Night time vomit!

[NorthernGobshite]

My dd (6) was up through night complaining of stomach pain, was sick once and then went to sleep. This morning she was tired but happily ate breakfast so I sent her to school.

Am a bit confused as to why she'd be sick just the once - what could it be?

She has reflux but this has not caused vomiting since she was very small.

You're all a bit fighty tonight

Northern - if you haven't hidden this already. Quite a lot of different virii cause vomiting (as well as bacterial food poisoning). Quite often children will vomit once as they are coming down with something. Due to their immature immune systems they can appear to get better quicker than adults, but actually it's just because the virus inside the body is not being fought off so well that they don't present further symptoms (the symptoms tend to be a result of the immune response - getting rid of any food so the body can deal with the infection etc.).

The reason kids are kept off school is that they shed viral cells, on their breath, skin and of course anything else that may come out of them. They can look quite well and actually be carrying around all manner of horrors.

Which is why between September and March most kids do contract a lot of bugs. It's like a big viral soupbowl at school, they touch things and each other, cough and breathe all over one another etc and incubate multiple infections at once. And for good measure they've probably just come back from a holiday abroad featuring some really new and exciting bugs as well.

It doesn't seem to make sense when they seem well to keep them off I agree, but it's important to, not only to protect the well being of others in the school, but also because they could have a subclinical infection which will show up later in the day, or that requires them to rest so it does not present again later.

And yes it's mad that kids are judged on their attendance when they get sick at school.

I think I said "I realise near-hospitalisation for someone who hasn't experienced this is scary and serious" I didn't minimise your DD's illness. I told you I understood it was scary and serious. I also said thank goodness she was only almost hospitalised. However, you've hidden this thread now, so you won't see this comment that I understand how bad it can be.

It's not a competition, but your blatant disregard for others is mind-boggling. Your daughter was only sick once. Another child could have the same bug (passed on by your DD) and need hospitalisation.

I can sort of see her PoV though - the poor kid probably picked it up at school and the majority of the cohort do get it at the same time so it's hard to play 'who had it first and infected everyone' because the majority of these things are contagious for 72 hours before symptoms present.

You are pretty much damned whatever you do. My DS has been hospitalised a number of times (he only has asthma - he's not very ill) with routine viral infections and I just think he's going to get them anyway when he goes to school so there is no point in worrying.

Note - I understand if your child has a serious health problem you will worry, but for me, and DS there really is no point in my worrying. All I can do is teach him to wash his hands. I can't stop the bugs getting to him.