Who else seems to experience this?

[Chuck S]

I agree with your 3 reasons people come home sick, but add to that a poor immune system, which I have.

Glad you don't have that problem.

Exactly. Both Mom & I had compromised immune systems this trip. I was recovering from a very bad reaction to a prescription drug, fenofibrate, which caused drug induced hepatitis, and she was starting a bone building drug that really wreaked havoc with her.

 

[kathleena]

Colds are caused by a virus that gets into your system, either via your nose, or tear ducts. You pick up a virus and wipe your eye and it travels down your tear duct. You breathe in an airborne virus into your nose, or wipe your nose with a virus on your hands, and it gets past your nasal protection to the back of your throat - you have a cold.

Most colds are picked up on the hands and transferred to the nose and eyes - not spread through the air!

From the time of exposure, until you get the first symptom, is 10-12 hours.
Your worst symptoms occur 36-72 hours after exposure.
And you are most contagious during the first three days of infection.

AND - contrary to popular belief - the germicial hand lotions do not reliably eliminate the rhinovirus - which is the most common virus that causes a cold. Handwashing is the most reliable way to remove the virus as it literally has to be removed from your skin - as opposed to "killing" it. The germacidal stuff just don't necessarily kill it.

Viruses can live on surfaces like phones and railings and including your skin up to three hours. (So if we all just be more patient about checking in..............)

Just a few facts. Look here for a more comprehensive view. There are plenty of other websites about the common cold that are reliable.

http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/healthscience/healthtopics/colds/

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

In May we came down with gastroenteritis, my 6 year old threw up the whole (LONG) ride home and my husband was white as a sheet for the trip back.

This latest trip we came home and two days later came down with the flu, type A (pediatrician did a swab and everyone popped positive ). Bummer, we've all been sick for Christmas. And since influenza has an incubation of 1-4 days, we know we picked it up in Disney.

We're the family that walks around with hand sanitizers hanging from every belt loop. I think it helps a little, we're about 50-50 on coming home with a cold or not...

 

[NemoMOm]

Hey, pout if you want to! Being sick is awful and even more so when you are WDW.

We have never had this at WDW but we usually do not go at really peak times other that Sept. and it's not cold season.

That being said, we just came back from a trip back west and DS came down with the Scarlet Fever!!!!: He was so sick with such a high fever that he literally laid in bed not moving for three days. It was scary cause he is VERY active.

I wish people that come down sick would wash their hands better, not everyone of course but I've seen the same people leave the bathroom without washing their hands.!Ick! 2o/2o did a report on public bathrooms and there is millions of bacteria per sq inch! (the floors are too nasty for words)

I wonder how much bacteria there would be on the hands of those whom do not wash if they were to be swabbed?

 

[PinkTink63]

Did you fly, if you did that is probably the reason. Air planes at this time of year are just a cesspool of recirculated germs.

That is exactly what I was going to ask!

 

[mikesmom]

I am sitting here with a scratchy throat and sneezing as I type this. We just got back from Austin, Texas!

It's the travel, period.

By the way, just for a tip - I was reading an article on the plane that suggested you carry your own pen when traveling or even out and about locally. Don't use the pen on the desk to sign your reservation, or the cashier's pen to sign your check when buying groceries, etc. Think of how many people have probably handled those pens! Yuck.