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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask whether you'd be happy for somebody with bronchitis to come stay?

51 replies

royaldavescity · 16/12/2014 12:19

Would you be happy for somebody who has bronchitis (acute viral, so therefore contagious) to come stay with you for 3 nights if:

You had a 3yo, who currently has a virus themselves (cough, temperature) but otherwise usually in good health;
and an adult who has a weakened immune system (diabetic)

Or would you ask them to make alternative plans?

We're talking about over Xmas so still a week away obviously, but said person is older so unlikely to get over the bronchitis quickly. Assuming that they will still be symptomatic next week, would you be happy for them to come?

OP posts:
ellenjames · 16/12/2014 13:57

No way !

littlemslazybones · 16/12/2014 13:59

I would feel bad and I may feel unreasonable but I'd still ask them not to come. There's not enough give in this family for a round of illness to not have a big impact so limiting the risk is a priority.

Original poster
royaldavescity · 16/12/2014 14:00

If they're coughing and sneezing then yes they'll still be contagious

Hope your baby gets well soon deckthehalls.

OP posts:
DeckTheHallsWithBartimaeus · 16/12/2014 14:14

Thanks.

It does feel rude to ask someone not to come but hopefully they would understand.

The baby is on antibiotics + inhaler (with a face mask - such fun) + nose spray + tablets to sooth his tummy after the antibiotics.

Several times a day.

It is not fun!

But the worst are the nights. I was up all night for a week with DS1 and it's been over a week now for DS2.

Still, DS2 is a lot perkier now than before so the end is in sight.

stitch10yearson · 16/12/2014 14:16

it depends. Most likely, I would be happy to have them if they are ok to come.

divingoffthebalcony · 16/12/2014 14:16

No, because it's bloody contagious.

I also wouldn't enjoy listening to them cough 24/7.

UnalignedAnt · 16/12/2014 15:12

No way. Why would you want someone hacking and gozzing in your home, even without a poorly baby? Selfish that they haven't uninvited themselves.

(Biased because of disorder that flares up when hit by germs, so I'd definitely tell them to do one.)

facedontfit · 16/12/2014 15:15

NO NO NO and NO again.

SqueezyCheeseWeasel · 16/12/2014 15:16

Not with your descriptions of an immunocompromised household, no.

Ketchuphidestheburntbits · 16/12/2014 15:25

No, I wouldn't.

My immune system is compromised and a few years ago I caught bronchitis from someone who came to visit a week before Christmas. I ended up ill in bed right through Christmas and New Year which was miserable. These days I won't see anyone who even has a cold at this time of year as I don't want a repeat. YADNBU

dirkdiggler1 · 16/12/2014 15:32

I got bronchitis man, ain't nobody got time for that.

MrTumblesBavarianFanbase · 16/12/2014 15:37

I have viral bronchitis and can't stay in bed as I have a 3 year old of my own... It is contagious but not wildly - I am hoping not to pass it on to my 3 year old nor to my other children and husband. There are also no medications to cure viral bronchitis, you can only treat the symptoms.

That said although you can have viral bronchitis and not be confined to bed, I would hate to feel obliged to visit anyone! The coughing is a nightmare, esp at night (is that a pun? Haven't got the brain power to be sure) normal things that you'd do without a second thought leave you winded, it's generally pretty miserable. I'd much rather be home alone than have to go and stay with somebody as a guest - quite apart from being perceived as a burden and a risk!

They probably won't want to come and stay if still ill, and won't enjoy it if they do.

Chunderella · 16/12/2014 15:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrTumblesBavarianFanbase · 16/12/2014 16:21

Forgot to say no, I don't think I'd welcome a guest with it with a 3 year old and an adult who might be worse than normally affected in the house. I'd hate the kids to get it, knowing how rotten it makes an adult woman feel... I would just think few people would want to be a guest in somebody else's home with it - I'm having to sleep sitting up because if the cough - they couldn't expect to be comfortable away from home especially if the house is full of guests.

Hope your baby's better soon Deck - there seem to be lots of MN ers with bronchitis atm Shock

MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 16/12/2014 16:38

If it was me with the bronchitis and I felt like shit I would be wanting to stay in my own home and not go anywhere.

Bulbasaur · 16/12/2014 16:42

No. No amount of "family love" would be worth the sick child afterwards.

It wouldn't be quality time anyway with the sick relative feeling miserable.

But if it was an out of country relative or they made plans months in advance to be here, I'd have a hard time turning them away. I would limit contact with my child though.

I also have the advantage of having no guest room and other relatives that live near by so people never stay with us.

boodles · 16/12/2014 17:29

This pisses me off. Why should YOU be made to feel rude, the sick person who still wants to come round your house on Christmas Day and spread their germs THEY are the unreasonable ones, not you!

MrTumblesBavarianFanbase · 16/12/2014 17:48

By the way if they still have viral bronchitis in 9 days time they'll probably have complications and need to be in hospital - my doctor said it should last around a week and not to leave it if I still had it on day 7.

Original poster
royaldavescity · 16/12/2014 18:03

Thanks for all the replies. I'm glad that the majority have said they wouldn't be happy, as wasn't quite sure if we were being overly neurotic.

OP posts:
watchingthedetectives · 16/12/2014 18:32

I think you are being a little bit neurotic - you have over a week to go so it is highly unlikely someone with acute viral bronchitis would still be infectious at this time even if they had some residual symptoms.

Is it someone you are not particularly keen on so this could be a good excuse?

naty1 · 16/12/2014 18:35

I think 3 yo would be fine as they would have recovered from what they have.
But more likely what if 3yo passed it on to bronchitis person?
I thought babies got bronchiolitis?
But no a long visit would be silly. As very likely to pass on if still have it.
Is this a reverse?

Original poster
royaldavescity · 16/12/2014 19:50

No it's not a reverse and it's not somebody we're not keen on either, far from it.

OP posts:
fieldfare · 16/12/2014 20:06

Absolutely not. I always catch anything respiratory related and it knocks me out for a week or so (asthmatic).

mumof6needssanity · 16/12/2014 20:13

Its a no here too.

Young baby, asthmatic ds, dh with heart failure and diabetic. Plus the other 4 dc and me, no way.

Greencurtain · 16/12/2014 21:08

No I would not. we went to MIL's one Christmas and bil's GF had an absolutely stinking cold. Thanks for that. Me and DH were ill and miserable for the entire of the rest of the Christmas period and wasted our precious annual leave time ill and able to do sod all.

Not to mention the fact that if your family and 3yo get it then you'll prob infect someone else etc etc. people say it's only a mild illness but it isn't once a vulnerable person catches it.