I mostly agree with what Asanta said but to clarify one thing. Such illnesses may be caused by several different viruses and bacteria. Most bacterial GI illnesses are food borne where as viral causes of gastroenteritis can be transmitted by the oral fecal route ( hands get contaminated with your feces, you touch something, someone else touches it and puts something in their mouth). Because all of these illnesses are generally self limited and its difficult to tell a viral gastroenteritis from a bacterial one we usually refrain from using antibiotics which can sometimes make the diarrhea worse.

if this is Norovirus, and there is no way to know, you need to be sure to wash with soap and water since alcohol based products like Purell don’t kill this particular virus. In addition, surfaces should be cleaned with chlorinated cleaners. Keep in mind that Norovirus can remain viable on surfaces for 2-3 weeks after the surface becomes contaminated if it hasn’t been cleaned so you should try to clean any surface you may have touched from 1 day prior to your symptoms until 5 days after the illness

Addendum: I wasn’t aware of this until just now but while Norovirus is most contagious form the day before symptoms develop until several days after you can still find virus in the stool for up to 2 weeks after the illness begins so keep washing after using the bathroom ( but you should always be doing that anyway). Every episode of viral gastroenteritis and most bacterial enteritis means that you got someone elses feces in your mouth. That yuck factor alone is enough of a reason to be compulsive about washing your hands and washing food before you eat it.

Here’s a link to a helpful page on the CDC website if you want to know more

macgyver - 14 February 2013 12:41 PM

Every episode of viral gastroenteritis and most bacterial enteritis means that you got someone elses feces in your mouth.

I am sure this is stupid question, but could it be airborne? I mean, if I smell the poop, it won’t make me sick, right?

George - 14 February 2013 12:49 PM

macgyver - 14 February 2013 12:41 PM

Every episode of viral gastroenteritis and most bacterial enteritis means that you got someone elses feces in your mouth.

I am sure this is stupid question, but could it be airborne? I mean, if I smell the poop, it won’t make me sick, right?

I’m not sure this reduces the yuck factor, but there is a small chance of catching norovirus through the airborne route if a person were to vomit violently and you inhaled some of the airborne particles of vomit ( Yum). Smelling feces will not allow transmission of the virus however since the smell is transmitted by volatile compounds in the feces rather than an actual transmission of fecal material to the person’s nose. Viral particles generally won’t become airborne from the feces unless someone is splashing around in it. Aren’t these fun images to have floating around in your head? Nauseous yet?

macgyver - 14 February 2013 12:15 PM

I mostly agree with what Asanta said but to clarify one thing. Such illnesses may be caused by several different viruses and bacteria. Most bacterial GI illnesses are food borne where as viral causes of gastroenteritis can be transmitted by the oral fecal route ( hands get contaminated with your feces, you touch something, someone else touches it and puts something in their mouth). Because all of these illnesses are generally self limited and its difficult to tell a viral gastroenteritis from a bacterial one we usually refrain from using antibiotics which can sometimes make the diarrhea worse.

if this is Norovirus, and there is no way to know, you need to be sure to wash with soap and water since alcohol based products like Purell don’t kill this particular virus. In addition, surfaces should be cleaned with chlorinated cleaners. Keep in mind that Norovirus can remain viable on surfaces for 2-3 weeks after the surface becomes contaminated if it hasn’t been cleaned so you should try to clean any surface you may have touched from 1 day prior to your symptoms until 5 days after the illness

Thanks for the clarification. I didn’t want to mention the fecal ‘issue’ Lol! The answer is wash, wash, wash, and clean clean clean! As well as washing your hands after toileting, you should wash your hands before picking up any food to eat, so if you have touched a contaminated surface, you won’t reinfect yourself.

Wow, thank you very much,  macgyver and asanta.

Four of five days before I became ill I took my car to have it inspected.  The mechanic was talking about the terrible time he’d had with the “stomach flu”.  It was his first day back and he said he still didn’t feel well.  He was, of course, in the car checking lights and paperwork, etc..  I know there’s no way of being sure that I contracted it there, but from what you say it well could be.  Routes of infection I wouldn’t have thought of.  I’ll be spending a lot more time in front of the sink, and I’ve got a lot cleaning to do.

Anyone see the Mythbuster’s episode where Adam has a tube attached to his nose that leaks a fluorescent fluid at the rate of the nasal secretions from a cold?  It’s pretty amazing, both by the large amount of casual contamination they can show and by how effectively they are able to reduce contamination.

Jeciron - 15 February 2013 06:15 AM

Anyone see the Mythbuster’s episode where Adam has a tube attached to his nose that leaks a fluorescent fluid at the rate of the nasal secretions from a cold?  It’s pretty amazing, both by the large amount of casual contamination they can show and by how effectively they are able to reduce contamination.

One of my favorite episodes!