what causes tummy bugs?

Reams

SavingPennies wrote: »

Usually from germs on dirty hands, so obviously easy to pass on. It's less likey to be the actual food itself (though its possible of course), but more likely how the food has been handled or stored.

Could be his hands were dirty when he ate something. Could be the person who handled the food before him had dirty hands. Even if you wash your hands you could then touch something, door handle, cutlery etc which is dirty and transfer it from there.

So....pretty much anywhere.

To avoid catching it off him. Ensure the bathroom, inc toilet and door handles are disinfected, and keep as far away as possible!

Your emphasis on door handles reminded me of how I can't understand why anyone puts a tea towel on an oven door handle.

SavingPennies_2

Reams wrote: »

Your emphasis on door handles reminded me of how I can't understand why anyone puts a tea towel on an oven door handle.

Ha Ive got a bit of a thing about door handles, I mean you wash your hands in public loos, then touch the handle that has been touched by loads of other people who havent washed their hands! Not that I am obsessive, though I do always wash my hands before I eat.

Tea towels on oven handles is a no-no for me too, though cos I worry its a fire risk, even though I've got an electric oven

Reams

SavingPennies wrote: »

Ha Ive got a bit of a thing about door handles, I mean you wash your hands in public loos, then touch the handle that has been touched by loads of other people who havent washed their hands! Not that I am obsessive, though I do always wash my hands before I eat.

Tea towels on oven handles is a no-no for me too, though cos I worry its a fire risk, even though I've got an electric oven

Washing hands before eating hardly matters as the fingers are extended by knives and forks.
I don't consider myself obsessive either but use common sense to avoid infection.


I take dog for a walk and shop leaving him in the car. I clean my hands with antiseptic wipes before doing so. Not gel, as wipes at least clean most from the hands. That is not for my benefit but any of you. (Then see supposedly intelligent people carrying their kids inside the shopping trolley possibly carrying dog muck on their shoes.)


Always wash my hands on entering my house.


Dog has dedicated stroking/cuddle sessions and wash hands after, never stroke him on passing. Talk to him yes.
I was at a friend's house once while she stripped a cooked ham by hand and then turned to the Labrador, cleaned the muck from his eyes and carried on.


Wash hands after touching dog food as it could transfer salmonella Three people died in a hospital last week from it.


Wash hands on awakening as I have no idea what I was touching in the night so don't wish to transfer to kettle etc.


Have trained myself not to touch face, eyes , mouth etc. or put fingers in mouth.


I once had such a bad case after eating in a restaurant in the UK, that after bleeding from both ends a doctor had to be called to the hotel .Thankfully my little one and H escaped it.


I was taught from being a baby and still remember from my dad how to wash my hands. Turns out it is exactly the way in operating theatres.

SavingPennies_2

Ah yes by "eating" I mean, sandwiches, biscuits, that sort of thing and preparing/ cooking food.


Washing my hands is also the first thing I do when I get in my house (well second after taking shoes off).


Ok I do sound a bit obsessive, though I never used to be like, I've got worse with age, but hopefully that means my immune system has already been built up!

splishsplash

Reams wrote: »

...[snip]Have trained myself not to touch face, eyes , mouth etc. or put fingers in mouth. [snip]...

This, I think, needs to be stressed a LOT more in the infection prevention information. I hate to see people touching mucous membranes - it seems such an obvious way to get sick.

aggypanthus

AbbieCadabra wrote: »

the virus i had recently also had flu like symptoms as the hours went on, aches, hot & cold etc. the worst of it within the first 48 hours, then just left me feeling exhausted for 3 days or so. definitely worth checking if you're worried or it's lasting longer than that.

hope he's feeling better soon

thanks Abbie and Mandy, he is much better today and had soup. He had that fluctuating temp thing too.
I seem to be safe now:D

aggypanthus

I started the handwashing after being out , after a tv show about germs on shopping trollies etc, and I dont like to see kids sitting in them. We come home and store our food but we cant vouch fof the cleanliness of the trollies. Should we wipe our tins and pkts?
I dont but it makes us ponder!
DH never takes ice in a pub, as he sees so many dirty non washing men in the gents! Then using the ice or eating free bar nuts, he tries to avoid the doors too.

Person_one

aggypanthus wrote: »

I started the handwashing after being out , after a tv show about germs on shopping trollies etc, and I dont like to see kids sitting in them. We come home and store our food but we cant vouch fof the cleanliness of the trollies. Should we wipe our tins and pkts?
I dont but it makes us ponder!
DH never takes ice in a pub, as he sees so many dirty non washing men in the gents! Then using the ice or eating free bar nuts, he tries to avoid the doors too.

Unless your immune system is compromised or suppressed, honestly, all this germophobia does more harm than good most of the time.

I practice incredibly strict hand hygiene in my job, where it matters, but the rest of the time I'm far more relaxed and I'm hardly ever ill. I wash my hands before cooking, after going to the loo, and if they're actually dirty. Those are the main ones for a healthy person about their daily life.