Unregistered 11:59 AM 12-13-2011
I am wondering what some of you would do in my place.
I have 2 year old in my care. She has come with ring worm in her scalp, two staph infections in her diaper area, which both needed to be lanced by the doctor, had hand-foot-and mouth, and now is coming with a cold sore (all over the course of the last year). I feel bad that the parents keep needing to take off of work for various things, however trying to keep up with the prevention of spreading illness from one kid is exhausting!!
I only take in a few kids, all of which are 3 or under. The child still puts things in her mouth, including her fingers. I understand that cold sores are contagious and most guidelines I read say not to exclude for "cold sores". My worry comes in because 1) the saliva spread and 2) it is a life long battle for the other children if they contract it.
I hate confrontation, and I stress greatly over these situations. I just need some advice from others "in the trenches".
The mother gets cold sores too and is told by work (with children) that she needs to have them covered. Then she brought DC girl and didn't even tell me the cold sore was even present on girl. Then proceeds to tell me that it is not "contagious". She was here all day yesterday and today so far. Is it too late to exclude? Do I exclude the next time?
Ahhh! Help please!
Blackcat31 12:24 PM 12-13-2011
Unregistered 03:33 PM 12-13-2011
Ok, the document states:
EXCLUSION Childcare:
Recurrent infections (fever blisters and cold sores) - None.
and...
CONTAGIOUS
PERIOD
Recurrent infection: usually 3 to 5 days.
and...
-Encourage children not to touch the sores.
-Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm running water after having contact
with the sores or saliva.
So...if there is a contagious period with recurrent infections (which I am pretty sure this is) and the child's saliva comes in contact with 80% of the things she touches (including the other children), unless I wash her hands every 2 minutes (because that is how often they go in her mouth), which is NOT realistic...
Would you exclude her anyway?
Not only does she suck her fingers, she has been poking at the sore. That seems to be two of the ways this would spread. Why would I not exclude?
Michael 04:04 PM 12-13-2011