Handwashing and Your Gut: Simple Habits That Prevent Infectious Diarrhea in New York

Key Takeaways

• Many cases of diarrhea are caused by germs that spread from person to person, often on unwashed hands.
• Washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is one of the simplest and most effective forms of diarrhea prevention.
• Hand sanitizer helps in a pinch, but it does not work well against norovirus, one of the most common stomach bugs.
• Cleaning shared surfaces, handling food safely, and staying home when sick also lower your risk.
• Diarrhea that keeps going, or that comes with blood, fever, or signs of dehydration, should be checked by a doctor.
• Newtown Gastroenterology's board-certified gastroenterologists care for patients in Elmhurst, Flushing, Brooklyn, Bensonhurst, Manhattan, and Great Neck, and you can request an appointment online to have ongoing digestive symptoms evaluated.

APPOINTMENTS

How Infectious Diarrhea Spreads From Person to Person?

Diarrhea means loose, watery stools that happen more often than usual. There are many causes of diarrhea, including food sensitivities, certain medicines, and conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Infections are one of the most common causes. As Newtown Gastroenterology explains in its overview of diarrhea causes and treatments, viruses like norovirus and rotavirus, bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella, and some parasites can all lead to diarrhea.

Many of these germs spread through what doctors call the fecal-oral route. This means tiny, invisible amounts of stool from a sick person (or animal) end up in someone else's mouth. That sounds unlikely, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) handwashing facts page notes that a single gram of human feces, about the weight of a paper clip, can contain one trillion germs.

In a busy city like New York, germs have plenty of chances to move from hand to hand. They commonly spread when people:

• Use the bathroom or change a diaper and don't wash well afterward
• Prepare or eat food with unwashed hands
• Touch shared surfaces, like subway poles, door handles, and phones, and then touch their mouth
• Care for a sick family member at home

Diseases Caused by Not Washing Hands

Germs on unwashed hands don't only upset your stomach. According to the CDC, the same stool-related germs behind many cases of diarrhea can also spread some respiratory infections. 

Germs linked to poor hand hygiene include:

• Norovirus: A very contagious virus that commonly causes the 'stomach bug'
• Salmonella: Bacteria that can cause diarrhea, often linked to food
• E. coli O157: A type of bacteria that can cause diarrhea
• Adenovirus and hand-foot-mouth disease: Infections that can affect the airways and spread through contaminated hands

Why Hands Are a Major Route for GI Infections?

Your hands touch dozens of surfaces each day. Gastrointestinal (GI) infections, which affect the stomach and intestines, take advantage of that. The CDC explains that handwashing helps prevent infection because:

• People often touch their eyes, nose, and mouth without realizing it, giving germs a way into the body.
• Germs from unwashed hands can get into food and drinks while people prepare or eat them.
• Germs can move from hands to handrails, tabletops, and toys, and then to the next person who touches them.

The good news is that a simple habit makes a real difference. The CDC reports that teaching people about handwashing reduces the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by 23% to 40%. It also reduces diarrheal illness in people with weakened immune systems by 58% and lowers respiratory illnesses like colds by 16% to 21%. That makes handwashing especially useful during cold and flu season, when more people are sick at the same time.

How to Prevent a Stomach Bug With Proper Handwashing?

The CDC's step-by-step handwashing guide recommends five steps every time you wash:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
2. Lather by rubbing your hands together. Get the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
3. Scrub for at least 20 seconds. Humming 'Happy Birthday' twice is an easy timer.
4. Rinse well under clean, running water.
5. Dry with a clean towel or an air dryer.

When to Wash Your Hands

Timing matters as much as technique. The CDC suggests washing your hands:

• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before and after eating
• Before and after caring for someone at home who has vomiting or diarrhea
• After using the toilet, changing diapers, or helping a child use the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching animals, pet food, or garbage

Soap and Water vs. Hand Sanitizer

Both have a place, but they are not equal when it comes to stomach bugs.

Other Simple Habits That Support Diarrhea Prevention

Handwashing is the foundation, but a few more habits help keep stomach bugs from spreading through your home. The CDC's norovirus prevention guidelines recommend that you:

• Stay home when you're sick. Avoid preparing food or caring for others while you have symptoms.
• Keep washing after you feel better. Norovirus can stay in your stool for two weeks or more after symptoms end, so you can still spread it.
• Clean up right away. After someone vomits or has diarrhea, clean and disinfect the whole area, and leave bleach disinfectant on the surface for at least five minutes.
• Handle food carefully. Wash fruits and vegetables well, cook oysters and other shellfish thoroughly, and throw away food that may be contaminated.
• Wash laundry well. Handle soiled clothing and linens carefully and wash them thoroughly.

When Diarrhea Symptoms Suggest an Infection Needing Evaluation

Most infectious diarrhea clears up on its own within a few days. Still, some symptoms are a sign that your body needs more help. Contact a doctor if you notice:

• Diarrhea that is not getting better after a couple of days
• Blood in your stool or black stools
• A high fever
• Severe belly or rectal pain
• Signs of dehydration, such as extreme thirst, dizziness, dark urine, or urinating very little

If diarrhea keeps coming back or lasts for weeks, it may not be an infection at all. Ongoing symptoms can point to conditions like IBS or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which Newtown Gastroenterology diagnoses and treats as part of its care for lower GI conditions.

During a visit, Newtown Gastroenterology's team talks through your symptoms, medical history, eating habits, and any recent travel or new medicines. Testing may include stool analysis, blood tests, breath tests, or endoscopic exams to check for infection, inflammation, or problems absorbing nutrients.

Protect Your Gut This Season With Help From Newtown Gastroenterology

Clean hands, clean surfaces, and safe food habits are some of the easiest ways to prevent infectious diarrhea. When symptoms don't go away, Newtown Gastroenterology's board-certified specialists can find the cause and build a treatment plan that fits you.

If you're dealing with diarrhea that won't let up, request an appointment with Newtown Gastroenterology online for a diarrhea evaluation at one of the practice's New York City and Great Neck office locations.

Appointments

Frequently Asked Questions