Why do we all keep getting gastro?!?!?

Agree.

I always close the lid & keep toothbrush in a closed cabinet, and sterilize frequently. Also wipe the lid, seat and toilet flusher frequently with bacteria killing agent.

Do you do revolting smelling burps when you're in a flare up?

To me it sounds like the same bug just reoccurring and you’re not fully getting rid of it and it’s just sitting dormant in your system.

I would take a probiotic and see if it helps but it might be worth seeing the doctor as you might need a dose of something to completely clear it.

Do you keep your toothbrushes out in close vicinity to the toilet and if so do you close the lid before flushing? Fecal matter is sprayed in all directions for up to 2 metres when you flush the toilet so if your toothbrushes are out then they are a possible point of infection.

Do you know what the stool samples were tested for? Because giardia is a parasite so unless they're testing for oocytes it wouldn't show up. It tends to sort of lie dormant in the gut and flare every few weeks. My cat had it years ago and I researched it because I was SO paranoid about one of us catching it (we probably wouldnt have because the cat most probably had the feline type which I don't think humans can get - but I'm a worrier)
I have would check with GP if you have been tested for that because the treatment is a course of antibiotics but they're not the usual ones I don't think. Also cryptosporidium might need a specific test but I'm not sure on that

Sometimes having a few tummy bugs regularly can completely mess up the gut biome which will continue the tummy upsets even once the initial virus has left your system. Have you tried a course of probiotics? Optibac probiotics are good and they do ones for kiddies too.

People for some reason often don't suspect cooked left over rice. It should be refrigerated and not left out. My mum used to store it outside the fridge. She gave the dog food poisoning several times.

TrishM80 I hate the term too, now it will make me think of upset stomachs

Maybe you're too clean? You need to expose yourself to some bacteria to build up immunity.

Change tooth brushes ASAP.

My first thought is that the nanny is poisoning the food, but I've probably been listening to too many detective novels.

This is an excellent lesson, nothing like a practical demonstration, but oh my goodness I'm wincing at the idea of cleaning that up properly given how many surfaces would have been touched (and there you have the exact reason bugs spread so easily)! 🤔🙄🤣

Do you have one of those fridge water systems? I will never use them as they can easily get full of mould.

What's your diet like? Is there a problem with what you're all eating?

It's usually the oral fecal route.

I used to do a test with students, put washable face paint on their hands, hand out some cans of pop and plastic cups and then just carry on with the lesson, the room is soon covered with facepaint.

You could try this with your family, different colour on each person and you can see what each of you are touching.

Obviously if you have white carpet it might not be a good idea.

That's why I hate the term "gastropub", reminds me of gastroenteritis.

Do you keep all of your toothbrushes together?

Me and DH (and then just me on my own) have had this a few times. Things to consider (which you probably already have, but worth mentioning:

• have you been abroad recently? Could you have picked something up whilst away that's a recurring thing? Things like malaria tablets play havoc with my stomach for months afterwards

• as others have said, water bottles. A common culprit. Have you got a "hygiene" wash on your dishwasher? You should probably run through anything like water bottles/chopping boards/silicone sippy cups etc through on a super hot wash to rule out that being cause of reinfection

• same goes for bedding etc

• also checking the filters on dishwashers and washing machines and kettles

• disinfecting all "touch points" in the house, so handles, light switches, remotes

Deep Clean the dishwasher ?

Have you checked that you're cleaner is using separate cloths for things and cleaning them between visits?

My toddler has had recurring gastro issues, went to the doctor who said it can cause a short term dairy intolerance. Cut that out and in a week he was fine.

I steam clean the house after any bug - light switches, handles, bannisters, doors.... every surface I can find including bathroom walls and the front door. I then use Dettol / similar in the car - handles, hard surfaces etc.

Is the toddler at a day care or nursery? Are they having outbreaks at the same time as your family? I wonder how they are cleaning and if it includes handles etc.

Check all water bottles, bottle prep machines, coffee machines as well...

When is the last time you ran a hot cleaning cycle on your washing machine? Cold washing doesn’t kill bacteria, so it’s important you keep up your washing machine cleaning cycle.

Have you also made sure all surfaces are properly cleaned down with anti-bac and anti-viral?

Either some bad bacteria- plastic drink bottles? Helicobacter pylori?

Lack of good bacteria in the guts- would introduce probiotics.

My friends family had this and it turns out that the bottles of milk the toddler was having were just being drunk slowly through the day, probably teeming with bacteria.

Also another family I knew didn't realise you had to wash bottles before sterilising. They thought the steriliser would do it.

Is there something about food prep you might have missed?