Prevent gastroenteritis: practical ways to avoid stomach bugs

Gastroenteritis — the upset stomach with vomiting, diarrhea, and cramps — spreads fast. You don’t need medical training to cut your risk. Small, consistent habits stop most cases: wash hands right, handle food safely, clean surfaces, and use vaccines when they help.

Everyday actions that actually work

Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water: after toilet breaks, before cooking or eating, after changing diapers, and after caring for someone sick. Hand sanitizer helps when soap isn’t available, but choose one with at least 60% alcohol.

Keep food safe. Cook poultry to 165°F (74°C) and ground meat to 160°F (71°C). Avoid raw or undercooked shellfish. Chill leftovers promptly — within two hours — and reheat them until steaming hot. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat and ready-to-eat foods.

Drink safe water. If you’re unsure about tap water while traveling or during outages, boil for one minute (three minutes above 2,000 m/6,500 ft) or use bottled water. Don’t use ice or wash produce with unsafe water.

Keep commonly touched surfaces clean. Disinfect counters, doorknobs, faucet handles, and toilet seats with a bleach solution made from one part household bleach to nine parts water (1:9), or use an EPA-registered disinfectant. Wash toys and baby items often — a quick dishwasher cycle works for many plastic toys.

What to do if someone in your home gets sick

Isolate the sick person when possible and use separate towels and utensils. Wash bedding and clothes in hot water and dry on high. Stay home — and keep kids home — until at least 48 hours after symptoms stop to avoid passing the bug on.

Focus on fluids. For mild dehydration, a store-bought oral rehydration solution (ORS) is best. Make a simple ORS at home with 1 liter of clean water, 6 teaspoons sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt if you can’t get a commercial product. Seek medical care if someone can’t keep fluids down, shows signs of severe dehydration, has bloody stools, high fever, or if an infant or older adult is affected.

Vaccines help: the rotavirus vaccine given to infants (usually at 2 and 4 months, sometimes with a third dose) prevents the most severe cases in young children. Ask your pediatrician if it’s right for your child.

Extra tips: avoid sharing utensils or toothbrushes during outbreaks, skip buffets in risky areas, and don’t eat food from vendors with poor hygiene. If you travel, pack hand wipes, sanitizer, and bottled water.

These steps won’t stop every single infection, but they cut your risk a lot. Stay consistent, teach kids the basics, and you’ll dodge most stomach bugs that show up at school, work, or home.