V&D outbreak should nursery have informed us?

[PetuniaButterworth]

DD (10months) started nursery on Monday and last night the whole house came down with V&D. The past 12 hours has been a literal shit show.

I telephoned the nursery this morning to confirm she wouldn't be in and they said the bug has been doing the rounds in the nursery for a few weeks, and it's die to everyone being back at school with siblings catching it.

Now I've started to feel a tiny bit human again I'm angry that they didn't tell us on Monday when she started, do they need to inform parents of an outbreak ? They also said to bring her back in on Monday if she's feeling better but would she be at risk of catching it again? My maternity leave doesn't end for another few weeks so I'm easily able to keep her with me for a while longer

TBH if nursery informed you every time a bug went round they'd never be off the phone.

I'd expect a call if it was something beyond cold/d&v or a major outbreak (big numbers out with it).

We tend to get a message if chicken pox is doing the rounds, or nits but not generally D&V. Not unless everyone’s getting it and it’s affecting staffing levels.

They should have a 48 hour sickness policy with D&V but I guarantee you not everyone will follow it.

They do pick up everything when they start nursery though.

I don't think so, we recently got a letter saying they'd informed public health about possible norovirus (and we got it a week later!) So I think in some circumstances they should, but to be fair you'd probably have got it anyway.

@TheRabbitStoleMyHat

We tend to get a message if chicken pox is doing the rounds, or nits but not generally D&V. Not unless everyone’s getting it and it’s affecting staffing levels.

They should have a 48 hour sickness policy with D&V but I guarantee you not everyone will follow it.

They do pick up everything when they start nursery though.

Yeah, you will get three or four of these before you start to get immunity. I don't think I had vomiting bug between the ages of 10 and 35 and now I get three a year (6 and 2 year old.)

What difference would it have made?

Two or more cases of d&V should trigger reminders to parents to keep children off after an episode and until they are 48hours clear. They should also be conducting enhanced cleaning if 2 or more linked cases (eg in the same room, with same illness, with onset within a defined time period - for d&V it's generally within 5 days to be considered linked)

Courtesy wise many setting notify parents as a matter of course; but they aren't obliged to if there isn't an outbreak based on the time/place/person criteria.

Thank you. I know I'm probably being a bit precious and she needs to catch these things to build up her immune system.

I came down with it slightly later than the rest of the family and my last vomit was 11am so I'm assuming that if everyone stays good until Sunday morning she'll be ok for nursery on Monday morning.

They should definitely have a sign up at the door, sending children home if they have a couple of loose nappies and be deep cleaning everything. I know kids need to be exposed to common bugs but they shouldn't just let D&V rip.