Getting sick at Disney...

[calablovedisney]

I agree that there is only so much you can do to keep your kids from catching something at Disney or any other public place. But, one thing I do as soon as we get to the hotel is I wipe everything down with those lysol or antibacterial wipes. I do all doorknobs, dresser knobs, fridge, faucets-shower and sink, remotes....you get the picture. I also bring anti-bacterial soap to use. I don't know if this all works, but it makes me feel better.

 

[CattailGal]

in what way have your kids been sick?
stuffed up/cough? or stomach ache/throwing up?

DD got strep two times at Disney (the only times she's had strep). One of those times several days after the strep she got a double ear infection, both eardrums burst and bled (the only time she's ever had an ear infection). DS got a stomach virus (vomiting), but it passed quickly.

Like I said, I don't worry about minor things, but E68 has the potential to be scary. I've lost one baby daughter, so the big things tend to scare me regarding the kids. As the years have gone by I'm MUCH better than I used to be!

 

[ArwenMarie]

in what way have your kids been sick?
stuffed up/cough? or stomach ache/throwing up?

DD got strep two times at Disney (the only times she's had strep). One of those times several days after the strep she got a double ear infection, both eardrums burst and bled (the only time she's ever had an ear infection). DS got a stomach virus (vomiting), but it passed quickly.

Like I said, I don't worry about minor things, but E68 has the potential to be scary. I've lost one baby daughter, so the big things tend to scare me regarding the kids. As the years have gone by I'm MUCH better than I used to be!

Sorry for your loss.

I think it's totally rational to be a bit worried about getting sick at Disney. It's crowded, people from around the world, lots of touching surfaces, hand rails, etc.

And this enterovirus is quite serious, although I know not widespread yet.

 

[ShannonMB]

Like I said, I don't worry about minor things, but E68 has the potential to be scary. I've lost one baby daughter, so the big things tend to scare me regarding the kids. As the years have gone by I'm MUCH better than I used to be!

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. That is something the vast majority of us will never ever have to understand, and it makes perfect sense why you would be expressing these concerns. It is definitely a scary world out there and we do try as parents to do everything we can to protect our children from avoidable harm.

I agree with previous posters who feel that Disney World is indeed a global germ factory, and I myself have caught a couple respiratory viruses there that knocked me out completely. Any time you travel far from home, germs exist which you have not built immunity toward due to never having been exposed. Add to that that people are literally there from all over the world and have brought who-knows-what sort of germs. They also have to worry about the ones YOU are bringing along from home. Much different from school where everyone is pretty much exposed to the same stuff and build a "herd" immunity toward.

All that said, what can a person do? Never travel, never enjoy vacation, never go to WDW *gasp*! That is 100% NOT an option for me, as some of my greatest joys and memories in life are derived from travel/vacation/(especially)WDW. I know the risks, which I feel are moderate for getting some icky germ that will make us sick, and extremely low for getting something that is going to paralyze/kill my kiddo, and do what I can to protect us.

Before our trip last week, we rested very well, ate a healthy diet, took our vitamins (I beefed up with echinachea and vitamin C as well), sanitized the trays on the plane. I have NO idea if this is effective, but I got a tip here once to swab the insides of your nose with neosporin because it keeps mucus membranes moist and has an antibacterial component. I've always done that since I saw it here, whether it does anything or not. Finally, DD and I don't sanitize constantly at home (well, I do at work because I'm a hospital nurse), but we sure did at WDW. My mom went with us and passed on the hand sanitizer because she 'doesn't like it', and what do you know, she came home with bronchitis which neither DD or I got.

I hope you can do what you can ahead of time to protect yourselves, then just relax and enjoy your trip. We certainly did, had the time of our lives and I wouldn't trade that experience for anything!

 

[Aurora0427]

I am concerned about flying. I really think you have a greater chance at catching something on the plane. Planes are disgusting. Seriously. At Disney there is fresh air and lots of opportunities for hand washing. We've been lucky at WDW so far, but we've never flown during cold and flu season before. Hopefully her immune system is tough after 3 years at school!

