Gastroenteritis is a common pathology. It can be linked to a bacterium, a parasite or a virus. If it is a virus, which is the most common, it is extremely contagious! For how long ? What are the steps to know to limit the contagion?
Gastroenteritis results in acute diarrhea of sudden onset. The stools are more frequent and their consistency is modified, they are softer, even liquid. Other symptoms may be present: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, possibly moderate fever. Gastroenteritis can affect both children and adults. More rarely, blood may be present in the stool. While viral gastroenteritis is very common in France throughout the winter, bacterial or parasitic gastroenteritis is much rarer and occurs more in the context of travel.
Contamination can occur during direct contact with an infected person, during the consumption of dishes prepared by an infected person, during contact with objects soiled by sick people. The foods most often affected are pastries, ready meals, shellfish, minced meat, unpasteurized dairy products, etc. In the event of contamination by contaminated food or water, we speak of collective food poisoning ( TIAC). They are more frequent in collective catering.
How long are you contagious?
Gastroenteritis is essentially contagious when the person shows symptoms, which lasts two to three days. It is possible that the person remains contagious for a few days following the disappearance of symptoms. The incubation time is approximately 72 hours.
What to do to limit the contagion?
Rigorous hygiene is the most effective way of not transmitting gastroenteritis to loved ones. You should wash your hands regularly, obviously following going to the toilet, but also before preparing meals, serving meals or eating, following blowing your nose or following taking public transport. Make sure to change the towels regularly during this period. As a reminder, effective hand washing takes at least 30 seconds with soap and water. Hands should then be dried with a clean cloth.
Do not share objects with other people: glasses, cutlery, toothbrushes… Make sure that toothbrushes do not touch each other in the bathroom. It is recommended to use single-use tissues and dispose of them immediately.
The toilets must be disinfected following each visit to prevent other users from contaminating themselves. If several of you are contaminated in the household, it may also be necessary to disinfect door handles, sinks, telephones, work surfaces or kitchen utensils and all other surfaces regularly touched by people in the house. .
