# How often do you get stomach bugs? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 22, 2015, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543 "2015-01-22T01:56:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543/1 "2015-01-22T01:56:16Z")
We had a big quarterly meeting today and our director left early because as he said “of all the things you want to see your director do, throwing up isn’t one of them.” This got me thinking about how some people seem to get stomach bugs several times a year and others never. What strikes me as odd is that it doesn’t really seem to depend much on if they have kids or not, because some of the people I know who get it the most are childless. One of them is even more of a germaphobe than I am, so in her case at least I doubt it’s lack of hand washing. Anyway, the last time I got a virus that made me throw up was sometime in elementary school, so definitely before the age of 11 and probably no later than age 9. I didn’t even get a single stomach bug when I worked with kids ages 1-6, though they did give me strep throat the only time I’ve ever had it _and_ 5th disease. How about you? ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543/2 "2015-01-22T02:11:12Z")
I can remember one time in my adult life that I had a stomach bug. I also ate some bad chicken once in 2000 that made me sick for a few hours. That’s it. No kids, not especially careful to avoid germy things. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543/3 "2015-01-22T02:36:04Z")
Twice. 1980, went to Egypt, ate too much street food on the first day or two, got dysentery. That was fucking horrible. But once I got through it I was able to eat or drink anything with impunity. Well, almost… 1994 or so, got a miserable but acute case of food poisoning (with spectacular projectile vomiting, bonus!) from health food store in Boulder CO (LOL really) organic fresh woo salsa. I travel a LOT overseas and am usually not at all careful and these were the only two times. No kids although I am often around them. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543/4 "2015-01-22T02:40:08Z")
Similar to the OP. I haven’t had a stomach bug since I was about 8, in the 70s. It’s odd, because I don’t take any special precautions and have some bad food prep habits that could probably easily lead to food poisoning, but I’ve been supremely lucky. I HATE throwing up. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543/5 "2015-01-22T03:07:44Z")
I get sick all the damn time. I get a stomach bug at least once a year and about half a dozen colds/respiratory things. I wash my hands regularly, I take my vitamins, etc. but it doesn’t help. I do deal with insomnia though and all I can figure is that not getting enough sleep apparently messes up your immune system. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543/6 "2015-01-22T03:13:33Z")
A few times a year. I’ve had really serious food poisoning twice in my life, and I seem to be susceptible to stomach bugs when others are not. Recently, my dad and I both ate some sausage soup that (unbeknownst to me) had been cooling on the stove all day–as per usual, I got sick that night while he was fine. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543/7 "2015-01-22T03:48:10Z")
A couple years ago, and it was awful. I could not keep a single swallow of anything down and must have thrown up 20 times in 36 hours. I got massively dehydrated and probably should have gone to urgent care, because it took me 3 days to get back on my feet and walk farther than the kitchen without feeling dizzy. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543/8 "2015-01-22T04:17:03Z")
Last time for me was maybe 2009 or thereabouts. I was at work on a friday and felt it coming on during the day and kept denying it until it finally overwhelmed me at around 5:30. There I was, sitting on the toilet and leaning against the stall, vomit in my underwear, wondering how I’m going to get home or if I’m going to get home at all. Welcome to the weekend! It finally passed and I made my way home and spent the weekend in bed. What a mess. The only other time before that that I can remember was when I was 10. It never came to vomiting, but one time I had some bad chinese food from a can and I’m swear I could taste it for weeks after. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543/9 "2015-01-22T04:51:00Z")
> [@pbbth](#): > > I get sick all the damn time. I get a stomach bug at least once a year and about half a dozen colds/respiratory things. I wash my hands regularly, I take my vitamins, etc. but it doesn’t help. I do deal with insomnia though and all I can figure is that not getting enough sleep apparently messes up your immune system. Similar: I get a nasty case of the runs, with cramps, nausea, and the sleepless night that comes with constant dashes to the jakes, four or six times a year, and a cough-and-sniffles cold maybe twice a year. The digestive distress is over in a day or three. The cough can linger for weeks and weeks. But the cough is very distinctly less unpleasant. Siege biology is no fun! ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543/10 "2015-01-22T04:52:42Z")
I don’t know if it’s “bugs” or merely stress, but every time I spend 10 days with my mother. Other than that, I can go years without any kind of stomach troubles. ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543/11 "2015-01-22T05:09:50Z")
Stomach bug almost never. I have cast iron guts in general. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543/12 "2015-01-22T06:22:46Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > I don’t know if it’s “bugs” or merely stress, but every time I spend 10 days with my mother. > > Other than that, I can go years without any kind of stomach troubles. Could it be the cooking? (Not being snarky, I hasten to add!) My sister cooks using more butter than I’m used to, and this has sometimes given me some distress. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543/13 "2015-01-22T12:49:10Z")
Very rarely. I can’t really remember having one in the last twenty years. I get migraines instead. ☹ Luckily they no longer include the fun of throwing up while it feels like a hot knitting needle is being stabbed into my head. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_I\_Am](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@Sam\_I\_Am](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_I_Am)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543/14 "2015-01-22T13:08:25Z")
In my adult life I had it once in uni, and maybe twice between then and when I had kids (10 years). In the 12 years of being a mom I’ve had it probably 5 times. I’ve heard that there is some (I guess genetic?) difference between those who vomit with a stomach bug, and those who don’t. I don’t tend to vomit (maybe one in 4 illnesses). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543/15 "2015-01-22T13:35:39Z")
Adventurous eating habits (lots of raw meat/fish/etc) leads me to occasional bouts of vomiting/diarrhea. Nasty to experience, but it hasn’t changed my culinary habits a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543/16 "2015-01-22T13:49:19Z")
When I was a grad student/TA at a big university, I got at least one every winter. Since I joined the world of industry, and later became a stay-at-home mom, I almost never get them. I think in the eight years since I left the academic scene I’ve had two. One very mild one this winter, and norovirus two winters ago. My daughter brought home both from daycare. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543/17 "2015-01-22T14:20:16Z")
Had some nasty infections & parasites when living in the Third World decades ago. But since then, essentially zero stomach issues. Constantly traveling across climates and hanging out in airports as I do I have tended to get a respiratory infection AKA “head cold” about every other year. I’m down for 3 or 4 days & then back to normal. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543/18 "2015-01-22T14:24:37Z")
Prior to kids, very rarely did I get sick enough to throw up. Now that I have a kindergartener and a pre-schooler (two of the most unhygienic species known to science), every couple of years it completely knocks me out. Like today: second day in a row sick from work. Imagine you grabbed an eclair in the middle and squeezed it hard? That was me. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543/19 "2015-01-22T15:25:34Z")
Once in college, once sometime in the 2000s and once about 5 years ago. The one from about 5 years ago was caught from my friends’ kids. My niece got some sort of stomach bug a couple years ago and I happened to be at her house when she first puked, and I had to help clean up and take care of her for a few hours (I was assisting my brother, who was in a cast). I was SURE I’d get whatever she had because I know how easy that stuff spreads. But I didn’t and I was pleased. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543/20 "2015-01-22T15:31:02Z")
The only two I remember for sure is 2010 in Peru and 2000 in China. There were a few times that I suffered from diarrhea, almost certainly due to bad food. But in terms of barfing, I get sick about once a decade, I guess. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-get-stomach-bugs/710543.md?page=2)