Clair Posted December 24, 2008 Share Posted December 24, 2008 As is usual this time of year in France, there is a country-wide gastroenteritis epidemy.The latest news and forecast are shown below:http://www.service-public.fr/actualites/00870.html (in Google English HERE)[IMG]http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q296/clair46/Gastro-2.jpg[/IMG]Prevention advice: http://www.invs.sante.fr/surveillance/gastro_enterites/prevention.htm (in Google English HERE) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giantpanda Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Hi!With a gastro, you should be aware, that at the time when you want to start vomiting you can pass out ( this is however the exception ) - not only once ,but several times one after another.That can happen with people who have heart problems, arrhythmic beats. Or if you were lying down since some time, and suddenly get up.Of course this can be dangerous, depending on how you fall.Whether it necessary to call the Samu immediately is difficult to decide. You should in all cases talk to your doctor the same day.Many doctors will recommend a " carotid Doppler ", ( this can happen if the arteria should be slightly clogged up. This examination can be done in a quarter of an hour by a specialist , and is painless ( they just go with feeler on the carotid veins, and get a picture of its state ).Normally when you regain consciousness there are no troubles ( movement arms , dizzyness, speech ) - If there are toubles, then it can be something much more serious, and you need to reach a hospital within 3 hours.Yours,giantpanda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyC Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Is nobody in France red green colour blind? I find those maps completely useless! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Dark glasses might help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owens88 Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Just what do the French eat at Christmas that causes such a problem? John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 And why the regional variations? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 [quote user="Owens88"]Just what do the French eat at Christmas that causes such a problem?[/quote]Oysters, shellfish, foie gras?Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 [quote user="Owens88"] Just what do the French eat at Christmas that causes such a problem? [/quote]Whatever they ate on Christmas eve, reheated?Fridges stacked to the gunnels with food waiting to be cooked and leftovers, and possibly struggling to maintain sufficient refrigeration?Also, with large family gatherings at this time of year, more people will be sharing toilet and kitchen facilities, and not everyone washes their hands between the two (not a slur on French hygiene BTW, just as likely to happen elsewhere). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted January 5, 2009 Author Share Posted January 5, 2009 [quote user="Cat"]Also, with large family gatherings at this time of year, more people will be sharing toilet and kitchen facilities, and not everyone washes their hands between the two (not a slur on French hygiene BTW, just as likely to happen elsewhere).[/quote]Couldn't agree more.My old neighbour would not consider turning on her washing machine for a few items and she would soak her smalls in a washing-up bowl, which would later be used to rinse the veg for lunch.She was bemused when I suggested this might explain why she would get gastro regularly... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cerise Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Certainly in our rural part of France hygiene is not what you could wish. I firmly believe that constant hand shaking is part of the problem. I try hard to avoid shaking hands with all and sundry in the village and always wash my hands immediately I get back. I makes me want to heave to see some old chap with a disgusting hanky wiping his nose, then immediately holding out his hand to shake hands, or even worse having a pee and then doing the same. If forced into personal contact I prefer to 'faire la bise' as at least you can do vague air kissing. Even in people's houses toilets often don't have a wash basin and it is rare for anyone to show you where you can wash your hands. A new teacher at our local school caused mayhem by insisting on all small children washing their hands after using the loo. Elementary hygiene precautions do often seem to be a bit lacking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 In this area women do not shake hands with men. Not proper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 [quote user="Clair"]My old neighbour would not consider turning on her washing machine for a few items and she would soak her smalls in a washing-up bowl, which would later be used to rinse the veg for lunch.[/quote][:D]Reminds me a bit of the chef I once knew. I asked him one day how he got on with salmonella."Oh, I do it in breadcrumbs, like the scampi". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 A good way of building up a good defence is to eat lots of raw shellfish (mussels oysters etc) steak tartare unpasteurised cheeses etc. , and not wash too much.That way your body develops a good immune system.A lot of health problems (asthma in children for example) are linked to over zealous hygiene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Re Cerise's post, I read that when Obama visited Bush in the White House to be shown around, one of Bush's pieces of advice to the other man was to constantly wash his hands in order to avoid having flu.That makes sense when you think how many times a day the President must shake people's hands.Re Norman's post, I don't mind eating oysters and unpasteurised cheeses but I have a resistance to not washing. Madame la voisine clearly hardly ever washes and I am having to try not to gag when she comes in to see me (and she comes in practically everyday at some time in the day!)[:(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted January 5, 2009 Author Share Posted January 5, 2009 Seemingly the problem is not confined to France:The winter vomiting bug is sweeping through schools and hospitalsWinter vomiting bug and flu put NHS under pressure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 [quote user="NormanH"]A good way of building up a good defence is to eat lots of raw shellfish (mussels oysters etc) steak tartare unpasteurised cheeses etc. , and not wash too much.That way your body develops a good immune system.A lot of health problems (asthma in children for example) are linked to over zealous hygiene[/quote]Whilst I agree that we all have to eat a peck of dirt before we die, in the case of winter gastros that advice is way off mark. The majority of winter gastros are caused by noroviruses, which are often present in raw oysters and other shellfish, and transmitted between people by the "faecal oral route". Immunity to the virus, if it occurs at all, is very short lived. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Just in case anybody ever forgets my husband printed out the World Heath organisation warning and stuck it to the mirrors in the bathroom and cloakroom - we also use that gel you can use without water....[:(]I remember Oprah once saying that she never touches the door handle with her bare hands in a strange or public bathroom... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 [quote user="Russethouse"]Just in case anybody ever forgets my husband printed out the World Heath organisation warning and stuck it to the mirrors in the bathroom and cloakroom - we also use that gel you can use without water....[:(]I remember Oprah once saying that she never touches the door handle with her bare hands in a strange or public bathroom...[/quote]I have never been to a public bathroom.A public lavatory yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitty Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 [quote user="sweet 17"] That makes sense when you think how many times a day the President must shake people's hands.[/quote]Doesn't the Queen always wear gloves on walk abouts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 [quote user="NormanH"][quote user="Russethouse"]Just in case anybody ever forgets my husband printed out the World Heath organisation warning and stuck it to the mirrors in the bathroom and cloakroom - we also use that gel you can use without water....[:(]I remember Oprah once saying that she never touches the door handle with her bare hands in a strange or public bathroom...[/quote]I have never been to a public bathroom.A public lavatory yes.[/quote]You have lead a sheltered life...[:)][:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 My mind boggles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 The public bath-house was only recently closed in my local town (it is now the tourist office) it will only take another couple of generations before people will start bathing or showereing in their own homes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 I have on the other hand eaten in a (converted) public baths in Montpellier... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Norman - Oprah is American - 'bathroom' is a commonly used American expression for the place you go when you want to pee...[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 [quote user="Russethouse"]Norman - Oprah is American - 'bathroom' is a commonly used American expression for the place you go when you want to pee...[:)][/quote]I was once riding in the borders (England/Scotland) in the company, amongst others, of an American lady. We were atop a bleak hill, miles from civilisation, in the p*ss*ng rain when she blithely asked where the bathroom was. The rest of us almost fell off our horses in hysterics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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