Can I get the stomach flu again from the same person I caught it from?

March 19, 2015 5:05 PM

I had my first case of gastroenteritis a few days ago, and while it was thankfully a brief experience, I'm not sure if I should be worried about catching it again from my girlfriend, who gave it to me after being sick herself a week prior. Am I now immune? (Just from her, I'm assuming I can catch it from another source just like I could at anytime.)

We're supposed to spend a weekend away together, and even though we both feel fine now, I'm worried that instead we should be avoiding each other for a week or two. (I am being vigilant about handwashing. I'm also doing a thorough cleaning of my house now that I'm feeling better.) Thanks for any reassurance you can give me that I won't spend another sad night puking anytime soon!

posted by the thorn bushes have roses to Health & Fitness (4 answers total)

There's nothing stopping you from catching it from her, gastro isn't something you can be immune to.

But the contagion period is brief, and if you are both feeling better is it unlikely that you will give it to each other again. Maybe keep your mouths away from anywhere that fecal matter is commonly found, and keep up your handwashing after touching those places, but the risk is low.
posted by Lyn Never at 5:35 PM on March 19, 2015

If anything, wouldn't it be YOU who would re-infect HER, since you were sick more recently? I don't understand why you think she is more likely to make you sick. Regardless, you are fine. If this was a thing then families would basically never recover from illness because diseases would be endlessly passed back and forth between partners and children forever until everyone dies. That is not what happens.
posted by gatorae at 5:35 PM on March 19, 2015

You can actually become immune to at least some norovirus strains. I looked it up and some modeling work suggests that norovirus immunity lasts on the order of a few years. Some previous work suggested around 6 months. Shedding apparently can continue for a couple of weeks though.
posted by en forme de poire at 5:51 PM on March 19, 2015

Immune is a strong statement. If you are certain that you gave the illness to her then yes you have good reason to believe that you will not get sick again. Unfortunately especially with gastro infections it really is harder to say who where when....plus the whole could it be food poisoning aspect.

If you both have had the same illness then there is no reason to stay apart. Honestly it's not worth breaking reservations as long as you both feel well at the time.
posted by boobjob at 12:35 AM on March 20, 2015