 

[frozengurl]

You know what the crazy thing is.... So Far enterovirus has yet to hit FL!
I'm not worried~ I leave in 5 days!
I just hope they don't get the stomach bug bc that happened last trip! :/

 

[ktlm]

Elementary school is one big petri dish of germs. But, that said, WDW is one big international petri dish, which may be worse. I was at WDW in the big H1N1 swine flu scare, and I caught it, and brought it home from WDW. (I'm pretty sure I can pinpoint it to the obviously sick kid by me in line that coughed at me) But, the trip was still worth it! Plus, practically everyone in our area ended up with it eventually over the next year or 2. As far as Enterovirus 68, it is in 41 different states and we already have it in our area, so DD would be just as likely to bring it home from school as from WDW, so I'm not going to let fear run our lives or activity.

As far as what to do to avoid picking something up at WDW, really all you can do is emphasize hand washing, not touching your face with your hands, arms, shirt etc. (just because you didn't touch something doesn't mean you don't have something airborne that came to rest on your arms, backs of your hand, shirt etc), and using a ton of hand sanitizer. When we have gone in heavy cold and flu season, we have used hand sanitizer after every ride, because you can imagine how many people hold onto those ride bars during the day and the kids that probably do it after wiping their nose with their hands or worse. We don't eat anything without washing our hands first including not just meals, but also snacks and Mickey bars ( or at least getting a really good douse of hand sanitizer rubbed all over our hands if we aren't near a bathroom). When the kids wash their hands (and the adults) you need to make sure they really wash them, not just a cursory washing. They need to use soap all over and scrub. Just sticking their hands under the water for 2 seconds or maybe putting a drop of soap in the center, isn't going to get the germs off.

Someone will probably come along that says hand sanitizer doesn't do any good. That is not true, it will kill most of the germs (as my DH who is a real scientist attests), in the area you actually get it on. You have to be sure and rub it all over your hands though front and back. DD's class did an experiment this week where they put their hands under a blacklight to see all the germs. Then they used hand sanitizer and tried it again. The hand sanitizer did get most of the germs as long as the kids rubbed it all over. The kids that missed spots it showed-- also the kid who had the germiest hands in the entire class still had a little left after using the sanitizer. I'm proud to say that my DD actually had the least amount of germs in the class and zero after the hand sanitizer that day- poor kid it is probably due to her germaphobe mother who has her about paranoid about washing her hands! She probably ran to the bathroom and washed her hands before ever putting them under the blacklight!

 

[EmCredible]

My son(5) actually had E68, along with ten other students in his class. For him it was just like a really bad cold. The doctor gave him steroids to help with the croup-like cough he developed and he was better in a few days. One boy in his class who had asthma did end up spending a few days in the hospital, but is doing fine now. Like his doctor said, for most kids it's like a bad cold, but can be more severe with small children and those with asthma or other health problems. Just take normal precautions and try not to worry. It really wasn't that bad for my son.

 

[Yonich2501]

I agree! Disney is one giant germ factory, and even though I am an extreme germaphobic, my mom and I are still going on our trip.

I will never forget...we went to disney in 2012 at Christmas. Everyone ( and I do mean everyone ) in the parks seemed to have this chronic dry cough. We were fine there, but a few days after coming home we both developed what we dubbed "the Disney cough". I kid you not...it lasted 4 months. Nothing would get rid of it. It eventually went away, but no doubt we picked it up at Disney.

25 days until our trip!

 

[akadada]

I am concerned about flying. I really think you have a greater chance at catching something on the plane. Planes are disgusting. Seriously. At Disney there is fresh air and lots of opportunities for hand washing. We've been lucky at WDW so far, but we've never flown during cold and flu season before. Hopefully her immune system is tough after 3 years at school!

Air filtration systems in planes are actually quite powerful...that said, plane surfaces (chairs, seats, etc) are possibly (not always) disgusting. So, breathing in airplane air is less of a concern than touching a plane surface and then putting into mouth/nose. Bathrooms grow to be disgusting as well; the longer the flight, the dirtier. So go at the airport and then if necessary; early in the flight.

Further, some people are inconsiderate slobs who sneeze or cough with absolutely horrendous attention to prevention. Stay away from them. It's another reason we pay extra for prime seating.

Technically speaking, though, you statistically have a much higher probability catching a virus/disease in a theme park than plane...it's simply a matter of volume of people, nothing more than that. Plane has 150-300 people; park has 10,000 - 50,000. No comparison.

Finally, time in school and/or daycare or sickness as a baby, etc is not necessarily a boost in immunity to a virus (flu possibly yes)...but there are literally hundreds of variations of viruses (cold alone), so for example, a flu once you get a certain flu, you will likely not get it again...but for a viral infection, the variation is it's own code, and so you'll likely get the cold or virus because it's its own beast and then 3 to 12 months later, another cold or virus just like the one 3 months ago and it will/may feel the same, but it is its own unique infrastructure.. in fact there are so many viral cold variations, among other viruses, that it could take decades to build up immune systems to avoid all know cold viruses.

