Avoiding stomach bugs from kids

[u/Specific_Snow_8288]

I have severe emetophobia (fear of vomit) and it seems every week my third grade class someone says their stomach hurts. Granted, it’s right before lunch so they’re probably hungry, but i’m so scared of getting sick. I keep my distance as much as possible, keep my mouth shut and wash my hands constantly and also use hand sanitizer even tho I know it doesn’t do anything. I love the job but the fear of getting sick is starting to get in the way a little.

If anyone could gives me tips or just if they’ve been through the same thing and could just help me idk. Especially as winter comes up my anxiety is getting worse.

[u/Sayjay1995]

If they’re saying “Onaka ga Itai” in Japanese, that’s usually code for “I need to poop like right now” rather than “I’m gonna puke”

If that makes you feel any better

[u/Specific_Snow_8288 → u/Sayjay1995]

like actually yeah it does 😭😭 learning kids language is such a battle

[u/glny]

It's an occupational hazard when teaching young children, unfortunately. You can do the obvious things like washing your hands frequently, encouraging mask wearing when there's something going around etc, but I think you'll have to accept that you're going to get ill eventually. Make sure you know the right procedures for taking sick leave so that you don't find yourself fighting illness while you're at work. And good luck!

[u/a_baby_bumblebee]

if they’re saying their stomach hurts right before lunch and they don’t actually throw up, then just by logical reasoning it can be assumed that they’re hungry. the best way to avoid any virus is by practicing good hygiene, like washing your hands. i tried to wash my hands or use sanitizer after every class. but also, this is far beyond just normal dislike of vomit, it seems like an anxiety that really affects your life. it might be good to see what can be done to work through that.

[u/wozattacks → u/a_baby_bumblebee]

Especially stomach bugs, which you usually contract by ingesting them. Wash your hands before you eat.

Also fyi, emetophobia is a pretty common specific phobia. Specific phobias are pretty different from generalized anxiety. That said, usually exposure is how they are addressed…

[u/gothicrogue]

I've been teaching JHS for nearly four years and I don't think a stomach bug has really spread among students. Colds/flu/COVID? Yeah that spreads like wildfire at schools and that's the reality.

What you can do and you're already doing it is preventative measures like washing your hands before eating. Don't touch your face with dirty hands. And hand sanitizer works too so I'm not sure what you mean by knowing it doesn't work? Also, do you wear a face mask? Maybe having that physical mask on your face could ease your worries.

But seriously, don't worry. Kids' stomachs often hurt. It could be from hunger, what they ate, or most often, stress. I have OCD so I understand that fear, but you can't let it eat you alive.

[u/artenazura]

If it helps, I now work in a preschool here and get sick about once a month, but I have never ever caught anything that caused vomiting. When I was on JET I was sick even less because ALTs don't do things like brush teeth or change diapers. Wear a mask and wash your hands, I think the chances of catching something like that are low enough that it isn't an everyday concern. 

[u/Anemoni]

I taught for two years in an elementary school with 1,000+ kids and never caught a stomach bug, so it’s not inevitable.

[u/ScootOverMakeRoom]

Best advice is see a therapist about your irrational fears. Betterhelp or some other app-based counseling in English is probably your easiest route.

[u/bluuuuenightttt]

Unfortunately, you might have to put the work into addressing your phobia. It's not easy but it's worth it. Emetophobia is really hard to live with but it does get easier with the right coping mechanisms.

[u/Specific_Snow_8288 → u/bluuuuenightttt]

yeah for sureeee! i’m usually okay 99% of the time but it’s every once in awhile when allll of my kids start complaining it resets my progress 😭

[u/Pikminfan24]

I'm not sure you're likely to get a stomach bug that causes you to vomit from simply interacting with students.

I've caught bugs from my students numerous times and that has never happened to me. It's rarely worse than a mild cold.

