Final answer:
The term 'stomach flu' really refers to gastroenteritis, which is an acute and usually self-limiting infection of the gastrointestinal tract by pathogens. It is unrelated to the influenza virus.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term 'stomach flu' really refers to gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is an acute and usually self-limiting infection of the gastrointestinal tract by pathogens. It is commonly called 'stomach flu' even though it is unrelated to the influenza virus. The most common cause of gastroenteritis is viruses, such as rotavirus in children and norovirus in adults. Other potential causes include fungi and protozoa.