic medications (albendazole), and antitoxin.
What are the Similarities Between Norovirus and Food Poisoning?
- Norovirus infection and food poisoning are two different gastrointestinal diseases.
- Norovirus infection and food poisoning can cause similar symptoms, such as diarrhea, stomach pain, fever, etc.
- Both can be diagnosed through physical examination and stool tests.
- Norovirus infection and food poisoning can be treated by staying hydrated and specific medications.
What is the Difference Between Norovirus and Food Poisoning?
In norovirus, the symptoms start when the virus directly attacks the intestines, while in food poisoning, the symptoms start when the enterotoxin released by the bacteria or other organisms, such as parasites and viruses, in the contaminated foods directly attack the intestine. Thus, this is the key difference between norovirus and food poisoning.
Furthermore, norovirus spreads through close contact with someone, touching surfaces or objects that have viruses, and eating food that has been prepared or handled by someone with norovirus. On the other hand, food poisoning spreads through contaminated food, close contact with someone with the condition, and exposure to body fluid.
The infographic below presents the differences between norovirus and food poisoning in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
FAQ: Norovirus and Food Poisoning
How do you know if you have norovirus or food poisoning?
Food poisoning shows symptoms very fast, usually within 6 hours of having contaminated food, while norovirus infection shows symptoms a little later, usually within 12 to 48 hours.
What is the fastest way to resolve food poisoning?
Drinking more fluids to replace the lost fluids and electrolytes is the fastest way to overcome food poisoning.
What test confirms norovirus?
RT-qPCR assays are the preferred method to detect norovirus because they are very sensitive and specific.
Summary – Norovirus vs. Food Poisoning
Gastrointestinal diseases affect the gastrointestinal tract and can present with a wide variety of symptoms, including abdominal pain, constipation, feeding intolerance, vomiting, and malnutrition. Norovirus infection and food poisoning are two different gastrointestinal diseases. Norovirus is a stomach bug that results in infection in humans that causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea that starts suddenly. Food poisoning is a foodborne illness that results from eating contaminated, spoiled, or toxic food by bacteria or other organisms such as parasites and viruses. So, this summarizes the difference between norovirus and food poisoning.
Reference:
1. “Norovirus.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
2. Selner, Marissa. “Everything You Need to Know about Food Poisoning and How to Treat It.” Healthline, Healthline Media.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Woman Suffering from a Stomach Pain” (CC0) via Pexels
2. “Norwalk Caspid” By Prasad, B.V., Hardy, M.E., Dokland, T., Bella, J., Rossmann, M.G., Estes, M.K. – RSCB (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia