*See below
Ever wonder how long someone is contagious after having a stomach virus?
Here's the answer from the Mayo Clinic.
It depends on which virus is causing your stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis). A number of viruses can cause gastroenteritis, including noroviruses and rotaviruses. The contagious period — the time during which a sick person can give the illness to others — is slightly different for each virus.
Norovirus is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in adults. Symptoms appear within one to three days of exposure. With norovirus, you're contagious from the moment you begin to feel ill. Although you typically feel better after a day or two, you're contagious for at least three days after you've recovered. Some people may be contagious for up to two weeks after recovery. Also, children are often contagious for a longer period than are adults.
Rotavirus is the leading cause of viral gastroenteritis in infants and young children. Symptoms of rotavirus appear one to two days after exposure. But you're contagious even before you develop symptoms, and you typically remain contagious for two weeks after you've recovered. Children are often contagious for a longer period than are adults.
For these reasons, it's important to wash your hands frequently and thoroughly — whether you feel ill or not. The viruses that cause gastroenteritis are spread through close contact with infected persons, such as by sharing food or eating utensils. Washing your hands is the most effective way to stop the spread of these viruses to others.
Now you know how it spreads, by taking kids to Sunday school only a few days after being sick.
*My friend makes a good point in her comment that church is NOT the only place to contact these nasty little bugs! I'm glad she pointed that out. To only mention Sunday school was definitely inaccurate and I humbly apologize. Thanks, Mrs. Evans! :)
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2 comments:
Jenny...first know I just have to pull your strings here because John is always making fun of me because I have to pinpoint exactly where my children picked up their nasty colds. But not all sickness come from church...maybe from parents bringing it to work without knowing and hubbies picking it up and not even getting it...or on grocery carts...or door knobs or who knows. What about library books???UGH!!! Praise God, we have immune systems and it is just a stomach bug. :) Not that they are easy to go through ESPECIALLY if you are going through them with all your kids but I often have to remind myself when my kiddos are sick that this too will pass. :)I suppose we could require everyone EVERYONE who goes to church to read this info. Sounds good to me. We travel so much and are in so many different churches that don't have as high cleanliness standards as yours does. Sometimes I just have to pray as I leave my children in a nursery or class knowing God has them in His hands.
I did just read that Sweet Pea was sick. I am soooo sorry. I do pray no one else gets it. Keep washing those hands. I do soooo understand the frustration when you feel like as a mom that you are doing everything to keep your kids healthy and prevent other people from getting sick if your kids have been sick. We usually skip church most of the spring allergy season because my kids have allergies. Because who is to say when their noses are running that it isn't a cold? I don't know how to tell the difference. I have even had a doctor say that after they are green and runny it is an infection and not contagious but nurseries won't allow kids in if they are green and runny...only if they are clear. There are a lot of misinformed people out there. It is soooo hard to know what to do. I pray energy and endurance for you as you take care of your family and this sweet little sick one!!!
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