Vomiting Bugs.
This is a long. Let’s break 2 recent queries down:
“My 2 year old was hit badly by the vomiting bug on Friday. It was so contagious that it spread to 6 kids who she gets minded with and 8 adults who were around/near her including myself this weekend. My mam (her nana) got it last night so it is bound to go around her house. I was just wondering if she can get it again if she is in the house or at playschool where I think she may have picked it up? I am just so worried because it took it out of her and she is only starting to eat again today so if she got it again so close to recovering, it could be awful. Thanks.”
The commonest cause for this is a norovirus outbreak (sometimes called the winter vomiting bug). I am really disappointed to hear that we are starting already!
Yep, this post is all about the 
and the 
.
and the .Norovirus usually does the rounds Nov- April in creches and pre-schools — and everywhere else, but it looks like your creche got a head start.
Everyone, please remember to keep your child home from school/creche until they have been symptom-free for 2 days, no matter how good they are feeling or how much the child care is a problem.
Home from school includes: do not visit a hospital, nursing home, or child care facility for the first 2 days after you or your child is symptom free. Out of courtesy, also avoid play groups, indoor play centres, non-urgent trips to GP/hospital out-patients, etc. until your entire home is clear of the virus and symptoms for at least 2 days. Actually, just don’t go anywhere. NOBODY wants this. Honestly. It’s pure misery and super-contagious.
Advise your childcare worker when your child returns. Your child may continue to shed the virus in their poo for 2 weeks, so careful attention to hygiene is needed when toileting or changing nappies. (which should always be the case, anyway). Properly qualified childminders should have good training in hygiene to minimise outbreaks in their facility, but usually wont’ eliminate them entirely. This is because children are contagious before they are symptomatic. But careful attention to food preparation, nappy changing/toileting, and hand washing are still key.
How exactly do you get it?
Having direct contact with an infected person
Consuming contaminated food or water
Touching contaminated surfaces then putting your unwashed hands in your mouth
What are the symptoms?
12-48 hours after exposure, you may feel sick, vomit, have diarrhoea, abdominal cramping, fever, headache, and muscle aches.
Do you need to go to the doctor?
In most cases, no. There is no treatment for norovirus. You and your family may be miserable, but unless a young or elderly person becomes dehydrated, or you have another condition such as diabetes, it isn’t usually necessary and you should avoid an ED. If you do feel you need medical assistance, ring ahead so they can be prepared to isolate you. For most cases, you can find good advice at: https://undertheweather.ie
How can you prevent it?
Hand washing with soap and water. Alcohol hand-sanitizers aren’t good at killing this particular bug.
If someone in your family develops symptoms: isolate them and get cleaning. The norovirus lives in the environment for hours. Norovirus is not eliminated by disinfection with standard cleaning agents; you will need to choose a bleach based or disinfectant that states it targets viruses (“anti-bacterial” isn’t enough). You can also become infected from breathing in Remember an infected person can continue to shed virus for 2 weeks after norovirus in poo. So careful attention to hygiene is crucial, especially with nappy changes. Wash hands, dispose of nappies carefully in plastic bags/disposal units, wipe down nappy area frequently with disinfectant, and avoid changing nappy in any area where food is being prepared or eaten. Help your potty-trained toddler carefully wash hands after toileting, and disinfect any little potties you may be using with bleach. Remember to wipe down taps and door handles during regular cleaning as well. Your child should also not swim in a pool for 2 weeks!
If you got norovirus before, are you immune?
Sadly, no. Immunity from norovirus lasts an average of only about 14 weeks in people with normal immune systems, which means that you are usually safe once you or your child has had it for the season. Average person gets 5 bouts in their lifetime. Nobody has studied it, but I would guess that childcare workers and healthcare workers far exceed that. Is there a vaccine? Not yet, but there are scientists hoping to develop a vaccine that would build on that natural 14 week immunity.
When can your child return to school/crèche? 2 days after symptoms stop. A sick person should not prepare food for anyone else while they are sick and for 2 todays after the symptoms stop.
