are people really buying into this novovirus panic?

[Twiglett]

ok I can understand emetaphobes being concerned at it hitting the news

but I can't help looking at the news and thinkging 'slow news day is it?'

bugs always go round, isn't novovirus just a catch-all for these types of gastric bugs (much as rhinovirus is for colds)

mild winter means more bugs go round

it's a mild D&V bug normally (any illness can be dangerous for the very young, very old and imuno-impaired)

what am I missing?

some medical sites list them as novoviruses .. and others as noroviruses

odd

Our toilet is in a seperate room, so no risk to toothbrushes, BUT (and I hate this) there is no sink in there so after we've used the toilet we have to traipse into the bathroom everytime. Annoying as this is normally it is vile if one gets a D&V bug.

I had it last year (ahead of the trends, me) and am a bit worried about it because it really was horrible and I don't want it again. But I agree, slow news day. If anything big happens over the next few days it'll quietly disappear from the papers.

See also 'mortgage misery for millions' etc.

And 'McCanns still prime suspects'.

[oops - off to do a bit of nork-clasping now]

It really is not like me to go nuts and I am truly embarassed.
I think the thought of DH starting to be sick too, which he is not and has not for a week, scares me a bit.
Last time he had a D&V bug he had a hypo (in which he fits/twitches and goes rigid/cannot be moved which can turn into a coma) whilst covered in poop and allsorts and I had to try to inject him but he was constantly moving/jerking. He couldn't speak and his face really haunts me, he looks petrified.
Or there is the type when he just goes nuts and gets aggressive and wont let me inject him. Last time I gather the kids and ran to the neighbours while he kicked the stairgates out like a banshee.

The sheer thought of that possibly happening scares the shite out of me and I took that fear out on you. x

Don't be embarassed LOTF - we all do it occassionally.

From the BBC

"In December, the Health Protection Agency warned the norovirus season had started particularly early.

They estimate that in epidemic seasons, noroviruses may cost the NHS in excess of £100m per year because of ward closures.

In 2007, the number of cases reported to the HPA in England and Wales from early September to early December were double those seen in 2006 - 1,325 compared with 685.

The actual number of cases is much higher as most are not reported - perhaps as much as 1,500-fold.

NHS Direct said calls about vomiting and abdominal pain had been the number two reason for people calling over the Christmas period - in keeping with reports of increased rates of norovirus.

A total of 1,122,874 people contacted the NHS helpline over the 11-day Christmas and New Year period - a 61% increase on last year."

Oh LOTF, please don't be embarrased, I feel all guilty now

I hope he feels better soon.

I have ds home with chickenpox, and other than dragging dd to school am homebound with ds so am feeling a little 'crazy' perhaps.
Oversenstive, tired, I don't know...

Hope you are okay

I called the NHS helpline last year, crying and groaning and telling the woman I was going to die.
The out of hours doc called me and told me it was gastric flu and they though it had been purposely dropped from planes (??!!) this and it worked, so thought I maight share:

Take 2 paracetamol tablets with as little water as you can manage. Get the sugar coated capsule types if you can as they are much easier to swallow dry.

Do not drink anything for at least 4 hours.

Paracetamol has a settling effect on the stomach and will ease the tremendous cramping.

It did work and it slowly stopped after the fast, but I did get the occasional cramp (false alarm) for a week afterwards.

FYI its norovirus not novovirus

Oh no, I am not trying to make you feel bad. Oh god I look like a right bitch now!
I was the one in the wrong. I would have probably thought similar if DH was healthy and you said your DH was at work with it.

Am going shopping tonight and am thinking of leaving kids with mother, but she is a mature student at uni and I think if they will get it from anywhere, they will probably get it off mum (even though she does not have it) rather than tesco?

Anyone any ideas on that?

She got the gastric flu which she passed to me last year from college.

purposely dropped from a plane??? omg, by whom and why???

thanks for hte paracetamol advice, will try to remember that should the need arise.

if people remember to always wash their hands after
going to loo
blowing nose
coughing
etc etc etc

that will help a lot

simple basic hygeine

I am not buying into the panic but it does definitely concern me!

My DCs went back to school today so may catch it there. We went to a playcentre yesterday with a friend (whose children have come down with D&V today). Plus at 41+1 weeks pg at some point in the next week I will be in a hospital giving birth.

All scary stuff - don't think I could cope with sick kids/self/DH and new baby all at the same time but then you can't lock yourself away. Will have to hope that basic hygiene will help.

If your mum does not have the virus at the moment, then she has nothing to pass on does she? Or am I thinking too simplistically about this?

Hopefully, the students at your mum's uni are all grown up enough to wash their hands after going to the loo etc, so hopefully your mum will avoid this one.
It is dd in reception that I believe will bring this into the house. Reception kids are not known for their hygiene are they??

i cant remember what he said now as to why but it was all over wiltshire.
Will try and find out.

I have a question...... does it start with v&d or temp? what are the early signs? My ds 10yr came out of school yesterday saying the girl sitting next to him threw up on the desk! poor thing! My youndest ds 3yr is currently lying on the sofa with a temp. Anyone start with a temp?

I don't know.
DS1 had the runs before DH got it, but he was not sick either and did not have a temp. so i dont think this was 'the bug' either.
When I had it last year I had cold sweats, can't remember about temp though.

I'm worrying about it now, as I just got back from the hairdressers with DS and the bloody woman, after starting to cut, said that she's been off yesterday with it Tried not to breathe too much or too deeply for duration! DS and I scrubbed our hands when we got back but am now waiting, and wondering about early signs too

fourboys, when I had it last year my first sign was waking at 2300 and needing to run to the loo and chuck up. 2 minutes later DH was banging on the door cos he had the runs, he wasnt sick til an hour or so later, and I never started with the runs for a couple of hours.

I also wondered if anyone who has it is infectious BEFORE starting with the V&D (if I read it right, symptoms start 12-48 hours after becoming infected)

snowmam, you can pass it on before you show any symptoms yourelf.