Dear M.

The kids have the rotavirus. I think they got it from the consultation office last week. The incubation period fits. Ali was the first to go. I think we were in a very dangerous situation over the weekend, at one point he wasn't even able to move his arms. Dienst doctors didn't think it was necessary to see him. After five days of diarrhea we took him to the huisarts today, thankfully the young doctor was there and she requested a stool test. She also helped us get the results right away from the lab (standard was five days), that's how we know it is rota. Not that it's good for anything, because no one will do anything about it. Thank god Ali is recovering, he looked better today although he still had the diarrhea.

Certainly you would imagine my concerns about Lale. She stopped eating almost completely. She has been eating bits and pieces of crackers for the last four days. Twice I tricked her into drinking water with Fantomalt. Now she doesn't want the water as well. Her diarrhea hasn't been as bad as Ali's, I think because she normally has very hard stools, and she vomited only a few times (which is good because last Friday Ali gagged for 12 hours --nothing came out after the first few episodes) but I'm worried she might get worse or dehydrated eventually. In Turkey they have vaccination for it and in some cases the children are hospitalized. The doctor here told us there's nothing to do but wait. Do you think there might be a non-standard protocol for babies with feeding disorders, which the huisarts may not be aware of? Or do I just keep on worrying about when she might get dehydrated?

I know that this virus becomes contagious when a person comes in contact with infected feces or contaminated objects and I will sanitize the kids for Friday. But if you feel it may not be safe for the other kids, we could skip the group. No problem. I don't want the other mothers worrying about this or, if they pass it on somehow, get bitter about it.

Please let me know what you think
Best regards
Elif


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Dear Elif

I will send this mail to B.D. and ask what his thoughts are about the rotavirus and about Friday.

What an awful situation and of course Lale stops eating immediately, that is her first intuitive reaction when not feeling well. If you are afraid of dehydration please go to the huisarts or Marjolein, better go to the huisarts too often than forcing Lale to drink and eat. Then you know if she is in a dangerous zone and how much autonomy about the food and fluid you can give her. I will ask B. to mail to my workadress so I can contact you before Friday and before the group As far as I know there is no protocol for children with the rotavirus and feeding problems just offer her drink and small amounts of food frequently, but try not to force her.

What I do know is that almost every child will become infected by the rotavirus for one or several times under two years of age There is a vaccination also in Holland you can ask the huisarts. The first time is the worst and then they will build up their immune system and mostly the rotavirus has a lesser effect a second time. It takes three to five days and the only thing you can do is wait and be alert for dehydration and be alert about cleaning your hands etc.

But I can imagine that it frightens you very much when Lale stops eating and especially drinking again after all those hundreds and thousands of times you tried so hard to get something in. I will contact you tomorrow


M.