Gastroenteritis often starts 1 to 3 days after exposure; food poisoning often starts within hours to 1 day after eating contaminated food
Gastroenteritis is more likely to spread from person to person; food poisoning is more likely linked to a specific meal or food source
Gastroenteritis often causes diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, fever, and body aches; food poisoning often causes sudden nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain
Gastroenteritis symptoms may last several days; food poisoning may improve within 1 to 2 days, though some cases last longer
Gastroenteritis is more often associated with viral illness; food poisoning is more often associated with bacteria, toxins, or parasites in food
Gastroenteritis may come with cold-like symptoms or general illness; food poisoning usually centers on digestive symptoms
Gastroenteritis can affect multiple people through close contact; food poisoning usually affects people who ate the same food
Severe dehydration, bloody stool, high fever, or symptoms lasting more than a few days can happen with either and need medical attention