According to a recent study, deaths resulting from the stomach flu, or gastroenteritis, have doubled between the years of 1999 and 2007. As a result, researchers are recommending that individuals take extra precautions with their personal hygiene, especially when preparing food. The research comes courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Often times, individuals mistake the symptoms associated with the stomach flu, or gastroenteritis, as a viral infection that is typically called the flu. However, the stomach flu is not the same thing as the flu. Instead, the stomach flu is a gastrointestinal illness that can be caused by a number of factors including bacteria, viruses and parasites. The flu, on the other hand, which include symptoms associated with congestion, fever, muscle aches, and fatigue, is caused by viruses only.
C. Difficile: The Deadliest Form of the Stomach Flu
Much of the increase in stomach flu deaths was attributed to a massive spike in deaths resulting from the bacteria C. difficile, also known as Clostridium difficile. Over the course of the eight-year study, the number of deaths stemming from C. difficile stomach flu rose from 2,700 per year to a staggering 14,500 per year. In fact, roughly 66% of the stomach flu deaths that occurred during the study period were directly related to C. difficile.
Researchers from the CDC said that the drastic increase in the rate of deaths due to C. difficile stems from the emergence of a more powerful strain of the bacteria that’s also more resistant to antibiotics and other forms of treatment.
Norovirus: Another Potentially Deadly Type of Stomach Flu
Norovirus, which has been making headlines recently for outbreaks on cruise ships, is another type of gastroenteritis that can be fatal.
The CDC estimates that approximately 800 deaths are attributable to norovirus each year, though the death toll can spike in years when new strains emerge. Fortunately, the vast majority of norovirus cases are not deadly, as over 20 million individuals fall ill with it every year. Regardless, it’s advisable to be cautious since norovirus is extremely contagious and spreads through contaminated surfaces, water and food, as well as through physical interaction and contact.
Gastroenteritis is On the Rise Overall
The researchers said that a total of 7,000 individuals died as a result of gastroenteritis in 1999, while 17,000 died from the same in 2007. This represents an increase of nearly two-and-a-half times. Gastroenteritis is particularly dangerous in older individuals, as 83% of those who died from stomach flu over the course of the study were age 65 or older.
Gastroenteritis is marked by inflammation in the intestines and the stomach. Symptoms typically include diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain.
Stomach Flu Deaths: The Bottom Line
A recent announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that stomach flu deaths have more than doubled since 1999. The announcement indicates the importance of preventing the stomach flu, as well as research currently aimed at developing a vaccine.
