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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffThe best way to prevent the spread of intestinal infections is to follow these common-sense precautions:
- Wash your hands thoroughly. And make sure your children do, too. If your children are older, teach them to wash their hands, especially after using the toilet. It's best to use warm water and soap and to rub hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds, remembering to wash around cuticles, beneath fingernails and in the creases of the hands. Then rinse thoroughly. Carry towelettes or hand sanitizer for times when soap and water aren't available.
- Use separate personal items around your home. Avoid sharing eating utensils, glasses and plates. Use separate towels in the bathroom.
- Keep your distance. Avoid close contact with anyone who has the virus, if possible.
- Check out your child care center. Make sure the center has separate rooms for changing diapers and preparing or serving food. The room with the diaper-changing table should have a sink as well as a sanitary way to dispose of diapers.
Take precautions when traveling
When you're traveling in other countries, you can become sick from contaminated food or water. You may be able to reduce your risk by following these tips:
- Drink only well-sealed bottled or carbonated water.
- Avoid ice cubes, because ice cubes may be made from contaminated water.
- Use bottled water to brush your teeth.
- Avoid raw food — including peeled fruits, raw vegetables and salads — that has been touched by human hands.
- Avoid undercooked meat and fish.
- Get vaccinated. A vaccine against gastroenteritis caused by the rotavirus is available in some countries, including the United States, and appears to be effective in preventing severe symptoms of this illness.
References
- Parashar UD, et al. Viral gastroenteritis. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Online. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=2895854. Accessed May 18, 2011.
- Viral gastroenteritis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/gastro/faq.htm. Accessed May 18, 2011.
- Bresee J. Viral gastroenteritis. In: Long SS, et al. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 3rd ed. New York, N.Y.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-7020-3468-8&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7020-3468-8..50066-3. Accessed May 18, 2011.
- Viral gastroenteritis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/viralgastroenteritis/index.htm. Accessed May 18, 2011.
- Rotavirus: Clinical disease information. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/rotavirus/about_rotavirus.htm. Accessed May 18, 2011.
- Norovirus: Q&A. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/gastro/norovirus-qa.htm. Accessed April 15, 2009.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, et al. Updated norovirus outbreak management and disease prevention guidelines. MMWR. 2011;60:1. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr6003a1.htm?s_cid=rr6003a1_e. Accessed May 18, 2011.
- Kapikian AZ. Rotaviruses, noroviruses, and other gastrointestinal viruses. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-1-4160-2805-5&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50408-0. Accessed May 18, 2011.
- Vomiting. Nemours Foundation. http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/vomit.html. Accessed May 18, 2011.
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