[Amanda L]

<p>I just found out that the bumps that my stepson had in his diaper area when we picked him up this last weekend (his Mom said he had a reaction to an off brand of diapers) is actually a staph infection - I think she said folliculitus. I know staph is one of those things that's always around, but aren't you more likely to get it from someone with an active infection? My son and stepson are toddlers and share lots of germs. If my son was going to "catch" the infection how long before he would show signs?</p>
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<p>Thank you for any responses!  <span><img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.mothering.com/images/smilies/smile.gif"></span></p>

 

[Amanda L]

<p>Crickets chirping . . .</p>

 

[Amanda L]

<p>In case anyone else is curious, I found the answer to my own question in the Public Health Agency of Canada's website <a href="http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/msds-ftss/msds143e-eng.php" target="_blank">here</a>. It states:</p>
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<p><strong>"INCUBATION PERIOD:</strong> Variable and indefinite, commonly 4-10 days; disease may not occur until several months after colonization; interval between eating food and onset of symptoms is usually 2-4 hours (30 min to 8 hours)"</p>
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<p>Thanks for reading!</p>

 

[SubliminalDarkness]

<p>I am by no means an expert on this, but my understanding is that some people can be 'carriers' of staph and can hold the infection indefinitely in a dormant state, and it is possible that they could infect others at any time. That person could show symptoms shortly or could also hold the infection in a dormant state which could flare up at any time.</p>
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<p>My BIL is a carrier, and my DH had to stay away from him the whole time he was on chemo and radiation because the risk of an infection was so high. </p>