Gastroenteritis

medical condition characterized by inflammation of the stomach and/or small intestine

Gastroenteritis is a medical term for inflammation of the stomach and intestines. It causes diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain. It usually happens because of infection by a virus or bacteria.[1] Another term for Gastroenteritis is Stomach Flu.

Other common terms for gastroenteritis include infectious diarrhea, stomach bug, and stomach virus. It is sometimes called stomach flu or gastric flu, but it is not related to the influenza virus (which is often shortened to 'flu').

References change

  1. Martin, Elizabeth A, ed., 2010. Oxford Concise Medical Dictionary. 8th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.