Attention Germ Phobes.........

[dqpowell]

The blood type thing is not 100%....I am type O I get it alot.DH is type 0..he NEVER EVER gets sick, DD is type 0 she never gets it.My mom is AB and gets it easily.I could go on and on.Nice bit of trivia and may have some merit but not entirely true.You will ALWAYS in medicine find there are plenty of people that break out of the mold.

You have no idea whether the illnesses you're referring to were caused by Norwalk virus or not.

I didn't say type B and AB were immune, or that type O always gets sick. I said that folks with types B and AB blood were less susceptible to Norwalk and that type O was most susceptible. There are plenty of other illnesses that have the same symptoms as Norwalk for which blood type has no bearing on infection rates.

Food contamination springs immediately to mind. Many people who are ill with those symptoms assume that it was caused by a norovirus, when in reality they're suffering from a bacterial food contamination due to improper storage, preparation or cooking.

David

 

[Poohbear5]

For those of you who put those paper things on the toilet seat, PLEASE DISPOSE of them when you are done!! We don't want to touch your germs either!!

 

[momtotwoteens]

You have no idea whether the illnesses you're referring to were caused by Norwalk virus or not.


David

I'm wondering if the stomach bug that seems to be going around Disney has officially been deemed Norwalk.

 

[dqpowell]

I'm wondering if the stomach bug that seems to be going around Disney has officially been deemed Norwalk.

Based on its (apparent) prevalence, it's more likely to be Norwalk that not. Food contamination only affects those who actually ate the contaminated food. It's possible it's something else, but Norwalk is usually implicated in cruise-ship and vacation resort widespread outbreaks.

David

 

[perkinsrose]

Many different ideas on use/effectiveness of handsanitizer--here's an article by a professor of environmental health at Harvard.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/04/ask_treehugger_10.php

I do understand the idea of building up your immunity through exposure. In day to day life--I'm not a huge germophobe and tend to rely on soap and water before eating and when first coming in the house from shopping, etc.

However, at WDW with so many more people/viruses and so much more at stake--I don't want to waste time at urgent care or Celebration hospital with kids ear infections or worse or be stuck sick at the resort.

Traveling is one time I'm sure to be extra vigilant about hand washing, hand sanitizer & extra vitamin C. Also, with my kids with asthma, the typical cold can spiral into ER visits, multiple medications for weeks & breathing treatments. It may be a big deal for many people to get sick at WDW and in the travel home. For the week or so a year on vaction, I'll take more precautions and could care less if I seem germophobic.

 

[3boymthr]

Okay, we're ALL nuts!

If you think pee is going to make you sick - watch Bear Grills or Survivor Man. Now that's how you know that germaphobia is really what's going to kill you.

Has anyone read the lovely article in National Geographic a couple of months ago about cleanliness and allergies. They compared the levels of allergies in our hyper clean society in the US to places all over the world where they are not so clean obsessed and the dirtier the people were the less apt they and their kids were the less apt they were to have allergies (places like Russia, etc. not third world countries) and if you lived on a farm you were even less likely to have allergies. Basically, the cleaner you are the more likely you are to become sick from severe allergies - okay, kids go bathe in that cow manure!

 

[lukenick1]

Okay, we're ALL nuts!


Has anyone read the lovely article in National Geographic a couple of months ago about cleanliness and allergies. They compared the levels of allergies in our hyper clean society in the US to places all over the world where they are not so clean obsessed and the dirtier the people were the less apt they and their kids were the less apt they were to have allergies (places like Russia, etc. not third world countries) and if you lived on a farm you were even less likely to have allergies. Basically, the cleaner you are the more likely you are to become sick from severe allergies - okay, kids go bathe in that cow manure!

Sorry but I think the allergy info here is bogus!!! I live in New England and to me the allergies here are terrible because of the vegetation, trees, grasses, pollens, ragweed, etc. When I go to Florida I never have an issue with allergies. Different vegetation there. I believe it has everything to do with the individual and the environment they live in. I never have allergies in tropical climates, go figure! As far as food allergies....well thats a mystery to me. I have one child who is allergic to nothing, then my second who is allergic to Peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, dairy and has asthma. Why one child but not the other?? We're not allergic to dirt or germs!

 

[dqpowell]

Sorry but I think the allergy info here is bogus!!!

It is absolutely true that people who live in dirtier areas (including third-world countries) suffer far less from allergies than folks who live in clean areas like the U.S. In particular, studies demonstrate that people who live in areas prone to parasites (and even more particularly, those who have had parasites) almost never get allergies, even to common allergens like pollen, etc.

The theory is that the immune system needs something to fight, and if it doesn't get it, will fight relatively common yet (normally) harmless things such as pollen or proteins found in nuts, etc.