Immune build up is dependent on exposure - the more exposures earlier on, the less likely you'll get sick from it again or if something has a variation of the base code if you will of another virus, but many viral infections like E68 is it's own code and so a child's overall health, rest, diet, prevention, etc, will have a much greater influence on combating it than previous exposures to other illnesses at a younger age . . .in fact I suspect based on the evidence exposure to other illness will have little to no impact on avoiding E68.

So again, know your family/kids reaction to viruses and take proactive steps to avoid or prevent.

Hope that helps a little bit more in thinking about prevention.

 

[akadada]

My son(5) actually had E68, along with ten other students in his class. For him it was just like a really bad cold. The doctor gave him steroids to help with the croup-like cough he developed and he was better in a few days. One boy in his class who had asthma did end up spending a few days in the hospital, but is doing fine now. Like his doctor said, for most kids it's like a bad cold, but can be more severe with small children and those with asthma or other health problems. Just take normal precautions and try not to worry. It really wasn't that bad for my son.

Yes. This.

This should be one's benchmark potential experience to think about it pragmatically. Then bounce it off your pediatrician to make sure it's reasonable given your own child's history, because averages/statistics mean very little to one who experiences a complication.

But point of care: There is no known antiviral or vaccine to treat E68; rather it's the common recommendation of most virals. Rest, over the counter drugs, etc. Complications arise with asthma and complicated immune systems

 

[wdwloverz]

As others have said, THEE number 1 thing we can do "in the moment" is wash wash wash our hands, often! Lots of soap and a good lather for at least ten seconds. Keep nails short and do not put them in our mouths. I carry sanitizer but use it only when washing isn't a convenient option. (like right after touching the laser guns on buzz or the shooters on TSM. etc.)
Having said that, I really do believe that TOO MUCH use of sanitizer can be detrimental. We know that the body is designed to fight off germs that we encounter and therefore needs to experience some to keep the immune system healthy.
I strongly believe that a good multi vitamin for kids can go a long way towards boosting their immune system.
As adults, we take quality multi vitamin supplements (including B's and D), eat a varied diet of meats, vegetables and treats, do not smoke, drink alcohol in moderation and get enough sleep.
As others have suggested, I carry an arsenal of OTC products to help with any symptoms that can pop up, and my #1 OTC do not leave home without... Zycam! In my experience, just a few doses can ward off cold symptoms if taken at the very first sign.

 

[KrisSoFla]

Probiotics!

 

[AliceandAriel]

Air filtration systems in planes are actually quite powerful...that said, plane surfaces (chairs, seats, etc) are possibly (not always) disgusting. So, breathing in airplane air is less of a concern than touching a plane surface and then putting into mouth/nose. Bathrooms grow to be disgusting as well; the longer the flight, the dirtier. So go at the airport and then if necessary; early in the flight.

Further, some people are inconsiderate slobs who sneeze or cough with absolutely horrendous attention to prevention. Stay away from them. It's another reason we pay extra for prime seating.

Technically speaking, though, you statistically have a much higher probability catching a virus/disease in a theme park than plane...it's simply a matter of volume of people, nothing more than that. Plane has 150-300 people; park has 10,000 - 50,000. No comparison.


Hope that helps a little bit more in thinking about prevention.

Really? I never really thought about the air filtration system in the plane. All I think about when flying is that we're all sharing the same air, in a pressurized can, so by default I always am a little more leery and on edge on a plane versus in the parks.

But no matter what, I wipe down my plane seat, seatbelt and buckle, tray and buttons. I've heard the horrors of what people do on those things (changing dirty diapers, for example, because who in their right mind wants to ingest feces if they put their food on there later?) and keep my hands to myself for the majority of the flight. Touch only things that are necessary. No using the restroom on the flight, nor at the airport. I'm diligent enough to go before I get to the airport or on the plane (exceptions have been made in extreme situations, such as being ill, but I think we can all agree there's no controlling stuff when that happens). I also don't have small children, so I know I'm an exception to avoiding public restrooms as much as possible.

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

Well...

