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Protect yourself (and others) from stomach bugs
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Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause the stomach flu, which is also known as gastroenteritis. This illness is usually characterized by nausea, vomiting, stomach ache and diarrhea. These principal symptoms may also include additional symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle ache and fatigue. Sudden onset of the symptoms may be felt 24 to 48 hours after being contaminated with the virus. People who have been exposed to the stomach flu virus should take special precautions to try to avoid becoming ill, however there is no surefire way to prevent infection.
Steps
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Increase your intake of vitamin C. Since viruses enter the body when the immune system is weak, you should take steps to strengthen your immune system so that the body does not become vulnerable. One easy way to do this is to increase your intake of vitamin C.
- Vitamin C is available in tablet, capsule, effervescent and syrup form. You should take 500 mg of vitamin C every day to boost your immune system and protect the body against immune system deficiencies.
- Vitamin C can also come from other foods and beverages such as cantaloupe, orange juice, broccoli, red cabbage, green pepper, red pepper, kiwi and tomato juice.
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Eat probiotic yogurt. Studies have shown that eating probiotic yogurt can help to prevent the recurrence of stomach flu. Having a cup of yogurt a day can keep your stomach healthy.
- Yogurt contains good bacteria known as probiotics. These good bacteria combat bad bacteria in the stomach. Yogurt also helps to repopulate the good bacteria in the stomach.
- Yogurt is produced by adding bacteria cultures to milk. When this is done it transforms the milk’s sugar into lactic acid.
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Stay hydrated. Another way to strengthen the immune system is by drinking sufficient amounts of water.
- It is recommended that a person drinks at least 8 glasses of water every day, as water helps to cleanse and hydrate the body which is good for the immune system.
- These 8 glasses of water should not include other liquids such as coffee, soda, alcohol or tea.
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Eat more mushrooms. Mushrooms are also known to strengthen the immune system, as mushrooms increase the number of white blood cells in the body. These white blood cells fight against the microbes that cause infection.
- There are many different types of mushrooms that can be used. Shitake, maitake and reishi are among the most popular mushroom types that have a positive effect on the immune system.
- Eating at least ¼ ounce to 1 ounce of mushrooms a day can strengthen the immune system. You can prepare the mushrooms by adding them to a pasta sauce or sautéing them in oil.
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Eat foods rich in carotenoids. Carotenoids (which are a derivative of vitamin A) enhance the activity of immune system’s cell and improve cell-to-cell communication to easily identify foreign bodies. They also induce apoptosis (also known as cell suicide) in these foreign bodies.
- Foods rich in carotenoids are carrots, sweet potatoes, tomato, pumpkin, cantaloupe, apricots, spinach and broccoli.
- The recommended daily intake of vitamin A should be: 0.9 milligrams daily for men and 0.7 milligrams daily for women.
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Consume more garlic. Garlic has the ability to stimulate the body’s immune system by stimulating the activity of white blood cells called macrophages which engulf foreign bodies, such as virus cells associated with the stomach flu. For immune-boosting effects, eat a clove of garlic every 4 hours.
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Drink aloe vera juice. Aloe vera contains certain chemicals that can boost the function of the immune system.
- The substance lectin in aloe vera stimulates the production of macrophages – the cells responsible for fighting foreign bodies by ingesting them. This can help eradicate the stomach virus inside the body.
- Aloe vera is available in the form of juice which you can drink. 50 ml of aloe vera juice per day is recommended.
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Drink black tea. Studies have also shown that drinking of 3 tp 5 cups of black tea a day over a two week period can help the body fight off any virus in the blood.
- L-theanine is a component in green and black tea which is known to boost the immune system.
- For the tea to be more effective, bob the tea bags up and down while brewing.
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Drink apple-cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar works by changing the pH in the intestinal tract into an alkaline environment. This is effective because intestinal viruses do not thrive in an alkaline environment, they prefer an acidic state.
- Mix two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar into a glass of water and drink daily.
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Understand the importance of good hygiene in preventing infection. Hygiene is of utmost importance when it comes to staying healthy. This does not only apply to stomach flu but also other diseases. Hygiene is the body's best defense from illness.
- The most important precaution you can take against illness and contamination is hand washing, as your hands are the most likely body parts to come in contact with a norovirus infected surface.
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Learn the correct hand-washing technique. Washing your hands using the correct technique is essential in killing any microbes that may be present. In order for the hand-washing to be effective, you must use the following technique:
- First wet your hands and apply an anti-microbial soap. Rub your palms together. Continue to rub the palms then rub the back of each hand. Then, rub between the fingers on each hand and the fingers themselves. Finally, clean your wrists.
- Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. If you cannot estimate the time you are rubbing your hands, sing the Happy Birthday song twice. Then rinse your hands starting from the tips of the fingers to the wrists. Pat hands dry with a clean cloth.
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Know when it is important to wash your hands. You should wash your hands:
- Before and after preparing food, before eating food, before and after taking care of a sick person, before and after touching any type of wound, after touching any dirty surface or things, after sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose and after touching pets.
- If hand washing cannot be done, using hand sanitizer is the next best option. Place a generous amount of sanitizer in your hands and rub your hands together to evenly distribute the gel over all surfaces of your hands.
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Clean your house thoroughly. Different parts of your house along with the cleaning equipment you use in everyday living often contain unseen microorganisms, which could lead to stomach virus. To clean the house, the following must be done:
- Cloths and sponges . As much as possible, use disposable cloths or paper towels. Reusable cloth or sponges should be disinfected in a bleach solution after use. Soak cloths and sponges in a bucket of bleach solutions for at least 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
- Mops and buckets . These are considered two of the dirtiest tools used in homes as they always come in contact with the floor. Use two buckets when mopping. One for the detergent and one for rinsing. To disinfect a mop: Remove the mop’s head if detachable. Add ¼ cup of antimicrobial solution in a pail of water and mix well. Soak the mop’s head for at least 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly, then leave to dry.
- Floors: Floors are the dirtiest part of the house because they are stepped on everyday. Use a mop soaked in an antimicrobial solution (¼ cup of antimicrobial solution mixed with a pail of water) to clean the floor. Make sure the floor is always dry as microorganisms thrive in damp conditions.
- Sinks and lavatories: Always flush the toilet after each use and use antibacterial or antimicrobial disinfectants (¼ cup of antimicrobial solution mixed with a bucket of water) to clean both sinks and toilets at least every other day.
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Avoid drinking contaminated water. It is vital to check if the source of water is clean and not contaminated by harmful microorganisms. Contaminated water is one of the ways in which a stomach virus can be transmitted.
- There are several ways to decontaminate water, the easiest of which is boiling. Water should be brought to a boiling point for at least 15 minutes before removing it from the heat. This ensures that microorganisms in the water are killed.
- Alternatively, if you find yourself in a location where you are unsure about water safety, you could stick to drinking bottled water. However, the seal on each bottle must be checked for any signs of tampering to ensure water safety.
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Use chemical disinfectants. Substances like chlorine and iodine are dissolved in water to kill microorganisms. These chemical disinfectants work by breaking the chemical bonds in the molecules of bacteria and viruses.
- This causes the entire molecule to fall apart or to change shape, which in turn causes a microorganism to die. To disinfect water, the following must be done:
- Add 2 drops of chlorine in 1 liter (0.3 US gal) of water. Stir the mixture well for at least 2 minutes. Wait for 30 minutes before using it.
- However, this method does not give 100 percent efficiency, thus filtering or boiling should still be utilized.
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Decontaminate water with a portable filtration device. These type of devices contain a pore size of less than 0.5 microns to filter viruses and bacteria. They work by trapping microorganisms in the filter so that the water passing through it is safe to drink.
- Portable filtration devices should be used in combination with either the boiling method or chemical disinfectant. To use portable filtration devices, the following must be done:
- Fit your water filter onto the faucet. Most water filters are made according to universal measurements so that they can fit almost all faucets. Press firmly to ensure that it is tightly sealed. Open the faucet and let it flow for at least 5 minutes to remove any carbon dust.
- Portable filtration devices should be changed every month to ensure that the water is properly filtered. Microorganisms accumulate in the filter as time passes by, that’s why it must be changed monthly.
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Avoid eating street foods. You will never know how these foods are prepared and if they are safe enough to eat. They may contain harmful microorganisms such as those which cause stomach virus, especially if they are prepared using dirty hands and contaminated food ingredients.
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Ensure proper waste management. Spoiled foods must be properly disposed and trash cans should be kept sealed at all times to avoid attracting pests like rodents and cockroaches. Garbage also can be a place for microorganism to thrive in.
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Increase your self-awareness. Always be updated with the latest news. A good understanding of current events can aid you make wise decisions regarding travelling or doing recreational activities in different places or countries.
- For example, if there is an outbreak of stomach virus or gastroenteritis in a certain place and you plan on going there, then it would be best to cancel your plan for your own safety.
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Understand what causes stomach flu. Most cases of gastroenteritis are linked with the invasion of infectious agents like bacteria and viruses. Bacterial or viral infection causes diarrhea and other symptoms by triggering the inflammation of gastrointestinal tissue.
