Ughh. So worried

[Reese'smom]

we leave on Saturday for our once in a lifetime surprise cruise on the Fantasy. Well, I know of a child in my son's class that's home today with a stomach virus. Now I'm so worried that he will get it. There's nothing I can do to prevent, is there?

 

[belac]

Make sure he washes his hands, often especially in school, before they eat anything (snack, lunch, afternoon snack) that is the best defense along with keeping hands and other items away from mouth, nose and eyes. Lots of good healthy foods and vitamins.
Don't worry too much, because if it is a simple stomach virus they usually last 1-3 days. There are 4 days till Saturday. so sending lots and lots of pixie dust your way

 

[TrySomethingNew]

It depends. One of my children rarely gets ill, and when she has, she has always recovered quickly, including very short lived fevers. She takes after her dad. My other child is like me: picks up pretty much everything. Like many children, that one sometimes recovers quickly, but many times not. For her and I, we take vitamins (just multi), and probiotics particularly leading up to a trip and during the trip, since they seem to help.
I have also been known to keep that younger-prone-to-illness child away from school/daycare/parties if it makes sense, and if they are young enough to get away with that.
Good luck - since that child may not have encountered yours on Monday, and may have been most contagious over the weekend, you may be ok-I hope so! Keep looking forward to your trip!

 

[Reese'smom]

Oh I just thought of something. My son has been on prednisone for an asthma flare up. Maybe that will keep it away?

 

[LizGirl]

A friend sent me an article that claims drinking 100% grape juice changes the pH in your digestive system and makes it harder for the virus to survive.

I have no idea if this is true but seems simple and cheap enough to try!

 

[Mrs Green]

Oh I just thought of something. My son has been on prednisone for an asthma flare up. Maybe that will keep it away?

That's a steroid and immunosuppressant so Though I am not a doctor I don't see how that would help with a stomach virus/bug

 

[LizGirl]

BTW, we are cruising with you on the Fantasy this weekend and I have the same fears. I quiz the kids every day to see if any friends went home sick. Fingers crossed that your family avoids it.

 

[bethy]

I would totally keep him home if he's in elementary. But that's me.

 

[belac]

One more bit of info on supporting immune system is to get rest, a lot of rest, and no stress. Kids pick up on our stress so try as hard as you can not to show it. I realize it is difficult, but worth it for a few days and a great cruise.

 

[Saimaeve]

Oh I just thought of something. My son has been on prednisone for an asthma flare up. Maybe that will keep it away?

I would think that would make it more likely he will contract it. It suppresses your immune system. Good hygiene, hand washing and lots of fluids and rest and staying away from the infected child would help. Medication won't in this case.

 

[dyson0715]

A friend sent me an article that claims drinking 100% grape juice changes the pH in your digestive system and makes it harder for the virus to survive.

I have no idea if this is true but seems simple and cheap enough to try!

My MIL drinks it, has to be unfiltered also...I think it's bs, but it's worth a shot.

 

[2prettygirl]

we leave on Saturday for our once in a lifetime surprise cruise on the Fantasy. Well, I know of a child in my son's class that's home today with a stomach virus. Now I'm so worried that he will get it. There's nothing I can do to prevent, is there?

This happened to us back in January 2014! I will say this, when you cruise November - March, there is that possibility. For us, we left with the stomach virus and came home with H1N1. We refuse to cruise in these months until the kids are older and they can stop sharing every germ at school!

 

[anricat]

You could try some probiotics to increase healthy bacteria in the gut. Otherwise, proper hand-washing is always a good idea. You have until Saturday before you leave. Even if he were to come down with something, usually stomach stuff runs it's course really quickly. He'd be better by then. Enjoy your cruise!

 

[jenf22]

I agree with the others - hand washing and probiotics. Culturelle makes a chewable for kids. I always give it to our son when we travel and when he's at birthday party places. Best of luck!

 

[Kerrio929]

Oh I just thought of something. My son has been on prednisone for an asthma flare up. Maybe that will keep it away?

This would actually make it more likely that he would contract it. I would make sure he knows to wash wash wash his hands and not share anything with anyone.

 

[bumbershoot]

There's nothing I can do to prevent, is there?

If he doesn't have good hand-washing practices, there's nothing much to be done. For the future, teach good hand-washing practices and hope that the classroom environment follows them as well. (sanitizer is a very poor substitute) In my family after a nasty noro bout we realized that DS and my bad hand-in-mouth habits were to blame as well.

I will say that DS actually experiencing norovirus as an older kid really REALLY taught him better practices! And there's nothing like the realization that not washing hands after touching things that others touched after not washing hands, then putting hands in the mouth, means that you've basically put someone else's poop into your mouth! That brought it home to him.

My son has been on prednisone for an asthma flare up. Maybe that will keep it away?

Could go either way. Could mean that the rest of you in the household need to be CAREFUL.

My best friend had liver problems for 25 years before she had a transplant. She's actually now on fewer steroids than she used to be, which is astonishing. She's like Typhoid Mary. She only reacts to "bugs" when they have reached a critical mass in her. But she spreads EVERYTHING to EVERYONE. When I see her, I ask what's going around her office, because if there is something, I know I'll be coming down with it soon. The immunosupressants make her not react, but that doesn't mean those bugs aren't multiplying in her body, and doesn't mean she isn't spreading them. Just means she doesn't KNOW about it.

 

[malbergotti]

Firm believer in the 100% real grape juice (I am a Welch's girl). 8 oz a day, and if exposed directly twice a day. Our family is vomit free for a few years now...knock on wood! Good luck and enjoy your cruise!