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General health

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Original poster

Help! Is there a freakishly infectious D&V bug going about..?

20 replies

MrsGhastlyCrumb · 23/12/2023 01:27

We were planning the first proper family Christmas in 10 years: but my poor sister came down with D&V a couple of days ago, and is worried about passing it on to our mother, who is in her 80s.

The issue is that she had relatively few opportunities to get infected if the NHS standard 48 hours after the last bout rule is correct. She would be travelling a fair distance and we need to make a decision in the morning on whether we will be going ahead or not. The timeline of possible infection is below. Does anyone know whether it is possible for an infection to either lay dormant for ages or for someone to remain infectious for ages? Is this a bug that is going about? We would be very grateful for any thoughts or advice, especially from medical folks. We obviously don't want our Mum getting this- but also rarely all get together, so this is disappointing for us all.

"So - S saw L and her kids on the 10th, they all got sick on the 11th. I got back from mums and saw S 8am on the 13th. Then saw L on the 17th and got symptoms myself on the 20th. So either I took a week to develop symptoms or L stayed infectious for longer than the nhs advice.. contact was a brief hug and eating at the same table in a large room with both of them."

OP posts:

Original poster

MrsGhastlyCrumb · 23/12/2023 01:28

Sorry about the random italics...

OP posts:

EmmaEmerald · 23/12/2023 01:47

If you're saying your sis is ill, today, the 22nd, then I don't think she should see your mum - or anyone outside her home - on the 25th, but I'd be extra cautious. It's likely noro and my experience of that was horrendous.

but what does your mum say?

WhatTheFuk · 23/12/2023 04:05

Covid is often presenting with D&V +++ just now. It could be that.

piscofrisco · 23/12/2023 04:27

Yes-it's Covid.

Lifeispassingby · 23/12/2023 06:13

Could be covid or could be caught from elsewhere unless only saw each other, didn’t go anywhere etc. there is a lot of bugs around and can be caught easily from any number of places.

sweetpeasandtea · 23/12/2023 07:05

My family also have this and can't come for Christmas - it's covid for them so do a test

TheFairyCaravan · 23/12/2023 07:09

Norovirus is rife atm too. I wouldn’t be risking it tbh.

roses2 · 23/12/2023 07:12

Last week DS classmates were dropping like flies with vomiting. But all over within a day and most followed the 48 hour rule.

If the last episode is 22nd she'll be fine 3 days later in 25th.

queenmeadhbh · 23/12/2023 07:43

I’m confused as to why your sister thinks she has to have got it from S and L rather than somewhere else?

either way, it’s really a risk assessment - personally with 48 hours clear of v&d and scrupulous hand hygiene while there I would go if it were me and my mum was ok with that. But others might not risk it.

Jeffjefftyjeff · 23/12/2023 07:57

Not sure I entirely follow who saw who when but just came on to say two things: there is a lot of norovirus around, could have caught it somewhere else; you can have norovirus asymptomatically. So if there was someone in a family that ‘didn’t get ill’ it’s possible they just didn’t get symptoms and if a person saw them they could catch it from them. Not sure if latter part relevant to your situation but in case it is

CrispsandCheeseSandwich · 23/12/2023 08:23

48 hours is when something like noro is most contagious, it's not that it's not contagious at all after 48 hours.

It can be shed in poo for up to 2 weeks, so if someone hasn't washed their hands properly, it can spread. It can also live on surfaces for longer than 48 hours so if you were in a house where people were sick you might have picked it up from a door handle or something.

StBrides · 23/12/2023 08:25

Yes - it was thought it was norovirus but scientists now think it might be a new strain of covid because they're been a sudden spike in the amounts of covid in waste water (which they test routinely for covid) which coincides with when the bug started

43ontherocksporfavor · 23/12/2023 08:27

In my primary school it was doing the rounds last week.

mydudero · 23/12/2023 08:35

I think noro can live on surfaces for weeks if not bleached. DD once came down with the sick bug 2 days after playing at her cousins house, they had all had it a week before the play date and was well clear of any symptoms. She was only 1 at the time so still putting toys in her mouth etc. Also not at nursery / seen anyone else that had been sick so can't think where else she would have got it.

If your mum was visiting your sisters I think it would be more likely the virus is still on surfaces etc, but if your sister is visiting and symptom free for 48+ hours hopefully ok. I'm not medical though!! Would definitely Covid test though as mine started with vomiting the first time I had it.

SoftPillowAllNight · 23/12/2023 08:36

Omg my DD2 had this last week. We flew abroad for holiday after the 48 hour rule yet I caught it on the journey and was down by the time we landed (15 hour journey) and soon after DD1 was down with the same. It was horrific and the worst stomach bug I've seen since having kids. I was worse hit and I can imagine elderly folks finding it unbearable. Taken me 3 days to get back on my feet. Don't know if it was Covid but presented entirely like norovirus. Severe vomitting followed by Diarrhoea and then a raised temperature. All done in 24 hours. Didn't spread to anyone who wasn't in close contact (ie DH flew with us but didn't sit next to DD2 on flights). Please keep away from elderly relatives as it's not worth the risk even after 48 hours.

heybearx · 23/12/2023 08:37

Wait 48 hours after last symptoms then you can meet people is the advice for d+v

Original poster

MrsGhastlyCrumb · 23/12/2023 09:42

Thanks so much for all the replies so far. Sorry, I was tired and not entirely sober when I posted this last night. We are thinking about possibly doing Christmas a couple of days later- but I will absolutely ask her to do a test for Covid today.

The reason she is feeling so certain about S and L is that she has been in the middle of nowhere and until the day she got sick, she had seen no-one else since the 14th other than our Mum, who isn't ill.

I also thought of surface contamination and did ask her if S or L were dirty filthy mingers but she wasn't sure about their handwashing habits...

OP posts:

Awrite · 23/12/2023 09:46

I came on to ask similar. My dh has been ill all night with s&d. So much to cancel. My poor (elderly) parents won't have planned anything as they always come here.

Also, it feels inevitable that the kids and I are going to come down with it. Schools only stopped here yesterday. My work only finished yesterday.

I guess the important thing is that my folks don't get it.

Original poster

MrsGhastlyCrumb · 23/12/2023 09:52

SoftPillowAllNight · 23/12/2023 08:36

That is awful! You poor things 😔

OP posts:

Turbulent1 · 23/12/2023 10:14

Norovirus can still be contagious for 2 weeks, you can still be shedding it as mentioned above

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