hey does anyone know like a ratio for the percent of sicknesses going around like is the SV common now and how does it compare to the common cold or flu? i was just wondering thx!
hey does anyone know like a ratio for the percent of sicknesses going around like is the SV common now and how does it compare to the common cold or flu? i was just wondering thx!
I think all anyone can do is guess.
A lot of people don't see a doctor when they become ill and even
then they aren't always tested to see what caused the illness.
In addition, people may become infected and not know it because their
symptoms are not what your hear about in the break room at the office
and technically, they'd become another statistic. In other words they
just might have a tummy ache or light d* but that's it.
Yeah...I agree with Todd- it would be impossible to compile accurate statistics, because most doctors/emergency rooms/clinics recommend that you DO NOT come in for a cold/flu/stomach virus unless it is persistent and you have other risk factors which could make it more severe (really young/really old, pre-existing illness, etc.).
It makes sense- they aren't going to prescribe anything to you for a stomach bug (and shouldn't) unless you are severely dehydrated, so you may as well not bother and stay home where you are at least in the comfort of your own bed. That, and you won't give it to anyone else in the waiting room.
So....any statistics you find are extrapolations and atbest an estimated guess.
*amber*
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Originally Posted by nickr8
Hi everyone. I am a newbie here.
As far as the question, according to a website that I visited last spring when my wife had the SV, it is second only to the common cold as far as the number of doctor visits.
Originally Posted by kerryrob
I too have read that statistic (except for the doctor visits part) but
I want to point out that I believe the statistic pertained to
gastroenteritis which could be caused by a number of things and the
symptoms could range from just some pain to the severe V* and D* that
we all fear. The place I read that same comment did not list the source
for that tidbit of information and therefore it's the kind of statement
that causes people here to worry even more when it's not telling the
whole story. Even if it pertained to rotavirus, which is common, it
wouldn't be prudent to say that it's second to the common cold. The
reason is if you break it down by age, rotavirus might be second to the
cold but occur mosting in very young children for example. And/or most
of the time the symptems might be upset stomach or d* but not for days
on end or necessarily with any v*.
I think colds are more contagious because they are airbourne-but I've ALWAYS been consumed with trying to figure out -if you can only get an sv* from direct contact-how come they wipe out schools, ect. ? It should'nt be SO easy to catch. I DO know that it take hundreds of cold spores for you to catch a cold and only a handful of spores to catch an sv*. Itis MY biggest obbsesion.
\"Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans\"-John Lennon
Swiftette, if next time you go by one of those playgrounds in the mall
or have an opportunity to watch kids being kids, you'll see plenty of
opportunities for them to catch something.
The other night I was with some people at one of these trendy
restaurants where the kitchen is out in the open for everyone to see.
As I was sitting there watching, trying to decide what to order to
avoid getting the plague, I saw many illegal food handling practices
and many opportunities for not only the patrons to get sick but also
the people cooking the food. One example would be that the grill
operator who was of course putting raw meat on the grill with his hands
was also apparently having a snack at the same time, popping some food
into his mouth and drinking from an open cup. Watching this made me not
so hungry but I forced myself to bite the bullet anyway and got
something anyway. From the grill, no less. It looked like they were
using a clean utencil to put the cooked food on the plate so I took a
chance.
liriodendron:
In hindsight, I believe you are correct about the statistic was only for doctor visits and not actual sv* cases. Thanks for reminding me of that fact.
swiftette:
That is a big obsession for me too. As I understand it, you can also catch sv* from surfaces that the ill person has infected and then infect yourself with fingers to the mouth, nose, eyes etc.
The question thatI can't ever find(if any one knows??) is how long can germs from sv* live outside the body?
Kerry
kerryrob im not sure how long the viruses can survive outside the body. Strictly speaking, viruses are not actually "alive" because they have no metabolism of thier own. They make us ill because they take over our own cells and use our metabolism to survive and reproduce (evil!). I will have a flick through some books and see if i can find an answer to the question though, i will let you know if i find anything!
I have read a virus like norwalk can live up to two days without reproducing (because they have'nt found a host). So if someone v* and a few droplets land-say, on the sink, if you happened to go into the bathroom the nextday thinking the coast is clear and put your hand on THAT part of the sink, you could become infected with the virus. An infected PERSON-on the other hand, even after the V*and D* go away and they're feeling better, the virus can still be i n there stool for up to two weeks.
\"Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans\"-John Lennon
The asnwers to questions are really great here. Especially for a newie like myself.
Originally Posted by swiftette
Does anyone know how long afterward they might be infectious from saliva? i.e. aerosol from coughing and sneezing.
kerryrob