Recover faster from a stomach bug

I recently watched the movie "As Good As It Gets" withJack Nicholson and Helen Hunt. In the movie, Jack is anOCD sufferer who won't step on a sidewalk crack, he musthave the same waitress (Hunt) serve him in his favoritediner, and will only use his own plastic forks and knivesfor fear of germs.I can't blame him too much for the plastic flatware. After all, there are some nasty illnesses that can bespread by an unclean fork or knife...Like viral gastroenteritis--also known as a "stomach bug"or "flu bug."Most of us have had the agony of a stomach bug--wicked baddiarrhea and vomiting, fever, headache, chills andabdominal pain.And they're especially dangerous for children because thesymptoms can last for over a week and they run the risk ofdehydration which can be life-threatening.Viral gastroenteritis is HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS and the virusesmost responsible are rotavirus and norovirus. It can bespread as easily as just touching a utensil that aninfected person has used.It really hangs on too. Once you've had it, you can stillspread it to others for a week after your symptoms aregone. So you're not out of the woods once the puking hasstopped.Most medical care professionals say there's not much youcan do about viral gastroenteritis--rest, drinking fluidsand eating soft, bland foods are about it.But there is some exciting research being done thatsuggests that probiotics can help you recover faster fromviral gastroenteritis.