David

 

[RMulieri]

It is absolutely true that people who live in dirtier areas (including third-world countries) suffer far less from allergies than folks who live in clean areas like the U.S. In particular, studies demonstrate that people who live in areas prone to parasites (and even more particularly, those who have had parasites) almost never get allergies, even to common allergens like pollen, etc.

The theory is that the immune system needs something to fight, and if it doesn't get it, will fight relatively common yet (normally) harmless things such as pollen or proteins found in nuts, etc.

David

YEP.

 

[DisneySweetheart]

I'm not too bad.
At the parks:
I will not let my kids touch any staircase hand rails, escalator hand rails.
I let my kids use the bathrooms, they are little and have to. But I take antibacterial wipes for their hands, I will also confess to using clorox wipes to clean the toilet seat and then still putting the paper down before they sit!

In the hotel:
This is where I get germophobic. I will not let anyone sit, or lay on the bedspreads, ever! As soon as I get in the room I take them off. I have heard they hardley ever get washed and it just sceeves me out!LOL I wipe down the door handles and phone and remote with clorox wipes. I clean the toilet seat and I always check the place for bedbugs. No one is allowed to walk barefoot on the carpet or sit on it. I also spray the place with lysol and antibacterial fabreeze for the couch. We are DVC'ers so we are usually in a 1 bedroom with a full kitchen. I will not use any of the utensils or plates, cups, even if DH cleans them. No way! I bring paper plates, and plastic cups and utensils. Boy, I really sound like a nut! Now that I am writing it all out, it seems excessive! Somebody help, I need an intervention!LOL I don't want to jinx us but none of us have ever gotten sick at WDW and we go often.

We do all this and STILL get sick. I was there a couple of years ago to celebrate mother's day....Had a special breakfast at Cindy's castle that I could not eat. It's no fun! One of us is usually sick at some point during the trip. But, on that particular mother's day trip I threw up so much, I should have rented my meals instead of paying for them.

 

[Mickey_for_President]

It is absolutely true that people who live in dirtier areas (including third-world countries) suffer far less from allergies than folks who live in clean areas like the U.S. In particular, studies demonstrate that people who live in areas prone to parasites (and even more particularly, those who have had parasites) almost never get allergies, even to common allergens like pollen, etc.

The theory is that the immune system needs something to fight, and if it doesn't get it, will fight relatively common yet (normally) harmless things such as pollen or proteins found in nuts, etc.

David

Totally agree!!! Histamines can be trained to not fight "foreign objects," like pollen and dander, if exposed to it as a child.

I NEVER use hand sanitizer... hate it. Just wash your hands after going to the bathroom and don't touch your eyes... you will be FINE!

I bet you didn't know that we actually have more germs in our body than cells. Don't kill them all! Many are very helpful.

My family of four (clean people but non-germophobes) has been to WDW four times and has never been sick - during or after. We are also the only family members during the holiday get-togetheres to avoid whatever bug is roaming around the house... EVERY YEAR! It is because our bodies know how to fight these invasions. Simple biology people, simple... look it up.

 

[secretpantssam]

I've never even thought about the bed spread, but I'm really not too worried. I've probably layed on or put my clothes on the bedspreads at Disney hundreds of times and not gotten sick. No need to start worrying now.

Also I agree with the sentiment that the rides are probably more dirty than the bathroom. The toilets specifically get cleaned several times a day, but how often do they clean the seats and railings? Not to try to freak people out further, but just a thought to put it in perspective.

 

[SGMCO]

It is absolutely true that people who live in dirtier areas (including third-world countries) suffer far less from allergies than folks who live in clean areas like the U.S. In particular, studies demonstrate that people who live in areas prone to parasites (and even more particularly, those who have had parasites) almost never get allergies, even to common allergens like pollen, etc.

The theory is that the immune system needs something to fight, and if it doesn't get it, will fight relatively common yet (normally) harmless things such as pollen or proteins found in nuts, etc.

David

There are so many other things that these people die of from being so dirty
(Cholera for example) I don't think there concern is about allergys.

 

[dqpowell]

There are so many other things that these people die of from being so dirty
(Cholera for example) I don't think there concern is about allergys.

I didn't say they were concerned about allergies. I said they tend not to have allergies.

Obviously there are many diseases people who live in unsanitary conditions have to deal with. Nonetheless, allergies are not a problem there. It's not that they get allergies and just don't care, or don't notice. They do not get allergies, for the most part. Several studies of this phenomenon have come to the same conclusion.

I wouldn't trade living conditions with them, though. Better to deal with allergies than parasites.

David

 

[Mickey_for_President]

They get cholera from lack of an adequate sanitation system. So, people... remember this when you grumble about paying taxes.

