copycat illnesses in siblings. rant needed!

[coffeeandcake]

Grrrrr! DS2 (5). poorly over weekend with fever/lack of appetite/ irriatability etc. I'm not too worried - gut feeling says it's nothing 'nasty' (his friend had similar last week). in bed early, tlc, calpol etc.
DS1 (8). v v jealous of brother ANYWAY suddenly started being sick in bed - with wet fingers, no temp, vomit appearing only when I'm out of the room (and a history of making himself sick).
Am doing what i think is the right thing - reasonable (but brisk) sympathy. but feel so CROSS!!!! am spending time rushing around with the sick bowl for DS1, while DS2 quietly feels lousy.
sorry. i probably sound like a really cold mother. i recognise that DS1 needs time (we HAD spent extra time togehter whilst DS2 was in bed), but DS2's needs ALWAYS seem to come after DS1!!!

I'd say to Ds1 that you don't think he's got the same as ds2, but you don't want him to catch it, or ds2 to catch his.

Obviously ds2 is now convalescent so can come downstairs having started sooner. But ds1 is at the beginning so he better spend tomorrow in bed just in case. And only plain foods. Maybe a piece of toast and butter, (no jam) and water to drink.

That treatment helps dd2 recover remarkable quickly. She does a good fake illness.

Is he always jealous of his db or is it just jealous of the attention over being ill?

thanks dewe. that would have been a good thing to say! anyway, DS1 had made a remarkable recovery this morning & so went (grudgingly) to school, with the advice to tell the teacher if he felt unwell today.
DS2 had a raging temp in the night. he is off school.
DS1 is obsessively jealous of DS2, which is a real problem.