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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Sick Policy - Thick Mucous Nose
KDC 08:29 AM 05-15-2012
Hi All, I have one DCB who's been sick for months on and off, (mostly on). He's either had a bad cough, thick nose drainage over the past 3 months. He was away last week for a vacation, it was great to not have to constantly wipe his nose. He's 3-1/2 and is just always sick. Mom came back from week long vacation and while dropping off said the following " Oh, I got so sick while on vacation, I am just now getting my voice back... I was actually coughing up blood. Took day off to go to Dr. Good luck with DCB today, he punched me yesterday and has spent lots of time in time out this past week, hopefully he's better for you. Oh, and his nose is running a bit." Oh, good Monday start, eh? When she returned for pick-up she said, oh - it's just a virus. Would you have allowed her to return with her child the next day?

My Question... Are green thick boogers for weeks at a time normal for some kids? I do have a clause in my health policy to exclude for this, but seriously, he'd be gone for weeks? Other DCP's see him and want to hide their kids. I want to hide my kids! He's my only full time child during the summer months, so terming is not really a good option. His behavior wasn't bad for me... just tons of thick gross boogers.

Health Policy as worded in my handbook;
Health Policy
If a child becomes ill while in my care, the parent or emergency contact will be notified and is required to pick the child up within one hour.

For the protection of your child and other children, a child must be excluded from my care if the following symptoms are present:
• Measles – runny nose, fever, cough, blotchy rash
• Chicken Pox – Fever and rash consisting of blisters
• Fever – a temperature of 101 or higher
• Diarrhea
• Eye/nose drainage – thick mucus or puss drainage from the eye or nose
• Vomiting
• Conjunctivitis – pink eye, red eye with thick discharge
• Evidence of lice, including ticks
• Strep throat – the child may return after being on antibiotics for 24 hours
• Respiratory problems – severe coughing, rapid breathing, croup, or whooping sound after coughing
• Undiagnosed rash – must be seen by a Doctor before returning and must return with a Dr.’s note.


WWYD? Could this be an allergy? We have a Labrador with lots of shedding, although I vacuum every day. They have cats. Seasonal allergies? Something's up. She has mentioned in the past I must have the magic green booger house, because of course, there is no runny nose at her house.

Thanks in advance!
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SunshineMama 08:55 AM 05-15-2012
I had a similar issue with my dcb, but he was only 12 months old. I have not seen a 3 year old so sick continuously- I would tend to think it might be allergies in that case, especially since it is spring. Even so- boogers from allergies or viruses, etc still spread germs and can get all the other kids sick.

If he can't get healthy fast you have to decide to keep him or term. If I knew he had a virus I would tell them not to come the next day.
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Ariana 09:15 AM 05-15-2012
I have a 2 sisters that I take care of and both are constantly sick with something. The older sister thankfully is now in school full-time but has been on 4 rounds of antibiotics in 6 weeks!! While she was with me 1/2 days last year she was on antibiotics 3X. I blame dairy intolerance 100% but the mom is not interested in helping her child at all by even trying to cut it out. The younger one doesn't get as sick as the older one but she's had a phlemgy cough now for going on a month. The last time the phlegmy cough lasted a good 2-3 months. It's not normal!! My child and the other kid I take care of are rarely sick and rarely catch what this kid has....which is also odd but leads me to believe it's not an actual cold but poor diet and intolerance to dairy.

If it were me I would express my concerns with the parent and explain that your sick policy states that he needs to be excluded for green mucousy nose. I would suggest that if she doesn't want him to be excluded she needs to take him to the DR to figure out what's wrong. Bring up the possibility of allergies as well since it's "only happening at your house"...which is likely a load of malarky.
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MarinaVanessa 09:32 AM 05-15-2012
I don't exclude for green/yellow mucous unless it's accompanied by a fever OR the mucous runs so much that I have to wipe it constantly throughout the day (as in like every 10-15 minutes or less all day long). I just don't have the time for that and if the mucous is a problem and gets on toys, the child wipes them with their hands/clothes and then handles toys etc. then yes, they go home.

