tummy bugs

[pinkkoala]

does anybody know how long a child is contagious for after a tummy bug, D & V.

my neighbours child had it about 10 days ago but she came round yesterday to play with my dd, the child didn't show any symptoms of it but i am paranoid about dd getting it, especially as at the moment we are visiting my friend every week who has just had prem baby and is in special care, i don't want to take any germs into hospital as he is already struggling.

i thought you had to be in direct contact with the D & V and ingest the germs, is this correct or is my dd still at risk after about 10 - 14 days just by playing. My dd knows she isn't to put her hands in her mouth at any times.

someone put my mind at rest.

You should be ok, usually 48 hours after last episode. Just make sure you keep washing hands before meals etc!

that was what i thought, but i have no medical knowledge, i also thought it was mostly hand to mouth that spread the germs is this correct, my dd always washes hands before food, after the toilet and when playing in garden.

i really do get annoyed when neighboyrs with children come round to play with my dd when they have been ill recently, with bugs or other nasties.

perhaps some people aren't as fussy as me.

anybody else have any opinions on D & V bugs.

Certainly school says that children should wait 48 hours after the last 'episode' before returning to school, so I assume that is long enough to get any bugs out of the system. I think though with young children, you just have to accept that such things are part of life. I don't think that washing hands as you describe will necessarily prevent infection. Children aren't as thorough when washing, use cooler water, and constantly have their hands in their mouths.

anybody else

I agree that after 48hrs following the last episode they should be fine