I'm in college and today, my roommate claims she's come down with the stomach flu. I need to know what I can do to prevent getting this virus. It's the last two weeks of the semester and the last week before finals...I don't have anywhere else I can stay aside from skipping class and driving home. There is a "study room" on our floor, but that is currently occupied by a pregnant girl (long story) so staying in there is out. I have a massive phobia of vomiting and I just got over a nasty cold, so I'm trying to prevent having this too. Any advice?

Clean everything. Wash your hands. I mean there is not much you can do.

She might not be that sick. I had a suitemate in college who skipped classes over everything little thing and blew it out of proportion. A headache was a migraine. Her throat hurt it was strep etc.

Use Lysol on anything you both touch. Don't forget door knobs, light switches, remote control etc. I would also recommend spraying down the bathroom you use, even if the dorm has a cleaning service. Wash your hands frequently, always before eating, and be conscious about not putting your hands on face. Make sure you use soap, water, and paper towels, not just antibacterial gel. My school used to only provide antibacterial gel until a student did some research and found that it didn't always kill the stomach flu. If your school only has antibacterial gel, then buy your own soap and paper towels and leave them in the bathroom for everyone to use (perhaps leave some lysol too). That way you'll avoid getting sick and so will your hall mates, making it more likely you won't get sick. Alert your RA to the matter, s/he can be sure to alert the cleaning staff so they know to be extra thorough. The stomach flu usually only lasts 24-48 hours. Try not to alienate your roommate during that time unless she wants to be left alone. If you can, maybe get her some ice chips, gatorade, saltines or whatever. I'll never forget how nice some of my hallmates were when I was up sick all night once, getting me a cold washcloth for my head and stuff. My roommate, meanwhile left and stayed with her boyfriend.

Lysol WITH BLEACH. Again...WITH BLEACH. Bleach is the only thing that kills norovirus (which is sometimes the stomach flu culprit). Wash your hands . But seriously bleach down EVERYTHING she may have touched., It may not be enough to prevent it...but I'm talking things like light switches, all doorknobs, tv remotes, the entire bathroom. My housemate got sick a year ago and my other roommate and I avoided the stomach flu by avoiding her and bleaching our house.

I would 100% alienate myself from my roommate and I would not feel bad about it. I would leave her gifts of things she might need (get some gatorade, saltines, applesauce) but there is no one I would spend extra time comforting her. My long distance boyfriend just had the stomach flu. It killed me to have to not touch him or kiss him, but I cannot risk getting sick right now. Whenever I get a stomach virus I am out for a week and that is just not possible in the program i am in right now. It's nice to be nice to your roommate when they are sick but you need to look out for your own health too and avoid spreading it to even more people.

EDIT:
It seems like you might be in a dorm. I agree with above who says alert the RA so the staff can clean the bathroom (since you probably can't...). That is how this stuff spreads through ENTIRE dorms. A dorm got shut down on my campus (before my time) because there was a bad stomach virus that spread through the girls bathroom there.

I'd imagine she's got something else. The stomach flu is the type of bug that just slugs you upside the head, not the type of bug that takes it's time and announces that it's coming. If she feels like she's coming down with something, it's not the stomach flu.

Do everything everyone else is suggesting, and also get yourself some Vitamin C tablets. I recommend taking 1000mg in the morning and 1000mg at night.

The stomach flu is the type of bug that just slugs you upside the head, not the type of bug that takes it's time and announces that it's coming.

Where are you reading this? I read that the roommate has come down with stomach flu. Not that she is gradually coming down with it or anything like that. I'd word it the same way as she did.

My advice is probably not practical but I would try to stay somewhere else or a hotel.

I'm deadly afraid of the stomach bug

Hey,

I have a phobia of vomiting too, but only other people. I'm the member of a forum and the biggest piece of advice they give when people are trying to avoid the stomach flu is to keep your hands clean and away from your face.

I hope you can avoid it

Heh, if she has stomach flu (which I'm assuming is norovirus or similar?) then you'll know about it, believe me. As T said, it doesn't announce itself and you'd have a hard time hiding it.