Skip to main content
Gastrointestinal Infection

How to Stomach Virus-Proof Your Family

Brittany DoohanKaren Hovav, MD, FAAP
Written by Brittany Doohan | Reviewed by Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP
Updated on January 31, 2025
Featuring Preeti Parikh, MDReviewed by Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP | January 31, 2025

If you know your child’s been exposed to a stomach virus from a friend or classmate, your main concern is preventing him or her from getting sick too. If your child has contracted the bug, here are tips to prevent other siblings and family members from getting sick, too, according to Preeti Parikh, MD, Pediatrician at Mount Sinai Hospital.

References

American Academy of Family Physicians. (2024). Stomach virus (gastroenteritis).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). How norovirus spreads.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

why trust our exports reliability shield

Why trust our experts?

Brittany Doohan
Written by:
Brittany Doohan
Brittany Doohan was the Content Director at HealthiNation and is currently the Editorial Director at Medscape. Through her work with Medscape, she won a Silver Telly Award in May 2022 for "Sleepless Nation: A Public Health Epidemic — Episode 2: A Decade Without a Diagnosis." She has worked in health journalism and video production for more than 8 years, and loves the challenge of explaining complex topics in an easy-to-understand and creative way.
Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP
Reviewed by:
Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP
Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP, has more than 15 years of experience as an attending pediatrician. She has worked in a large academic center in an urban city, a small community hospital, a private practice, and an urgent care clinic.
Green trust check markOur editorial standards
Green trust check markMeet our experts

Was this page helpful?

Latest articles

Does the BRAT Diet Help Treat Upset Stomach?
Video play button

The BRAT Diet for Stomach Discomfort: Does It Really Help?

1:40
Medication Education: side effects xifaxan

7 Xifaxan Side Effects and How to Manage Them

by Sheila Marie, PharmD • Jun 10, 2026
Health: Gastrointestinal infection: man sick at home 1141394531

How Long Does Stomach Flu Last, and How Can You Treat It?

by Angela Dunn, MD, MPH • Jun 1, 2026
Food Poisoning: tired man eating in kitchen 1331676150

What Should You Eat and Drink After You Get Food Poisoning?

by Nicole Andonian, MD • Mar 2, 2026
Children's Health: toddler drinking sippy cup-1192880539

Can You Make Pedialyte at Home? Yes, Here’s How to Do it Safely

by Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH • Aug 4, 2025
gastroenterology: man with abdominal pain 2163434783

5 Early Warning Signs of Diverticulitis

by Amy Walsh, MD, MDP • Nov 12, 2024
gastroenterology: abdominal pain sidewalk ambulance 1131889223

When to Go to the ER for Stomach Pain

by Shane McCarthy, DO • Sep 23, 2024
Food poisoning: stomach flu: crouched on bathroom floor 1345542537

What’s the Difference Between Food Poisoning and Stomach Flu?

by Michael Dreis, MD • Jun 6, 2024
doxycycline-dr: yellow red pills sunburst pattern on green background-896646946

How Long Does Doxycycline Take to Work? Plus, 6 More Doxycycline FAQs

by Amy B. Gragnolati, PharmD, BCPS • Jan 4, 2024
Is It Normal to Have Diarrhea Every Day?
Video play button

When to See a Doctor for Diarrhea

2:27
Health: Food poisoning: still life raw pork 1370658786

Trichinosis: How Undercooked Meat Can Cause More Than Food Poisoning

by Cherilyn Davis, MD • Feb 8, 2023
Gut health: cropped shot hands making heart on stomach-864494020

Good vs. Bad Bacteria: 5 Tips to Improve Gut Health

by Christina Palmer, MD • Dec 13, 2022