To think the UK is germ ridden?

[Doitnicelyplease]

Genuine question. I have not lived in the UK for more than 10 years and I am surprised at how often I read on here about people/kids in the UK getting sick.

For comparison I have a 5 year old DD in kindergarten, she has never had lice, worms, D&V bug, noro virus, chicken pox etc (touch wood). I also know lots of children this age and none of them have had any of these illnesses either. Usually kids here get colds, ear infections, coughs that type of thing.

There has never been an outbreak (in last 4 years) of any of these illnesses in her school or before that pre-school.

So are there children in the UK have also avoided these germs/bugs/viruses or would that be highly unusual?

I am not a germaphobe by the way and I know kids can't help catching these things, but I was just wondering if the UK has become a bit of a breeding ground for bugs over the last few years?

We've lived in a few different countries and my kids have been just as sick in all of them. Nit/worms notes came home from school just as frequently as well. The only difference that we found were CP obviously didn't do the rounds in the countries that vaccinate.

DS is three and has never required antibiotics, at most has fallen victim to a snuffly nose once or twice.

It's pure luck.

Both my ds's have had chicken pox. But other than that, are very rarely ill. Other than CP, I have had to take about 5 days off, to look after them, when they have a bad cough or cold, in the last say 3 years or so.
Ds1 has over 90% attendance for every year he has been at school.
Just one of those things.
Some kids are really sickly. Some in ds1's class seem to be off all the time.

Op sounds a bit sanctimonious and naieve. It has nothing to do with it being the UK, as a country. Her views just seem odd.

Germs aren't generally country specific other than those caused by specific parasites and neither is immunity. My son hasn't had any of the infections you mention. What an odd post.

It may have been an odd post but all the replies made for interesting reading, good to hear a wide range of experiences.

I conclude that the UK is not as germ ridden as I thought and my opinion was definitely skewed by reading about various bugs and illnesses on here.

I am neither sanctimonious or naive - just curious.

Havnt read through everything! Apologies.

I wonder if its the climate.

Bugs always seem to increase at the hange of season time, I think!

when I moved to the us (to work as au pair) I had every bug going in the winter. I think I had a cold from sept to march non stop.
and we had one memorable norovirus incident that had the whole family (including me) down at the same time.
I think if you move to a different country there are different strains about and your body has to get used to them.

'I conclude that the UK is not as germ ridden as I thought and my opinion was definitely skewed by reading about various bugs and illnesses on here.'

The thing is though, people are hardly likely to start threads entitled 'my childn isn't ill', so of course you get a skewed perspective from reading mumsnet.

My children were rarely ill in primary school, or nursery. I think not being too neurotic about ultra-hygiene helped.

My US friend, whose children are primary school aged, always has one or the other of them off with viruses. And it's doctors' appointments all the time. Over here we just keep them at home and give them Calpol if they really need it.