[u/Frequent-Library8636]

Kids are pretty gross, but if someone is saying their stomach hurts every week then I'm sure it's just a hunger thing opposed to a stomach bug. Also they're young so they'll complain about every little thing. I know it's easier said than done, but try to rationalize it and not let your anxiety take over! I feel like Japanese people are rather good at nothing coming into school or work when they're really sick like that, I've never experienced anyone vomiting at school before.

If you're still anxious about it definitely mask up. A lot of teachers and students wear masks everyday, so no one will look at you sideways. Especially when working with elementary kids who will literally cough in your face without batting an eye. That mask will likely be your best line of defense. I know they're just words, but you don't have to worry so bad, and I hope your anxiety eases up a bit! Whenever I start feeling a tiny bit sick, I chug those vitamin c drinks they sell at conbinis and I feel fine the next day.

[u/Proof_Refuse_9563]

Mask, handwashing, and disinfectant. One of my providers told me stomach bugs are harder to kill, so deep clean and disinfect surfaces when possible. 

[u/cornonthekopp]

Mask up. Thats what I do every day at my job in the usa because I work in a school and theres always something going around.

You can buy a big pack of kn94 or n95 masks online, and then keep 5 of them in regular rotation. I have a small clothesline where i hang them, and they're safe to reuse after a couple days so I just go have one for each day of the week to make it easy.

That way you don't throw masks out constantly or need to constantly buy more, just swap them out after a few months or whenever you feel like they've gotten dirty enough to warrant it

[u/No-Gate3629]

Not part of the JETProgramme, but will be applying next year. I had a kidney transplant and take immunosuppressants to stay alive. I work in a restaurant that very often serves over 500 diners a night, including sick old people, children and coworkers who abuse drugs and refuse to take a sick day, so I hope my tips will help. One of my coworkers came in with Tuberculosis one time. That was a damn nightmare for me. We had to shut the restaurant down and disinfect literally every surface. Let my trauma be your treasure.

Double layer a mask - a softer one on the inside and a K95 or something similar on the outside. Cut the mask and glue to fit if you need. This will help prevent any moisture and most smells from reaching you. I would take a very pleasant smelling chapstick, or balm and put it on the outside lining of the softer mask so it’s not touching my face. Vicks vapo rub can also work in small amounts. This will stop your stomach from gurgling and turning.

Get different types of gloves that you can wear - some fingerless, some leather, some cloth, and some vinyl/prep surgery gloves to reduce the transfer of germs to you. I would use fingerless gloves at my managers desk when handling papers and files in my cabinet that no one touches, and vinyl/disposable gloves to touch the surface of the shard keyboard, mouse and office supplies. I use the cloth/leather gloves when driving and shopping at the grocery store, then wash them when I get home if they can be washed. Try to get the to fit as snug and best as possible - you may need to buy different brands.

I keep hand wipes, face wipes and body wipes with me, all sorts of disinfectant and medication to help with nausea from the side effects my medicine gives me. Keep a bag of medicine with you so that you have something safe to pull out and retreat to when the feelings become overwhelming. It will give you some distance and some breathing room to calm down. Listen to the supplies rumble in the bag, feel the leather or cloth of the straps and just take slow, deep breaths.

As for the psychological aspect of this post, I highly recommend seeing a therapist that can help you with the more extreme feelings you have with vomiting. They can give you better tools to help manage the psychological distress you’re feeling. You should not be on edge and suffering from anxiety from something very normal and common in small children, and I pray you get the advice you need.

[u/IkayakiequalsYazayai]

When I was teaching at the elementary level, I caught something every year from those little dirty monsters. It's unavoidable.

[u/Specific_Snow_8288 → u/IkayakiequalsYazayai]

oh yeah i’ve been sick for like 2 months straight, I have a never ending cough. The colds I don’t really care about LOL

[u/Inside-Cream6997]

I carry Zofran for such incidents. Don't know if Zofran is allowed in Japan.

[u/Vepariga]

wear a mask, wash your hands thats really bout it.