Frequent tummy bugs...are we doing something wrong?

[mrsbabookaloo]

Hello,

Our family has had a tummy bug 5 times this year: that's nearly once a month. It starts with one of the dds, and then some or all of us get it.

I've always been one of those with a very relaxed attitude to cleaning and germs, of the belief that kids who are exposed to a few germs build up stronger immunity, but now I'm beginning to think that I must be doing something unhygenic to make us susceptible. Obviously, we wash our hands after using the loo, and I do clean the house, just not madly frequently. And I use eco friendly cleaning stuff and don't have any bleach.

After the second or third bout of D&V this year, I bought some Dettol and disinfected changing mats, sinks, surfaces etc.

Any ideas, anyone? is there any other reason why we're sick this often?

I don't think you are doing anything wrong - sounds like you are just all building up local immunity. Have you moved house recently or any dds started in a new school? Only thinkg I can suggest is to check food hygiene - unwashed bagged salads are really bad for bugs, as is heating up cooked rice - my other half is a food microbiologist!

Friendly bacteria drinks? Would they help build up the good bacteria in your tummies?

You can monitor what goes on at home, but if your DC are failing to wash hands at school for example, they'll bring all sorts of nasties home. It may be worth reminding them that they need to carry out good hand hygiene at all times. DD still (9.1) needs reminding.

Thanks for these points. haggisfish - your point about food hygiene just makes me realise that that IS one area I am careful about...quite paranoid about rice, so never save and reheat, and I never eat bagged salad, having read how bad they are.

Kreecher - dd1 is lazy about handwashing; she does it, but so quickly that she hardly gets her hands wet...think I will have to do a concerted campaign

Interesting thread- none of the children have had a tummy bug. d & v since they were babies- they are now 13 and 11. I have never had to clean up vomit or worse.

I don't know why- even when things have gone round the school- they remain unscathed. Yet some of their friends catch everything going.
We're not uber-hygenic- my ds's handwashing is very suspect at times.
I do use a lot of bleach in the toilets, but never use dettol or anything antibacterial for the kitchen- just hot water.

However we are a family prone to ear infections, so there you go.

Deaddei - I would say lucky you re: the tummy bugs, but I think ear infections are no picnic either!

And guess what- I am in agony with a possible abcess at the moment!
Ear feels it's as big as a cauliflower!

Most of these bugs are breathed in so over cleaning is probably pointless, once the virus is in the house no matter how much cleaning you do it wont make a difference.

Nar...not a believer in this food stuff people lived much healthier lives before fridges and prob regularly re-heated foods as nothing went to waste. I read recently that eating too much cold (fridge based) foods can cause bowel problems. I always happily reheat rice (cooked properly in the first place its fine). Good quality basic meat - freerange/organic and other foods. Local eggs instead of mass rubbish. Dont waste yr money on those bacteria drinks buy proper yogurt idealy from a farm. Plenty of fresh air, fitness, windows open, a dog in the house is good, really stating the obvious.

I think 5 times is 'ell of a lot. Are you sure you all have ths same symtoms or is the stress causing similar - IBS? I'd assume one daughter is in nursery where the spread is rife. Yr water supply - may be worth testing? Funnily enough we have raw water here - lots of bits - never have any problems.

I go into complete panic when I see the dreaded signs on the door of the nursery xyz cases of D&V. However DS1 has been good recently but I'm on edge for at least 2 days after an assult here. DS1 went to nursery from 9 months and we were ill for a good year with every aliment.

Hi bacon, thanks for your thoughts - v interesting. Both are at nursery, so you expect a fair amount of bugs...but 5 times, as you say, is too much. It's nearly always dd1 who is bigger and been at nursery for longer, that starts us all off.

It's not IBS - am quite familiar w symptoms I think, and its too dramatic and we feel way too ill for that. And then its over in about 12-24 hours.

The water supply thing is v interesting. We live in a block, though, and haven't heard of anybody else suffering like this.

The latest one, i was convinced was not a bug but dd1' reaction to her MMR booster. She had her first MMR at 14months and vomited so much that we took her to A&E and they kept her in. So, 3 years later, i finally take her for the booster and lo and behold, vomiting again. But then DH and I get sick. So it must be a bug, right? Or is there any way we could catch it from her even if it originated as a reaction to MMR?(thick/no good at science emoticon)

I was going to say check the water suply too.

A friend had this happen to her family. Only when she put her foot down did the GP admit lots of people had had the bug, and that the Water company had been in touch.

(She was outside Baisingstoke btw.)