Tummy Bugs and BRAT recovery diet
“My boy 3yrs 10 months has tummy bug since Saturday morning. Vomiting saturday, sunday and briefly on monday. Today he is complaining of pain in his tummy. I noticed twice today that his lips were blue for approximately five mins. All he has eaten today is 6 spoons of ice cream. Do you think this is normal rate of improvement?”
I’d recommend popping into GP because of ongoing tummy pain. It should be settling. The poor appetite after an illness doesn’t usually concern docs in adults or children, as long as they are taking fluids. Appetite always comes back.
The commonest cause of tummy bugs in children in viral gastroenteritis (includes rotavirus, norovirus “winter vomiting bug”): an infection that can cause diarrhea and/or vomiting. Both adults and children can get viral gastroenteritis. These symptoms usually start suddenly, and can be severe.
People can get the infection if they:
Touch an infected person or a surface with the virus on it, and then don’t wash their hands
●Eat foods or drink liquids with the virus in them. If people with the virus don’t wash their hands, they can spread it to food or liquids they touch.
Viral gastroenteritis can also cause:
A fever
●A headache or muscle aches
●Belly pain or cramping
●A loss of appetite
Usually, these settle without needing to go to GP or ED.
How do you help your child? People with viral gastroenteritis need to drink enough fluids so they don’t get dehydrated.
Some fluids help prevent dehydration better than others:
Older children and adults can drink sports drinks.
●You should give babies and young children an “oral rehydration solution,” Ask your chemist/pharmacist to help you choose one if you haven’t bought one before or have any questions. If your child is vomiting, you can try to give your child a few teaspoons of fluid every few minutes.
●Babies who breastfeed can continue to breastfeed.
People with viral gastroenteritis should avoid drinking juice or cola, especially little ones. The cola especially can make diarrhea worse, and can cause reflux-type symptoms. Cola is an acid but not strong enough to kill any germs. Cola isn’t more acidic than your stomach and the germs that cause gastroenteritis aren’t just hanging out in your stomach anyway.
Do not give medicines to stop diarrhea to children.
Recovering:
Start with clear fluids.
Many doctors – and that includes me – advocate the BRAT diet to help a child recover from a tummy bug:
BRAT stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast(or dry, plain crackers). There is science behind why these foods.
Progress to lean meats, fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain breads and cereals. Avoid eating foods with a lot of fat or sugar, which can make symptoms worse. Many children a.
nd adults temporarily find that dairy is hardest to digest for a day or 2 after bug, so maybe leave yogurts and cheese, etc. until they are feeling better.
When do you ring GP?
You are very concerned or worried it might be more than usual tummy bug.
●Baby is younger than 3 months
●Has any symptoms of dehydration
●Has diarrhea or vomiting that lasts longer than a few days
●Vomits up blood, has bloody diarrhea, or has severe belly pain
●Hasn’t had anything to drink in a few hours (for children), or in many hours (for adults)
●Hasn’t needed to urinate in the past 6 to 8 hours (during the day), or if your baby or young child hasn’t had a wet diaper for 4 to 6 hours
How is viral gastroenteritis treated? Usually, none. But those with severe dehydration might need treatment in the hospital for their dehydration..
Doctors do not treat viral gastroenteritis with antibiotics. That’s because antibiotics treat infections that are caused by bacteria – not viruses.
Can viral gastroenteritis be prevented? – Sometimes. To lower the chance of getting or spreading the infection, you can:
Wash your hands! Frequently, and definitely before eating and after toileting. In this season, not bad habit to teach your children to wash hands when arriving home from shops, bus, or play centre. Practice good hand hygiene when out and about with your child. Mama Doc’s very clever nursing colleagues clip hand sanitizer gels to their older children’s school bags.
●Avoid changing your child’s diaper near where you prepare food.
●Make sure your baby gets the rotavirus vaccine. This is one vaccine that does have to be done more or less on time; you can’t get a catch up if you delay too long or miss it. If you are hesitant about the vaccine, talk to your GP or public health nurse.
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