Am i right in thinking viruses are on the increase?

[BooseysMom]

We're all currently ill with the fourth or even fifth virus this winter. I write a diary and last year we had the usual two or three, inc. one that lasts weeks with constant coughing. This year it has doubled. I've had a fever flu type virus which i had to take time off work for, then a couple weeks later a sore throat and cold, then another couple weeks and i get a cold and cough that makes me nearly vomit every time i cough, and so on and so on. Another break and here we go again. I have a cold and cough and one streaming eye! It's endless. We have a 6yo and i've been told it will be like this until he's 9 or 10. Does anyone know if there's any truth in this? Could it be the mild winters causing these viruses to go crazy? I'm so tired and look 10 years older every day. I miss out on so much too like my work xmas party i spent a fortune on and couldnt go to. Next year i'll say no i can't go, as i know i'll lose all my money when i get ill. It's just so bloody depressing and tedious!

[BooseysMom]

@xtinak...
We have the red gluey eyes!*

Glad I'm not the only one! Last night i was awake for hours with streaming eyes, esp the one which felt like there was something stuck at the back. It's eased off today but left with a cough exactly the same as one i've just had a few weeks back.

@londongirl86.. it sure is depressing. We had a bad year last year too and the year before that DH got pleurisy and was seriously ill. This year there just seems like there's even more of these bugs flying around. The first bug we had sounds the same as your son had. Like feverish and nausea. Sorry to hear he was in hosp with a chest infection too. Hope he's ok now
I know exactly what you mean about being too scared to make plans. I def won't bother again at this time of year!
I'm with you on just skipping the next 2 months! Thanks for the get well wishes.

[londongirl86]

God yes. It's so depressing. Last year was miserable for us. From my DD starting nursery may 2018 it has been one thing after another. She had around 17-20 viruses from then until march this year. So far this winter she's had three colds since starting school. She has had a couple of days off with it as she was rotten. Then my son's had three colds and a horrible virus that lasted 5 days. He wouldn't eat. He was hot. He was latharigc.

Last year we cancelled birthdays, family get togethers, days out etc. I still hate making plans. I feel like we jinx ourselves. My DD is on vitamins and probiotics now but it's not performing a miracle.

I don't remember being unwell as a child. I certainly don't recall my parents struggling with Illness. They rarely get a cold.

I never went to nursery. My immune system has been extremely strong until I had DD. Since then I've had three stomach bugs and several colds aswel as viruses with fevers. It's horrendous isn't it

I actually get stressed out now and overthink things. Like I took my DD to playgroup and softplay. 4 times in a year she caught sickness bugs! So my son's never been. Yesterday we took them to one of those toddler play towns where you role play. My son was putting the toy spoons in his mouth. I said yuck to him. He didn't understand and carried on. I didn't want to freak him out by stopping him so I had to sit there and watch him potientally swallow a virus. He also was in hospital in march with a chest infection for four days. It's all very depressing.

If I could skip the next two months I would. Sorry for the essay. Feel better soon x

[MamaFlintstone]

Personally no, we’ve been alright this year despite having toddler DC at nursery. She and DH have had a bad cold each and I’ve (touch wood) avoided anything so far. That does come on the back of last year where we had 3 rounds of norovirus/D&V though so feel like we’ve earned it!

[Bansku19]

I haven't had no illness this year. Dc(7&9) have been healthy too. There was a time before kids when I got colds quite often but this changed after I stopped smoking and started to take care of my teeth and gums. I don't know why but the difference has been huge.

[xtinak]

We have the red gluey eyes!

[BooseysMom]

Btw has anyone had the one with the red gluey eyes? I wake up with my eyes glued together which is nice! DS hasn't had it but has in the past. This time only i have it so far. The cold symptoms are mild and it's more like an eye infection

[BooseysMom]

'spray' not 'sprat'!

[BooseysMom]

I'm the OP just catching up with the thread
Thanks everyone for all your responses. Some really interesting ones. The nasal sprat is worrying as it seems studies are inconclusive.

I can't remember whether DS was ill before the nasal spray but he def was after.

why is it that my DS gets ill for a day then I get it for a week?!

Exactly the same here and often for more than a week!

[1moreRep]

ive found it a lot better this year we haven't been ill as of yet...

however we all workout daily and eat well.

my kids are 8 and 10 so perhaps it's the lack of contact with other kids as they have grown out of the touchy friendship stage

[simonisnotme]

my DD works in a school and she is on her 2nd lot of antibiotics for a cough + temp that shes had for over 7 weeks, and she was in bed with it first week as it totally wiped her out

[AutumnRose1]

“ People eat "on the go" without washing their hands after touching door handles, rails, bus/train seats, etc. It all allows germs/viruses to spread so much quicker and broader.”

Yes.

[user1497207191]

General standards of personal hygiene are also getting poorer. So few people bother with tissues/handkerchiefs when coughing or sneezing. People eat "on the go" without washing their hands after touching door handles, rails, bus/train seats, etc. It all allows germs/viruses to spread so much quicker and broader.

[xtinak]

I've just been in the hospital with my DD this afternoon and the nurse practitioner told us that there has been a change. She says it's a new development that they are seeing many more children through their doors unwell with multiple viruses at one time and that the viruses are increasingly resistant to high temperatures. I didn't ask about this she just told us. I've been googling to find out more but without success.

[richtea12]

Why is it that my DS gets ill for a day then I get it for a week?!

[stripeypillowcase]

(primary) schoolchildren are super spreaders.
they just are.
it will get better around 8ish when they don't lick each other's artwork anymore as much

[Elbeagle]

I haven’t had any illnesses this year, not even a cold.
My school age DD’s have been ill since September.

[richtea12]

Worth getting your vitamin D levels tested. I was getting ill all the time and found out my vit d was low. I still get colds bit not as many since taking high dose vit d

[AutumnRose1]

Thanks Beyond

I had forgotten about the survivable stuff now!

[LilQueenie]

cold weather lowers the immune system and viruses do not get killed by the cold. its heat that destroys them.

[NeurotrashWarrior]

There's a flu epidemic this year (not mentioned yet in press etc, started in the northeast) and the children's vaccine was largely ineffective.

Also been a big norovirus epidemic.

[BeyondMyWits]

I've been here at the pharmacy quite some years now.

People used to die off with pneumonia for instance, now they live and catch another bout, and another etc... so people living longer catch more bugs over their longer lifetime.

More steroids are being prescribed. Steroids suppress the immune system response to bugs - making people feel less ill, but can leave you wide open to more infections.

But generally, kids have always had - and always pass around - snotty noses, vomit bugs, worms, nits, chicken pox, scarlet fever, hand/foot and mouth, fifth disease (slapped cheek), tonsillitis - some of which are viral.

[AutumnRose1]

Beyond I was thinking of a comparison to twenty five years ago. I’d be interested to know what experience pharmacists have over that time period, particularly with adults.

[BeyondMyWits]

I work behind the counter in a community pharmacy. From our point of view, this year has been the same as any other year. Peaks and troughs same time as any other year.

People with school aged children always seem to think there are more and more viruses, but generally there seems to be the same - on average - across the whole community.

[HouseSchmurchase]

www.southampton.ac.uk/medicine/news/2018/10/novel-flu-study.page

[HouseSchmurchase]

Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow

Could it be that nasal vaccines themselves change the nasal microbiome?

Southampton uni embarked on a (pharma sponsored) study into whether the resulting change in nasal bacteria levels (due to nasal flu vax) was having an effect on family members of those vaccinated. I.e. they know it changes levels of bacteria but don't yet know what the implications of this are. I can't find anything relating to the results of the study...only that it was set up.