People get allergies and illnesses from being too disinfectant-crazy. You build immunity from EXPOSURE!!! Doesn't anyone recall the fact that you don't get chicken-pox again after you've had it once... same situation. With many illnesses you don't even have to show symptoms of them; just having it introduced to your body is good enough. It has become insanity. Just browse the daytime television commercials! They directly appeal to those housewives with no brains. Hello! Just because the TV tells you that your sparkling white toilet is teeming with germs after every use doesn't mean that you need to scrub it clean on a daily basis. Think for yourselves and realize that all of these companies are selling unnecessary products based on your mania!

Once our ancestors realized the benefit of sanitation systems and bathing daily... diseases, like the plague, were eradicated. Just those two simple steps. That was it! No anti-bacterial wipes, no hand sanitizer back then and people lived.

 

[DizBelle]

I am an RN and an Infection Prevention and Control Specialist.



The overuse and incorrect use of antibiotics caused the superbug.
Everything from people using antibiotics when not needed (like for viruses), to people not taking all their antibiotics when they did have an infection that needed antibiotics (stopping before all the antibiotics are finished allows some of the more 'hardy' germs to survive) to giving low doses of antibiotics to animals to prevent illness (low doses of antibiotics to chicken and turkey can prevent them from becoming ill, but the bacteria that are left are more resistant).
Another factor is the antibacterial soaps/other products (NOT ALCOHOL Based products). The antibacterial products kill germs in a similar way to how antibiotics work, so they germs can become antibiotic resistant without ever having been exposed to antibiotics. Alcohol kills germs in a much different way, has been in use for many years and has never been associated with increasing resistant organisms.

What is not killed is the spores of C. difficile. Soap and water don't kill the spores either, but the friction during hand washing loosens the spores and rinsing of hands after washing them rinses the spores off the hands and down the sink.
Hands should be washed after using the toilet, but the alcohol based products have been useful in stopping the spread of Norovirus in environments like cruise ships. Hand hygiene with alcohol products is a good addition when sinks are not readily available and/or people are not washing their hands as often as they should.
Even if either hand washing or alcohol don't kill all the germs, they do lower the number of organisms on the hands. That is always a good thing.

Seeking education.....

How does using antibiotics when you DO NOT have a bacterial infection but rather a viral infection contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria? If I took an antibiotic when I didn't have a bacterial infection wouldn't it just do nothing (except maybe stave off a secondary infection from the viral infection)?

 

[dqpowell]

Seeking education.....

How does using antibiotics when you DO NOT have a bacterial infection but rather a viral infection contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria?

Your body is filled with bacteria. Billions of them... almost all benign or beneficial, with a few harmful bacteria mixed in. Your body keeps these harmful bacteria in check almost all the time. It is aided in that work by the benign or beneficial bacteria, which compete with the harmful bacteria for nutrients, etc.

When you take antibiotics without need for them, you are changing the balance of bacterial strains in your body. Some beneficial and benign bacteria will be weakened or eliminated. This provides the opportunity for harmful bacterial strains that aren't susceptible to the antibiotic to get more nutrients/resources and outcompete the beneficial bacteria. Excessive antibiotic use leads to the eradication of bacteria that are susceptible to antibiotics and the growth of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.

This is an oversimplified explanation, but it covers the basic idea.

HTH.

David

 

[DizBelle]

Your body is filled with bacteria. Billions of them... almost all benign or beneficial, with a few harmful bacteria mixed in. Your body keeps these harmful bacteria in check almost all the time. It is aided in that work by the benign or beneficial bacteria, which compete with the harmful bacteria for nutrients, etc.

When you take antibiotics without need for them, you are changing the balance of bacterial strains in your body. Some beneficial and benign bacteria will be weakened or eliminated. This provides the opportunity for harmful bacterial strains that aren't susceptible to the antibiotic to get more nutrients/resources and outcompete the beneficial bacteria. Excessive antibiotic use leads to the eradication of bacteria that are susceptible to antibiotics and the growth of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.

This is an oversimplified explanation, but it covers the basic idea.

HTH.

David

Finally! I have a clue.... Thanks!

For some reason, I didn't think about all of the bacteria already in my system (supposed to be there and serve a purpose) that would be affected by the antibiotics and how the result affects the "bad" bacteria.

 

[RMulieri]

David has it correct.For instance look at the headliner...MRSA. (methicillin resistant staph aureus) Now Staphlococcus Aureus is a very normal occuring bacteria present on the surface of your skin and mucous membranes .If you get a break in the skin and they enter the body most often your immune system reacts.But in the case of superinfection you would require an antibiotic to treat it.Thanx to rampant antibiotic abuse these little bacteria have learn to evolve so that the strongest antibiotics in our arsenal no longer have any effect .

 

[gmi3804]

The thing I hate the most is "stinky rides."

Those handle pads on Splash Mountain and Primeval Whirl are musty and gross. I don't know how anyone touches them. Yuck!