When your kid's roommate has the flu . . .
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Anonymous
| Son had it and sibling sharing room and me taking care of him did not get it. We all had the flu shot, though. |
Anonymous
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I feel like I’d get sicker sleeping in the common area that hundreds of students and their visitors traipse through than my own room.
When my roommate had the flu in our tiny double, I ran my fan 24/7 next to my bed to blow away and I didn’t catch it. |
Anonymous
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Sleep on friend couch.
Hire rinse to launder everything in the room when the fever breaks. |
Anonymous
Hepa air purifier 
The one we bought our daughter has a uv light that theoretically sanitizes the air. It’s running 24/7, and they turn it up to the high setting when someone is sick. So far, so good. My dd had the b strain of flu in November and her roommate didn’t get it. Roommate had strep in December, dd didn’t get it. Dd had flu A in January and roommate didn’t get it. 3 kids on the hall had adenovirus and countless had mono and neither caught that, thank goodness. Also, Clorox wipes and Lysol spray for door knobs and bathroom. Our dd’s dorm has a hall bathroom, so we put 2 Lysol sprays in there with a label saying to use it to spray handles and knobs. Not sure how many use it, but they’re there just in case. My dd sprayed whatever she touched after using the bathroom when she had the flu. |
Anonymous
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Sorry, but you need to let go. It’s the flu. If she doesn’t know to wash her hands, how to open doors with sleeves, not rub her eyes or put fingers in her mouth, she is doomed.
Aren’t we supposed to do this BEFORE they leave. |
Anonymous
| Tamiflu |
Anonymous
Uh huh. |
Anonymous
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OP here -- Thanks to all who posted with helpful advice. DD and roomie are both doing fine. DD is the youngest of 3 hardy kids, so, yes, I knew she would survive At the same time, I know that even a three-peat mom doesn't know all the tricks of the trade, so I'm always humble enough to ask for advice. Oh, and for those who asked, roomie (AKA, patient 0 -- JK) did have a flu shot. Wishing you all a happy spring and good health!
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Anonymous
The DD will not be in a common area for the whole dorm. She'd be in the shared area of their suite. OP said it's a one bedroom suite. No hordes trailing through, PP. OP, your daughter needs to get loads of Lysol or Clorox wipes now (not when the fever breaks -- that advice made no sense) and thoroughly wipe down doorknobs, light switches, remote controls in the suite common area, etc. several times a day. The roommate will still have to exit the suite using the same door as DD, or might turn on a light, etc. and it's SO easy for the sick person to touch something once and transfer the virus to another person who then unthinkingly touches the same everyday surfaces. They need to be in separate sleeping areas until roommate is at least 24 hours fever free without any meds. The last part is very important. That means 24 hours when she hasn't had any fever reducing meds at all. "I feel better" does not mean she's good to go. Flu, depending on the person, can still be contagious for days after the person feels better, and yes, after fevers gone--I just had it myself (yes, I'd had a shot) and my doctor said some people can be contagious from 24 hours before you have ANY symptoms until as much as 5 or more days after you feel fine and aren't feverish. Be sure DD understands that and doesn't try to return to the bedroom too soon. |
Anonymous
This. Plus Lysol spray. Use it constantly for the next two weeks. Constant purell and hand washing. |
Anonymous
The roommate needs it, not the OP's DD. And roomie should have gotten it when diagnosed. It is only effective when it's begin within 48 hours of onset of symptoms. OP, tell DD that if she herself shows symptoms she needs to get to the doctor ASAP so she can get Tamiflu or one of the other newer antivitmrals for flu. They do help. |
Anonymous
| Heavily clean, have daughter bring roommate food and not use the kitchen and wash any common fabric items. |
Anonymous
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By the time a roommate is diagnosed, the other has already been heavily exposed. Yes to all the Clorox, etc., but the best advice for all these kids is to eat well, drink enough water, and wash hands before they eat every time...and keep your hands away from your face the rest of the time.
Flu shot is also beneficial. |
Anonymous
| And sleep. I don’t think most of them sleep enough |