How to reduce your chance of catching a stomach bug

No single measure blocks every cause of gastroenteritis. Layering careful handwashing, kitchen hygiene and sensible separation from someone who is unwell gives better protection.

The term stomach bug usually refers to infectious gastroenteritis, not influenza. Viruses, bacteria or parasites can reach the mouth from contaminated hands, food, water, utensils or surfaces. Vomit and diarrhoea can spread tiny infectious particles around bathrooms and nearby objects.

People may pass an infection around a household, nursery, school or workplace because hands touch taps, phones and door handles before touching food or the face. Gastroenteritis commonly presents with diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea and abdominal cramps; fever and loss of appetite may also occur.

Use soap and running water after using the toilet or changing nappies and before preparing or eating food. Rub all hand surfaces, rinse and dry them well. Alcohol hand rub can be convenient, but it should not replace soap and water when hands are visibly dirty or after contact with vomit or diarrhoea.

Keep raw foods separate from ready-to-eat foods, cook food thoroughly, refrigerate perishables promptly and use safe drinking water. Do not prepare meals for others while vomiting or having diarrhoea. Wash soiled laundry separately on the warmest setting suitable for the fabric, wear gloves for cleanup, and disinfect high-touch bathroom and kitchen surfaces with a suitable product according to its label.

Seek urgent medical help for confusion, fainting, severe or worsening abdominal pain, blood in vomit or stool, very little urine, or an inability to keep fluids down. These can signal significant dehydration or another condition needing assessment.

Contact a clinician early for an infant, an older or frail adult, someone who is pregnant, or a person with weakened immunity or kidney disease. Medical advice is also appropriate when fever is persistent, symptoms are not settling, or illness follows travel, unsafe water or a shared suspected food source.

Ask which fluids are suitable if illness begins, whether regular medicines need adjustment during vomiting or diarrhoea, and when stool testing is useful. For children, discuss vaccination that protects against rotavirus and how to recognise reduced hydration from fewer wet nappies, a dry mouth or unusual drowsiness.