Gastro and first day of school - what to do . . .

[LuluHB]

My kids have both had horrid gastro over the last week and had to take Miss E to hospital on Friday to get some fluids into her. She perked up a lot, but then last night had another chuck. Today she says she's feeling better but is obviously wiped out from having a week on and off of this. I'm pretty confident that Miss I is well over it now, although still pretty tired

My problem (other than a laundry that is once again full of bedding for washing) is that tomorrow is her first day of pre-primary - equivalent to prep in eastern states I think. Anyway, its a compulsory school year here. She is an extremely anxious child and I think its really important that she doesn't miss out on any of the first day stuff ITMS. There is no way she will last the full day, so I would pick her up and bring her home for lunch.

This gastro has been just diabolical - all five of us have had it since Tuesday and I'm still popping maxolon tablets like they're M&Ms. My folks both went down with it within 24 hours of looking after us when we all started chucking. While I want to do what's best for Miss E, the last thing I want to do is spread this any further.

Does anyone know how long contagious periods are? I would have thought 24+ hours from the last chuck would be ok but that's only a guess.

[briggsy's girl]

When e had it last month the gp put us all in quarantine until at least 48 hours after the last chuck or runny poo.

The fact your dd was unwell last night and you are still very nauseous I'd be worried you're really not properly over it and may need another day or so. Maxalon, as much as it stops you chucking, also stops you getting rid of the virus and it can hang around longer...

[Cally]

I've just had a quick look and most things seem to say quarantine for 48 hours from last vomit - mainly to make sure it doesn't come back and they are fully over it.

I'm sure the school would understand and will make sure she is looked after when she does make it.

[human bean]

Our CC policy states 24hrs since last vomit or runny BM then you're clear to come back.

ETA obviously though you have to look at the overall health of the child though - eating/drinking okay, not lethargic etc.

[~Trish~]

Gah, you poor things, that sounds awful.

I'd wait 48 hours to be honest. The gastro going around atm is highly contagious and it is best to be cautious. Your DD won't miss a lot on the first day, I'm sure it won't be a problem to wait one more day.

[Rouge]

No way I'd send her. You have no idea if someone at the school is immune compromised and you could be putting them in serious danger. People don't realise how dangerous gastro can be, it's not just a case of the poos and vomits. It can be very life threatening to some.

She won't miss out on much. And they will make a big deal about fitting her in when she's back fit and healthy.

[Traveller]

Definitely wait 48 hours, or 24 hours if the last vomit was also the last symptom. She is still ill, you should not send her. She won't miss much and will probably cope better with the anxiety if she is feeling well.

[LuluHB]

Maxalon, as much as it stops you chucking, also stops you getting rid of the virus and it can hang around longer...

Yeah, that's the down side to something like maxalon. Of course, the upside was that I could breastfeed Miss A without throwing up on her more than twice!!

Thanks all. I guess the next hurdle is convincing Miss E that she needs to stay home, as well as working out how to get Miss I to school for HER first day, without ending up having Miss E spread the plague anyway

[sangie]

Oh man what crappy timing (sorry no pun intended!). Your poor things, I hope you are all on the mend

I'd probably keep her home too. Perhaps see if you can speak to her teacher and let him/her know what's going on so that they can make a big deal of her when she does start?
Good luck trying to co-ordinate Miss I's first day around Miss E's gastro

[Astrolady]

I would keep Miss I home too if it was me. We had the Gastro bug last year, and like you 4 of us went down in the space of a few hours. Ashton was the only well one, but I kept him home from school when we were all still feeling unwell.

[LuluHB]

Oh man what crappy timing (sorry no pun intended!).

I've thought more than once over the last week how relieved I am the kids somehow managed to have only had the top end to deal with - not enough toilets in this house for all of us!!

Love your new avvi!!

[LuluHB]

I would keep Miss I home too if it was me. We had the Gastro bug last year, and like you 4 of us went down in the space of a few hours. Ashton was the only well one, but I kept him home from school when we were all still feeling unwell.

We posted at the same time. Do you hand our razor blades with that advice Kathryn??? I think having my kids home and bickering at each other for another day is almost as bad as having gastro ;-) Argghhhh. I really don't know what to do. The baby had it last Sunday and has (she says while grabbing the most enormous piece of wood) been fine since Monday, and Miss I has been fine since Thursday. DH has been fine since Wednesday the lucky bugger.

[MrsFabuloso]

Honestly, I would keep both of them home for at least one day, probably two.
a) you don't want them to still feel ill on their first days at school.
b) you don't want to be spreading the virus around.
and
c) because they have been so sick, they are also immuno-compromised and might pick something else up from the other kids.

[briggsy's girl]

I would keep Miss I home too if it was me. We had the Gastro bug last year, and like you 4 of us went down in the space of a few hours. Ashton was the only well one, but I kept him home from school when we were all still feeling unwell.

Yup. This. Gp put all three of us in quarantine for the two days after last sign of illness (only dd was ill, and in retrosoect, we believ it was food poisoning but at the time we thought it was gastro). As frustrating as it was to feel relatively ok (tired but not ill), given I have immune problems and pick up every gastro bug at work, it felt right to not do it to anyone else (far too many people come to work too soon. It's like a haven for gastro bugs!). Until you've all been clear of the bug for that period of time there is. A chance one of you is in the incubation period for the bug again as well.

Hope it's all done and dusted now for you all

[*Efjay*]

I would be furious if another child who had been sick like that was sent to school with people still uncertain of how well they are.

[onthefly]

oh yuck! You're all supposed to be better this year!
Maybe just sit it out to be sure? If one child is maybe sick, then there's always the risk of reinfection with the other kids. DVDs?
I hope you're all right as rain very soon

[LuluHB]

I would be furious if another child who had been sick like that was sent to school with people still uncertain of how well they are.

I think that's a bit out of line. I think my post was actually pretty clear that I was after advice to protect OTHER people's children as well as what's right for my own kids.

Thanks MadB

[AnyDream]

Quite apart from the risk of spreading infection, I would be keeping DD home simply because the first day of school is such a huge day and so overwhelming, it wouldn't be fair to send her for all that when she's not feeling 100%.

My DD started school last week, and there were several children who had been kept at home due to illness. Given that there's a particularly nasty strain of norovirus going around, better to err on the side of caution.