Washing hands is one of the easiest ways to prevent illness, says the Mayo Clinic. It is a very simple process, taking only 15 seconds and requiring only soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. A person should wash his hands before and...
Viral gastroenteritis is an infection of your intestines that can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramping, nausea and vomiting. It is typically spread from person to person but can also be spread through contamination of food or water that is infected...
Raw oysters are a delicacy among seafood diners worldwide. However, eating raw oysters may increase your risk for food poisoning and other health complications. While contamination of food from bacterial, viral or parasitic agents can happen at...
Dining at restaurants might be an enjoyable way to eat your meals, but experiencing diarrhea afterward can leave you with a foul odor. Diarrhea is frequent, loose and watery stools that contain more water, minerals and salts than normal stools....
Infections resulting in diarrhea are common in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. In the May 2010 "Journal of the American Medical Directors Association," Dr. Laurie Archbald-Pannone and colleagues say, "Long-term...
Viral gastroenteritis is often referred to as the stomach flu. It is highly contagious and is caused by different viruses. Rotavirus and norovirus are two viruses responsible for causing the severe nausea and diarrhea that accompanies...
Running to the bathroom because of a severe and persistent bout of diarrhea can be extremely inconvenient and even life-threatening if not treated promptly. Diarrhea leads to fluid and electrolyte loss in the body. Certain viruses and inflammation...
Vomiting and diarrhea are symptoms that can be quite violent and potentially life-threatening, especially when they occur frequently. Sometimes, eating spoiled food that hasn't been refrigerated can lead to these symptoms. In other instances, a...
Gastroenteritis, also referred to as the stomach flu, is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Symptoms related to gastroenteritis include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain, according to the Merck Manual of Medical...
Stomach viruses are a common cause of illness. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases reports that millions of cases of viral gastroenteritis occur each year in the United States. Many types of viruses cause...
Now that that the savvy consumer has learned how to watch their weight, cholesterol and sodium intake, there's a new list of the top 10 riskiest foods to eat that are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In 2009, the The Center for...
Food poisoning is the ingestion of food contaminated with disease-causing bacteria or viruses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 76 million cases of foodborne illness occur annually in the United States. A variety of...
Several viruses affect the stomach, including rotavirus, norovirus, adenovirus, sapovirus and astrovirus. These viruses attack the stomach and small intestine, causing gastroenteritis, or inflammation of the stomach. Healthy individuals usually...
Hand sanitizer is a common sight these days. Many office workers keep a bottle near their keyboard. Moms carry it in their diaper bags. Teachers put it on their desks. There's a dispenser for it in every doctor's office and hospital room. Repeated...
Vomiting or spitting up in infants is usually caused by reflux because of the immature structures of the digestive system. This generally resolves over time as the infant's ability to process and digest food develops. However, if your baby...
Most consumers are aware that salmonella bacteria can be found on raw or undercooked eggs and chickens. According to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, salmonella makes 1.8 million Americans ill each year and causes over 400 deaths....
The stomach flu is not actually caused by the influenza virus, as the common name might suggest. The correct term for the illness is viral gastroenteritis, and it is a viral infection of the digestive system. Flu-like symptoms such as a fever and...
Many viruses and bacteria infect people only when they enter the nose or mouth. People with diseases transmitted via the fecal-oral route can spread the disease to nearby objects or food if they don't wash their hands well after using the toilet....
Human viruses cause a variety of maladies, depending on the virus type and the tissues infected. All humans contract multiple viruses throughout the course of life. The severity of viral illnesses ranges from mild to lethal. Cold, flu, stomach and...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using hand sanitizer to prevent the spread of viruses when soap and water are not available. However, alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be just as effective or more effective than regular...
Hand sanitizers are used to disinfect millions of hands every day. This product has been thoroughly examined to understand potential negative effects. A common misconception is that alcohol-based hand sanitizers can damage skin. Several studies...
According to the 2008 edition of "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," acute gastroenteritis ranks second only to respiratory infections as the most common cause of disease around the world. In developing countries where access to modern...
Communicable diseases, also referred to an as infectious or contagious diseases, are caused by bacteria organisms, viruses, fungi and protozoa. Communicable diseases such as the common cold, influenza or gastroenteritis are spread by direct...
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer and traditional soap and water are good options for cleaning your hands. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that certain types of hand cleaners are preferable, depending on your situation....
Stomach viruses, also known as gastroenteritis, are a common source of diarrhea, nausea and stomach pain for children. Recurrent stomach viruses should alert caregivers that something in the child's environment is contributing to this chronic...
Stomach flu, officially called viral gastroenteritis, is caused by several viruses, according to the website eMedTV.com. The symptoms of stomach flu are usually the same regardless of the virus, but some symptoms can be more severe than others....
The stomach flu is not related to the seasonal influenza viruses. Stomach flu or viral gastroenteritis results from viruses that can infect the digestive tract. The Mayo Clinic explains that these viruses can become contracted through the...
Parents and caregivers who lack access to soap and running water may need alternative ways to clean the hands of children. Hand sanitizers may kill germs more effectively than antimicrobial wipes or towelettes, according to the Mayo Clinic....
