questions about sv*

[rubysoho120]

okay this might be a stupid question but are all sv* the same...like
norwalk and notorvirus and all that...is there something that is just
called a stomach virus? and if they are all the same, then they are all
contagious the same and spread the same right? i mean there isn't any
sv* you can get through the air right? This may have been answered in
sage and alvins but i couldnt find it... does that make since???

[christianne]

Hi there!
I'm not totally sure but I think that sv is a general term (or it's called gastroenteritis), and that a sv is caused by different strains of viruses such as rotavirus or norovirus. So, technically they are all sv's, just different strains of infection.
I don't believe that any sv's are airborne--I think that they're spread through close contact with someone whose infected with it. I think that's why we all wash our hands a million times a day!
Ok, I hope I don't sound like a complete idiot--I'm pretty sure I remember this from health class so hopefully I'm not giving out wrong info!

[daffodil]

You're both right. They are all sv's, just different strains, and none are airborne, unless you inhale the v* mist and you'd have to be pretty close for that to happen. The method of transmission is by ingesting some of the virus, through the sick persons v* or fecal matter. Essentially through poor hygeine.

[rubysoho120]

So gastroenteritis is the whole term, and then norwalk and rotovirus
are just different strands...so then its all the same sv* and the same
way to prevent it? I think I got it...

[sage]

Thanks everyone for answering well. The place to find the answers is on the "questions and answers" thread, at the top - a sticky post called "an expert answers your questions about vomiting viruses" or something like that.


This is a good opportunity to say that if you come on here often and click "Active Topics" to see what's new, you will miss all the sticky posts at the top of each section with the educational material. You need to click "Discussion Forums" then click each Section (Questions and Answers, Treatments, etc.) to find this stuff.


There is no such technical term as "stomach virus" - I think that's mostly an emet term or maybe it's used by regular folk. "Stomach flu" is also a misnomer - it isn't flu. The viruses are now officially called "Norwalk-like viruses" or shortened to "noroviruses". We should all be using the short form "noros" rather than "svs" (more letters to type, I know!)


Anyway, they're all the same, and transmitted the same. You can't get them through the air or through "close contact" with someone else. You must ingest the virus through your mouth, eyes or nose - whatever goes down your throat.

[rubysoho120]

Thanks Sage...your awesome