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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not follow the 48 hour D&V rule, because no one cares?

54 replies

dreamingbohemian · 13/12/2012 10:54

Okay so I have been brainwashed advised by countless MN threads that it's incredibly selfish to take your DC to school or other things without waiting 48 hours after D&V.

I thought this would be universal advice, but now I find myself living in a place where people seem a lot less worried about it.

Last week DS had some mild D&V -- he threw up a few times and had some diarrhea but was not really sick otherwise, was still happy and bouncing around.

My DH thought he should still go to the childminder on the second day, when he didn't throw up at all, but I said no because it hadn't been 48 hours. She also looks after a baby and a little girl who seems to get ill a lot so I thought that was fair enough.

Except, then DH had to take DS to the doctor to get a sick note (so DH could take off work) and the doctor said no, there's no 48 hour rule. And it turns out our childminder would have been fine with having him.

So in future, AIBU to not follow the 48 hour rule, because it's not actually a rule here?

(I'm in France btw)

OP posts:
LucyLui25 · 13/12/2012 12:33

It's usually a case of 48 hrs in a nursery/cm etc as children are much younger and tend to put things in their mouth and cannot manage their own personal hygiene. For staff within these settings its usually 24hrs (as staff shouldnt be putting toys in their mouth, and always wash their hands) I believe schools and probably pre schools are 24 hr for the same reason, that the children should be better equiped to manage their hygiene, however i don't think there is an actual harda nd fast rule!

Tailtwister · 13/12/2012 12:52

We have a 48h rule at ds1's school. There have been numerous notices up to remind people of it and several emails from the school nurse, so clearly the message still isn't getting through. Ds1 was off for a week to ensure we met the 48h exclusion. It really annoys me when others don't do the same. The rule is there for a reason and yet again some selfish parents think it doesn't apply to them. Consequently, it's spread through the place like wildfire.

Yanbu to think it op. I felt the same way.

BatCave · 13/12/2012 12:52

I would follow it. From my own experience it's people in the community bringing in these bugs to hospital because they "feel fine" that is half the problem with vulnerable hospitalised people getting sick and ward closures that cost the NHS a lot of money each year. Our hospital advice is 48 hours after last symptoms, ad that is what infection control go by with regards to opening/ keeping wards closed/patients isolated. This costs so I don't think they'd do it if they didn't need to. It's not something solely seen in childcare

Original poster
dreamingbohemian · 13/12/2012 13:22

Hmm.

Do you think it matters what the setting is, i.e., childminder vs nursery vs school?

I wonder if it's not as bad sending him to a childminder within 48 hours, as she can keep a better eye on him, make sure he washes his hands a lot, etc. Also she will know if any of the other children are also sick or vulnerable.

OP posts:
zzzzz · 13/12/2012 14:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hazeyjane · 13/12/2012 14:50

I don't think it makes any difference if it cm, nursery, school, work or any other public place tbh.

As I said earlier, it is 48 hours in hospital, despite constant handwashing and use of handgels.

wheredidiputchristmas · 13/12/2012 15:02

I go with either 48hr rule or until Dc have eaten properly as I don't see the point of sending them back to school until they are better.

Both my eldest and youngest have had D & V this week and neither were well enough to go to school after 24 h.

Jelly15 · 13/12/2012 16:38

"Dreaming" What if the childminder then gets sick because you thought it was ok, as she can keep a better eye on him, then she gets sick beacuse of children coming back to soon after D&V, then you have no childcare and have to take even more time off. Really selfish attitude as the childminder probably has no income for those days she is ill and might have been avoidable.

OTTMummA · 13/12/2012 17:05

Just because your child is fine with being sick, doesn't mean that everyone else they spread it to will cope just as well, you wouldn't or rather shouldn't think it's ok to spread chickenpox to vulnerable people just because your LO is coping with it just fine. IMVHO d&v stricken people should be on lock down until 48hrs. It is 24 hrs for one instance in the food industry, 48hrs after the last instance if sick more than once. I really dislike these selfish people who don't care who catches every bug that runs through them or their children.

zzzzz · 13/12/2012 17:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
dreamingbohemian · 13/12/2012 19:45

Well, this is why I'm asking what people think, exactly because I don't want to be selfish.

zzzz I just meant at least the childminder will know if any the kids he comes into direct contact with are already sick (her kids and the other mindees).