I'm currently sitting in a hotel room on property with my 4 year old, sick with some sort of stomach virus (norovirus, maybe?). He's number 3 of 3 kids to get sick in the 10 days we've been here. We have CRT dinner ressies tonight. We missed our BoG meal on Monday. I'm not going to get to see Festival of the Lion King this trip. Who knows if we'll make MNSSHP tomorrow night, It's a real bummer.

We've washed our hands religiously. We've gone through a jug of hand sanitizer and an entire bottle of hand soap. We've quarantined the sick kids in one room. Is there anything we could have done differently? No. We just drew an unlucky number this trip. Once one kid got infected, we had no chance.

I just hope the adults don't get on Saturday when we have to fly home.

I'm so sorry to hear this and I can totally relate. Back during our October 2011 trip both my DH & DMIL got sick. The whole trip plan went out the window and we missed alot of ADRS (and we had the dining plan). Like you, I don't think there was anything we could have done differently.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

I am a little concerned about my niece and nephews getting sick before our trip, but instead of drying out their already dry skin and using nasty purell, we use Thieves essential oils. I know folks that swear by it.

A PP mentioned their kids being nail biters.....I am too. But ya know what....I don't ever get sick. I was last on antibiotics in 2008 and I think it was 1994 before that. I'm sure I've ingested lots of gross things over my life but my immune system rocks!

 

[akadada]

Really? I never really thought about the air filtration system in the plane. All I think about when flying is that we're all sharing the same air, in a pressurized can, so by default I always am a little more leery and on edge on a plane versus in the parks.

Technically speaking...it depends on how many filters (depends on the plane size) and where the filter is in the plane and where you're sitting. For example, if there is only one or a few (usually props or Regionals) and if the intake of the filter is in the back and outflow in the front, and you're in the front, then you get the best air, while those in the back the worst air.

Usually on larger planes, there's multiple sections of filtration. I read one article that stated they run about every 7 rows.

Depending on the filter/plane, it will often refresh the air about 15-25 times an hour compared to 10-15 times in a office or home. Further, planes use some of the highest end filters available (HEPA) filters.

The worst air in a plane is when the plane is actually at the gate or idle because it's reduced in circulation if circulating at all. So then it's a petri. When the air turns on I often instinctually react negatively to it, but it's actually the most healthy of the air.

 

[NinaBella]

I hear constant reports of people getting sick on Disney trips.

1) Wear a mask on the plane.
2) Bring anti-bacterial wipes to wipe down objects
3) Carry hand sanitizer
4) Wipe down your hotel room with the anti-bacterial wipes before your kids start touching everything
5) Use the hand sanitizer at the parks. Also use the wipes to wipe off object, tables, etc.
6) Never use the hotel glasses (reports that they only rinse them off in the sink between guests and often with the same towel they use on the toilets.)
7) Get rid of bedspreads off hotel beds and decorative pillows, they are rarely washed.
8) I have heard hotel coffee pots are washed with the strong flow of the toilet being flushed. I no longer make coffee in my room.

Video: Dirty Secrets About Hotel Drinking Glasses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLssaWxipN8

 

[wdw4rfam]

We bring Lysol wipes and wipe the room, and then use hand sanitizer and wash hands constantly. We have a stand g joke about my DD spraying all of our hands after every ride. But no one has ever got a stomach virus at Disney, and only once of twice picked up a cold. We just got back and all 7 of us stayed healthy again

 

[akadada]

I hear constant reports of people getting sick on Disney trips.

1) Wear a mask on the plane.
2) Bring anti-bacterial wipes to wipe down objects
3) Carry hand sanitizer
4) Wipe down your hotel room with the anti-bacterial wipes before your kids start touching everything
5) Use the hand sanitizer at the parks. Also use the wipes to wipe off object, tables, etc.
6) Never use the hotel glasses (reports that they only rinse them off in the sink between guests and often with the same towel they use on the toilets.)
7) Get rid of bedspreads off hotel beds and decorative pillows, they are rarely washed.
8) I have heard hotel coffee pots are washed with the strong flow of the toilet being flushed. I no longer make coffee in my room.

Video: Dirty Secrets About Hotel Drinking Glasses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLssaWxipN8

All of these make sense as precautions except they're also broad-stroke, meaning it would depend on the hotel. Also, I don't agree with #1 the face mask unless there was a serious outbreak concern. And then you want to have at least a P or N 95 mask (N is fine in a plane).

Also FYI - hand sanitizer is not always effective (although excellent advice nonetheless) against all bugs, including I believe E68. Only hand washing up to elbows and of course avoidance are highest prevention.