how long do i stay away?

[kelli_michelle]

My sister had a little run of stomach flu run throught her house last week. My mom is coming to visit this weekend and is staying at my sister's house...is it safe to go there yet? Could someone in her family still have it? How long after someone is exposed do they have before they are sick from it? I've heard different things about this. My mom says you'd have it within a couple days, and my sister within a couple weeks. So whose right? I don't want to miss being with my family for Christmas! Anyone know? Is the scare over...or should I still fear the kids in her house?

[liriodendron]

I'd love to tell you not to worry but the fact is even if they aren't
showing any symptoms, those germs can live in the stool and on various
objects, especially wet objects like sink areas, for quite some time.
So it is possible to spread it that way. No guarantees though.



Roll the dice.

[tayda]

I would go; don't miss being w/ your family b/c of this!! typical w/ those kinds of viruses you are contagious about a day or so BEFORE you feel sick!! And then a few days into it! Just check to make sure that the home has been disinfected, and bring lots of purell! (If you aren't afraid of looking likea germophobe... use a tissue to open doors (always use a clean one)... that way you haven't touched anything...


(that's a bit dramatic.. though)


"todd" is right.. you can still find traces of the viruses and yucky stuff on other items in the house

[liriodendron]

If you don't go, then the phobia wins.

Then again, if you do go, I doubt you'll be able to relax.



Who's going to be doing the cooking?

[pretty polly]

Liriodendron - can germs linger on things like Xmas cards? I had to
fight the urge to dettol wipe all my daughters Xmas cards when she
came home from school today - stoopid huh?

[californiagirl]

Liriodendron - can germs linger on things like Xmas cards? I had to
fight the urge to dettol wipe all my daughters Xmas cards when she
came home from school today - stoopid huh?

I was wondering the same thing............

[kelli_michelle]

LOL now we'll all be disinfecting our christmas cards!! try working in a children's library!! my best friend is Lysol! [img]smileys/smilies_04.gif[/img] kids have been brining in plates of brownies and cookies they made just for me...*sigh* sweets are a weakness of mine, but even a weakness pails in the light of a phobia.

[kelli_michelle]

I've always got my purell. my sister knows about my phobia...she will SAY she's cleaned everything..but....*sigh* you know it started out with my 6 year old niece, she had a regular flu. fever headache, all the normal stuff. when she got near the end and broke her fever is when she did the big bad V she also had dia-however you spell it. So could that have just been the way she reacted to her fever? My older niece has the flu, but has had no problems with her stomach....what do you think?

[kelli_michelle]

oh and my sister will most likely cook. she hasn't had the "bug" yet...but...what if she dose now and doesn't know it!? I'm so not eating when i go there....! if i go.

[shiva]

I believe they are potentially contagious for a couple weeks after. Also, even if someone doesn't show symptoms doesn't mean they didn't carry the virus. However, this being said.. You cannot avoid everyone the rest of your life. It's the holidays and as said before. If you don't go, emet wins. Everytime you avoid something because of emet, it makes the phobia stronger. Go and enjoy yourself.

[crimgoddess]

I'm with the go and enjoy yourself crowd. The "well, they were sick this day....if I stay away this many days..." is a slippery slope on which to find yourself.


Sometimes you just have to prioritize your family and life over emet


*amber*

[gubba]

I know a woman who told me her twins had the SV on Thursday, her husband on Saturday, she go it Monday and her other son on Tuesday. Sounds like it moves pretty fast...Now, mor important, is that your neice probably reacted to the her fever that way. Drugs like motrin and tylenol make my son have yucky poop, and he V*'s from fever sometimes. I bet it wasn't an SV and even if it was you will be fine by next week. Finally, Purell or GERMX whatever you use, will work at keeping you germ free as well as any other thing and if you aren't comfortable eating, DON'T!!! I know how you feel and I just skip the food if I am scared about someone being sick and cooking. You can't let this EMET thing ruin your holiday...but I do understand your fear...I have them too. Don't you just wish that for one week, even one day we could be EMET free to see what it would be like to NOT worry at all??? Even on good days, i focus on the fact that it is a good day and I still have it on my mind.

[liriodendron]

Liriodendron - can germs linger on things like Xmas cards? I had to
fight the urge to dettol wipe all my daughters Xmas cards when she
came home from school today - stoopid huh?

I was wondering the same thing............</font>

Some germs such as rotavirus can live and spread on objects for days or
even weeks if it's a damp area like a sink or sponge. They can live on
objects longer than they can live on one's hands. With that said, paper
greeting cards really aren't the most ideal environment for germs to
live. Using cleanser on them is probably overkill. Just wash your hands
at appropriate times. Remember, getting sick from them depends on the
germs being present in a sufficient amount. It has to get past your
handwashing and into your body and It has to get past your immune
system. The time would be better spent cleaning up and sanitizing
toilets and bathroom sinks.



As for the sister being well and cooking, it's possible to have these
germs in high concentrations in ones poop before they show symptoms and
of course long after the symptoms go away. But hopefully the sister
washes her hands after pooping. If you would eat in a restaurant or
commercially processed food, many people come in contact with the
product before you eat it so when you think about it, having just one
"well" person cooking sounds like a safer bet.

[californiagirl]

LOL now we'll all be disinfecting our christmas cards!! try working in a children's library!! my best friend is Lysol! [img]smileys/smilies_04.gif[/img] kids have been brining in plates of brownies and cookies they made just for me...*sigh* sweets are a weakness of mine, but even a weakness pails in the light of a phobia.

That's funny~~~


One time I was at work, and this girl came in, handed me her time card, then told me she had to go to the bathroom, that she was sick. EEWWWW!!! So, I had the bright idea to spray the time card with lysol. Bad idea. The ink runs[img]smileys/smilies_11.gif[/img]

[jenneth]

well, according to my home ec teach germs need:

Moist
Warmth
Food
Time

Thats the basis on which i deem thing safe/unsafe.

jen