It just feels a bit odd, if the childminder says she's happy to have him, and he hasn't been sick for a day, to insist he stay home, especially because sometimes that will mean losing a day's pay.

I would still do so, if people think that's really the right thing to do, that's why I'm soliciting thoughts.

OP posts:
rednailpolish · 15/12/2012 20:24

i think you should observe the 48 h rule!
kids particulary are infectious for up to 72 hours after the last incidence of D&V, it also wipes them out and so sending them to school is a bit harsh. But mainly, its really not ok to spread it about! D&V is very serious for some people, you would not be aware if there were any vulnerable children your child is coming into contact with... for example, my friends child had leukemia and bugs and illness had very serious consequences for her and her treatment... some things are more important than losing a days pay or missing a day of school... just because some people dont observe the advice doesnt mean its not good advice to follow

Booboostoo · 15/12/2012 21:24

French guidelines on return to school/creche for a variety of illnesses here:
www.nouvelon.ca/partenaires/documents/en_route_vers_la_maternelle.pdf

It's 48 hours for D&V.

(the French have an insane bureaucracy, it would be very surprising if they didn't have something like this in writing, although they do have poor internet access for all these documents).

Booboostoo · 15/12/2012 21:24

Sorry should have said, it's on page 22.

BartletForTeamGB · 15/12/2012 21:27

Health Protection Agency says 48 hours

Startail · 15/12/2012 21:46

48 is new, pointless in schools unless you are the first person to be ill as the bugs bounce round utterly regardless.

Clearly it makes sense to avoid taking bug to work or for my lot to go to Guides where everyone else goes to different schools to them, in a totally different town.

Original poster
dreamingbohemian · 15/12/2012 21:47

Ah thank you booboo, that's interesting

Yes don't get me started on French bureaucracy! Grin

OP posts:
MsElleTow · 15/12/2012 21:56

It's no wonder that Norovirus is rife when people don't follow the infection control guidance given out by the health protection agency!

If my DC's school, nursery, or childminder told me it was OK to send them back less that 48 hours after D&V I would find out who to report them do so they could be given the information on why it is dangerous to allow this!

ProudAS · 16/12/2012 15:36

48 hour rule seems to be a British thing - in some parts of world they only advise adults to stay off work for this length of time if handling food or working in high risk environment such as a nursing home. Could be different for children who are much more tactile and not so good with hygiene though.

CakeInMyFace · 16/12/2012 16:10

Norovirus can live on surfaces for up to two weeks and can be spread several days after the last bout of sickness. My friends with children usually allow 72 hours before coming into contact with anyone. It is highly contagious. We had it last year and every single member of my family got it one by one.

As others have said just because you or your child feels fine doesn't mean they are no longer contagious. If everyone was more diligent maybe these bugs would not be so bad. I personally think its incredibly selfish not to follow these guidelines.

CakeInMyFace · 16/12/2012 16:12

Even the most diligent adult who is ott with hygiene can spread it because these bugs are very resistant...hand gels don't work either.

Enigmosaurus · 16/12/2012 16:15

If more parents at my dc school had followed the 48 hour rule imposed by the school and recommended by the Health Protection Agency, my family probably wouldn't have caught norovirus twice within 3 weeks and the school probably wouldn't have had to close twice to deep clean to get rid of it.

YABU.

agedknees · 16/12/2012 18:52

I work in the NHS. If I have d&v I cannot go back in until I have been free of symptoms for 48 hours.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 16/12/2012 21:06

Booboo - those guidelines are Canadian not French!

Mia4 · 16/12/2012 21:59

It's a good idea when dealing with Norovirus but not necessarily with others imo. Especially not food poisoning or if they seem perfectly fine during and 24 hours after. You are still infectious 2 days after with noro although some people can excrete the virus for up to 2 weeks after.