Stomach Flu Causes & Risk Factors - OmniMedicalSearch.com

Conditions & Diseases: Digestive System

Stomach Flu (Gastroenterititis)

Causes and Risk Factors

Infectious gastroenteritis could be caused by bacteria, viruses and protozoans. Non-infectious gastroenteritis may be caused by medications, exposure to heavy metals and intolerance to milk or milk products.

The types of bacteria which cause stomach flu include:

Non-typhoidal Salmonella
Campylobacter
Shigella sonnei
Escherichia coli O157:H7

Viruses causing stomach flu are:

Adenoviruses
Rotaviruses
Caliciviruses
Astroviruses
Norovirus

Parasites and protozoans causing stomach flu are:

Cryptosporidium
Giardia
Entamoeba histolytica

Medications causing non-infectious stomach flu are:

Aspirin
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s) (such as Motrin or Advil)
Antibiotics
Caffeine
Steroids
Laxatives

Traces of heavy metals causing non-infectious stomach flu are:

Arsenic
Lead
Mercury

Intolerance to lactose sugar present in milk and milk products such as cheese and ice-cream could also cause non-infectious gastroenteritis (5) & (6).

Risk Factors

Risk factors include poorly cooked food, contaminated food and water, lack of personal hygiene and sanitation. Insufficient reheating of cooked food left at room temperatures for longer durations could lead to development of staphylococcal bacteria producing toxins that could lead to gastroenteritis. People with weakened or compromised immune systems are more vulnerable to gastroenteritis (5).

Generally, the following people are at an increased risk:

Children in day care
Students living in dormitories
Military personnel
Travelers (7)

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com