SIMPLY mistaken as stomach pain, stomach bug or stomach flu is less worrying compared to food poison.

Stomach bug and food poison have some similarities: both come from contaminated food and are passed by a virus.

If you have stomach bug, sip a cup of ginger tea. To make it, add a pinch of freshly chopped ginger to a cup of hot water. Skip ginger ale; most don’t contain much real ginger.

Stay hydrated by drinking clear liquids, like water, herbal tea, or a sports drink. Vomiting or diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which affects the body’s ability to deliver blood to vital organs. If you can’t keep anything down, suck on ice chips or popsicles.

Stick to bland foods. Try easy-to-digest crackers, toast, or dry cereal. As you feel better, introduce soft-boiled or scrambled eggs or plain yogurt.

Do not drink fruit juice or coffee. The acidity of both can be irritating. If ever, eat protein at first; it’s harder to digest than carbohydrates. Avoid salads and whole fruits, too.

Your symptoms get worse or last longer than 24 hours. Severe stomach pain, vomiting, or diarrhea can indicate gallstones or appendicitis, call your doctor immediately.

Stomach bug symptoms usually appear one to two days after exposure to the virus and last for one to two days but can last for up to 10 days.

Symptoms from food poison can show up within hours of eating contaminated food, but exposure to certain contaminants may not cause symptoms until a few weeks later. Sickness lasts from one to 10 days.