Maybe John Snow didn’t know anything, but people with emetophobia know a lot, and probably too much about winter viruses. Every year, October-March they probably freak out just a little bit more than usual. Perhaps not everyone with emetophobia but a lot of people for sure. I just thank God that there was no internet back when I had emetophobia so I didn’t know anything about norovirus. The kids got sick with it a couple of times but I didn’t know where it came from and I didn’t do anything special like cleaning or not eating, and I never caught it from them. Ah the 80s!
The worst of these dreaded viruses is, of course, norovirus. Misnamed “stomach flu” (because it isn’t a “flu”), or stomach bug or winter vomiting virus in the UK, norovirus is the most feared and dreaded thing for people with emetophobia. It’s almost like being exposed to ebola (which kills 90% of the people who get it). It’s not, of course. Norovirus only kills people if they get dehydrated and can’t or don’t get medical help. Normally that’s the very elderly, the very young, those with compromised immune systems and those who are very weak and sick. People with emetophobia are normally healthy red-blooded folks, so why is it so frightening? Let’s examine the problem.
Norovirus is usually harmless. It’s 24 hours of misery which nobody signs up for and nobody likes. You may vomit several times, eventually with nothing in your stomach and you can’t rest because you’re running to the bathroom with diarrhea like someone turned on a water tap every half hour or so. If you’re lucky, you won’t get both of these things at the same time but a lot of people do. And then they tell everyone how awful it was, and grossly exaggerate to be funny or get sympathy.
HOW DO YOU CATCH IT?
Noroviruses are spread through the oral-fecal route which sounds every bit as disgusting as it actually is. If you catch it you’ve probably swallowed someone’s poop. Well, microscopic particles of it. You only need about 10 particles to catch the disease, and these ten would fit on the tip of a pin and still not be seen. In order to swallow it, you have to put your hand in your mouth. There are lots of ways people put their hands in their mouth:
- Licking their fingers when something yummy is on them.
- Licking their fingers to turn a page or pick up a card
- Biting their nails
- Biting a hangnail or little piece of skin
- Kids sucking their thumbs
- Picking their nose
HOW DOES IT GET ON YOUR HANDS?
- When someone is sick with either vomiting or diarrhoea they flush the toilet and it sprays up in the air, landing on toothbrushes, countertops, floors, tubs, toilet flusher handles and the seat
- Someone is sick on a floor and it sprays several metres in the air around them. It lands on all sorts of surfaces – it may even land on your mouth and you lick your lips later.
You touch these surfaces or put them in your mouth (toothbrushes, silverware in the kitchen if they were sick in there).
HOW TO PREVENT NOROVIRUS
It’s pretty easy to prevent contracting it. Just never put your hands in your mouth unless you’ve just washed them with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds and rinsed. If you’re standing in a room and someone vomits near you don’t lick your lips until you’ve gone and washed your face. Then put on a mask if you’re caring for someone who has it. Masks prevent the spray from getting on your mouth and also prevent YOU from putting your hands in your mouth. Also, never eat things with your hands unless you’ve washed them (pizza, buns, snacks, etc.)
Wash your hands after using the bathroom and before eating. Use plain soap and water. Anti-bacterial soap doesn’t help as norovirus is not a bacteria. Hand sanitizers are generally ineffective if they’re alcohol-based. Get one that has benzalkonium or benzethonium chloride for your car or any place you can’t wash.
SOME NOROVIRUS FACTS
Norovirus incubation period is 12-48 hours depending on viral load.
People are infectious for about 2 weeks after getting it as they shed it in their stool.
Myths: You CANNOT catch it because you walk beside, work beside, socialize with, kiss or hug someone with norovirus.
You can’t prevent your kids from getting it at school or daycare, so don’t even try. You can look after kids and not get it though, so try to focus on that and not worry.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO START YOUR RECOVERY from emetophobia, Anna Christie (the world’s leading specialist) is offering 10 online classes. There are just 2 spots left for classes on Wednesday at 4:15pm Pacific (7:15pm Eastern) beginning October 2nd. Info and register here: www.emetophobiahelp.org/classes. A new set of early classes begins November 7th at 10am Pacific (6pm UK time) – info to follow shortly.