- These agents tend to elevate the amount of fluid in the intestine and colon by altering the normal function of the gastrointestinal tract in absorbing water and by speeding up the motility of ingested food items which leads to diarrhea.
- It can also damage the intestinal cells either directly or indirectly through its secreted toxins.
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Know which viruses can trigger gastroenteritis. Many kinds of viruses can trigger gastroenteritis but the most frequent types are the following:
- Norovirus (Norwalk-like virus). This is the most common type of virus that affects school age children. It may trigger epidemics in hospitals and cruise ships.
- Rotavirus. This is the usual cause of severe gastroenteritis among children but can also affect adults who made contact with those children carrying the virus. It may also infect those individuals living in nursing homes.
- Astrovirus. This causes gastroenteritis, predominantly diarrhea in children under 5 years old and has been reported in adults.
- Enteric adenovirus. This also causes gastroenteritis aside from respiratory infections.
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Recognize the symptoms of stomach flu. Signs and symptoms associated with gastroenteritis commonly appear within 4 to 48 hours following exposure to infectious agents or contact with contaminated food or water supply. Symptoms may include:
- Abdominal pain.
- Chills, sweating and clammy skin.
- Diarrhea.
- Fever.
- Joint stiffness or muscle pain.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Poor feeding or loss of appetite.
- Weight loss.
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Understand the risk factors for stomach flu. The prevalence of gastroenteritis is globally-high as it is almost impossible to avoid exposure with any of the identified causes of the disease throughout your entire life. However, some individuals are more vulnerable to gastroenteritis, for example:
- Individuals who are immunosuppressed . It may involve infants, children, adults and elderly as they may have underdeveloped or weakened immune system which puts them at greater risk of acquiring the disease. They also have the tendency to become dehydrated easily as compared to those with healthy and strong immune system.
- Individuals taking antibiotics . This drug can weaken the function of normal gastrointestinal microbes which makes it easier for the invasion of certain bacteria and viruses like Clostridioides difficile ( C. diff ) that can cause disease.
- Individuals with poor hygiene . Proper maintenance of the body such as correct techniques in handwashing can help in preventing certain types of diseases like gastroenteritis.
- Individuals exposed to uncontaminated foods and drinks . Eating under cooked or unwashed food items or drinking from contaminated water sources such as rivers or streams could potentially put an individual at higher risk of developing gastroenteritis.
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Be aware of how the virus is transmitted from person to person. Gastroenteritis can be transmitted through the following methods:
- Direct contact . An individual who touches a contaminated item such as feces and in turn touches another individual could directly transfer the viral or bacterial agents causing gastroenteritis.
- Indirect contact . An individual carrying the bacterial or viral agent touches a certain object and another individual touches the same object previously handled by the carrier and then suddenly places his/her already contaminated hands into their mouth could indirectly transfer the infection.
- Contaminated foods and drinks . These items could potentially harbor the causative agents of gastroenteritis and if ingested accidentally could lead to the outbreak of the disease.
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Warnings
- This is a very contagious disease and it can spread easily. It is very important that a person who is contaminated with the virus is isolated. Even objects used by the contaminated person should be separated and not used to prevent the infection to spread.Thanks
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References
- https://www.medicinenet.com/gastroenteritis_stomach_flu/article.htm
- https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000252.htm
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/stoi/Why-do-we-lose-our-sense-of-taste-when-we-have-fever/articleshow/806643.cms
- https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/hcp/norovirus-guidelines/
- Muller K, Carpenter KLH, Challis IR, et al, "Carotenoids induce apoptosis in the T-lymphoblast cell line Jurkat E6.1," Free Radical Research, 2002; 36:791-802.
- Resta SC. Effects of probiotics and commensals on intestinal epithelial physiology: implications for nutrient handling. J Physiol. 2009. 587:4169-4174.
- https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/lifestyle-guide-11/supplement-guide-apple-cider-vinegar
- https://www.lenntech.com/processes/disinfection/chemical/disinfectants-chlorine.htm
- https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/safe_water/personal.html
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Reader Success Stories
- "This article has provided steps to take in order to prevent contracting the stomach flu virus. I have had it twice in two weeks and it was rough." ..." more
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"This article has provided steps to take in order to prevent contracting the stomach flu virus. I have had it twice in two weeks and it was rough."
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"It's rarely ever mentioned and this article did, you can get it by breathing fecal and vomit partials. If you smell it, it's in you. Thank you!"
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"Taking charcoal tablets and probiotics was very helpful, but the whole of your article was very informative. The best I've read."
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"It really helped to understand how the stomach flu/virus is transferred and how to avoid this, if possible. Thank you."
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"Great, easy-to-read content. I like how the biology was explained to support the suggestions."
