Talk me through a sickness bug please

[househelpneeded24]

Hi, I'm terrified of sick and am just needing some advice please.

My DS has a bug, he was first sick on Friday morning and was totally fine since until last night when D&V began.

My DD hasn't yet got it and I'm trying to prevent it but I'm not 100% sure how. I'm cleaning up after him immediately, washing hands and spraying door handles, toilet flushes etc.

They share a bedroom where he was ill in the night. I took him out as soon as I realised (he was sick in his sleep) and bicarb-ed the mattress along with a load of antibacterial spray. Is she likely to catch it anyway? Are these things airborne?

She is meant to be out today with friends and I'm obviously not wanting to pass it on, she missed a party last week due to severe stomach cramps so I'll feel terrible for her to have another rubbish weekend but would feel worse if we're the cause of her friends being ill. Although they're all at the same school and it seems to be going through each class ATM so it seems pretty inevitable.

Thanks for any advice, I'm hating this!

I've just been recovering from a really severe sickness bug this past week- {Norovirus?} - in a family situation, it's a lottery as a fair amount {according to research} is airbourne droplets.

Poor son for vomiting in his sleep- he was lucky he didn't choke.

Bleach is the only thing I know of that kills norovirus {from looking online} -

It spreads so virulently as people send kids out while they are still shedding the virus - or they themselves don't stay away from others for 48 hrs after last symptom.

Two people working in a wedding cake bakery sickened over two thousand people with norovirus via infected icing.... They hadn't washed their hands properly and were still shedding virus while using loo &c.

It's one tough virus.

@househelpneeded24 Antibacterial spray is for bacteria....Norovirus type illnesses are viral, and a different beast entirely.

Hand gels and antibacterial spray don't actually work on Noroviruses - Bleach for surfaces and soap and water for hands to physically remove viral particles from hands are recommended.

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/publications/health-matters/the-stomach-bug-why-soap-is-better-than-hand-sanitizer-to-prevent-norovirus#:~:text=The%20germs%20that%20cause%20norovirus,linens%20immediately%20in%20hot%20water.

Ah thank you!! I'll go over everything with diluted bleach, I obviously can't do that with fabric so washing everything on hot and putting his mattress outside to air is ok? It's been bicarbonate and dettol sprayed to get rid of the smell. All bedding on a 90°. All windows open.

Can I bleach the child? Semi joking.

He was also sick in his sleep on Friday, I kept him with me in the front room last night and watched him like a hawk.

Would you keep the sibling with no current symptoms away from people also? Are you infectious if you're not yet sick?

You might be able to tell that this is my absolute least favourite bug. We've had it so many times and each time I panic.

I have emetophobia (have had therapy for it and whilst not recovered I cope better these days) and there is a spray you can order on Amazon for Noro. I keep a bottle under the sink.

I always use illness as a good time to have a proper clean of all the things little hands touch - light switches, remote controls, door handles etc as well as keeping the toilet clean after use.

I have 3 DC and as a rule they don't seem to catch each others sickness bugs. DC2 is the most susceptible - she recovering from one at the moment - but noone else has got it, so the rest of us have gone about our usual life.

I don't keep well children home but I do make sure we observe the school's 48 hour rule and I wouldn't see people who weren't 48h clear (for example we had a family gathering recently and one of the children were only 24h post last puking episode so we didn't go)

Would you keep the sibling with no current symptoms away from people also? Are you infectious if you're not yet sick?

Simple answer is no but it's a judgement call.

My own kids would be fine. I know over the past 11 years they've never all caught the same sickness bug.

My SIL though, I would expect her to minimise contact as her sickness bugs always, always take out all 4 of her children.

I'll take my chances I think, she's bouncing around looking totally fine. I'm kind of hoping the severe stomach cramps might have been it last week for her. I took her to OOH on the advice of 111 and they found no reason for them. Her and I tend to get through these things with zero or minimal symptoms whilst DS and OH get it all way worse - or just deal with it way worse, who knows.

Bucket of bleach and 20 cloths, here I come!

I would say to remind yourself, even though being sick is something you hate it will not hurt you. You will survive if you get it. Do what you can to reduce risk but distract yourself and what will be will be.

Thank you for the help and advice. Every time we get this and get through it I'm reminded that it doesn't last long and it wasn't that bad but then it happens again and the panic is back. I know it's a totally normal bug with young primary aged kids who generally are pretty disgusting overall. I would just rather it wasn't in my house 😂

Poor mite is still fast asleep, I need to get some food into him at some point soon as he has his pear drop breath he gets when ill. I'm hoping a bit of banana or a lolly will stay down.

Plus a bath as he was sick in his hair 🤢