Ariana said:
Originally Posted by :
I would suggest that if she doesn't want him to be excluded she needs to take him to the DR to figure out what's wrong. Bring up the possibility of allergies as well since it's "only happening at your house"...which is likely a load of malarky.
Which I agree with. If a kid is CONSTANTLY sick then they need to figure something out and get it fixed. I also love the idea of suggesting allergies if they say that it doesn't happen at home because either way they have to do SOMETHING.

PS: Ariana - I had the same issue with a DCK before that would constantly have a phlegmy cough which reminded me of my DD who also has a dairy intolerance (have to give her soy milk). I asked DCP to take DCK to DR and the DCP said that she "didn't notice it at home and that it must be something here in my home" to which I just responded to by telling her "then it's deffinetely an allergy thing and we need to figure out what she's allergic to so that I can try to make changes". Just keep insisting that it can't continue. In my case it did end up being a dairy intolerance .
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Ariana 10:31 AM 05-15-2012
Originally Posted by :
PS: Ariana - I had the same issue with a DCK before that would constantly have a phlegmy cough which reminded me of my DD who also has a dairy intolerance (have to give her soy milk). I asked DCP to take DCK to DR and the DCP said that she "didn't notice it at home and that it must be something here in my home" to which I just responded to by telling her "then it's deffinetely an allergy thing and we need to figure out what she's allergic to so that I can try to make changes". Just keep insisting that it can't continue. In my case it did end up being a dairy intolerance .
Well it's good that you figured it out and the mom was willing to try My DCM just wants to give meds. The older girl would be here on puffers and allergy meds all day every day. They are completely unwilling to try any "natural" remedies like possible food allergies or a naturopathic DR etc. I've referred her to my ND and sent her articles on the link between dairy and ear infections. They really don't care, it's just too inconvenient for them When they are here with me I never serve them dairy and I give them probiotics to help their digestion and replenish the good bacteria...but that's about all I can do! The mom even got a note from school telling her to send healthier lunches. I once looked in the kid's lunch bag and she had 2 cookies, a bearpaw and a yogurt with 0% fat with Aspertame!! Seriously how can a child manage all day school on that crap and sick to boot?
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KDC 07:40 AM 05-17-2012
So I sent a note to the DCM explaining his constant nose running, the thickness and color, hazard to others in the daycare catching illness... and I was really worried how she would react. She reacted positively . She made a Dr.'s appointment for today and is at the Dr. as we speak!! Hopefully they'll be able to help the poor little guy out. Thanks for all your advice. I was so worried at how she would respond... typically I'd be silent and hope it got better soon. I've learned through this site that sometimes you just got to come out and say it and deal with it, rather than be passive aggressive, or resentful. I avoid conflict like the plague, but the way I was handling it was not right. I'm getting better! Thanks!!
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christinaskids 10:31 AM 05-17-2012
I have the same issue with my DS. His ped hasnt figured anything out for me so I took him toan allergist and he tested negative for everything. They referred me to an ear nose and throat specialist and said the cause is his large tonsils which will be removed soon. Might be something to suggest to mom?
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daycare 10:44 AM 05-17-2012
I am like MV....if they have a runny green nose with no other symptoms, they can stay. I have had parents tell me that their kids have really bad allergies, so when they tell me this, I respond with, if that is the case, then I need a doctors note stating so. Funny how most of the time I never get one and then I end up sending the kid home.

I think that some kids are just nose runners and others are not. I have one kid here that always has a dry nose and gets bloody noses from time to time at least once a month and then there is the one that is always runny and the nose is constantly running.

you have to realize that in this business that kids are going to get sick and the worst part of it is that they are usually contagious before they even display any symptoms.

If I had to exclude for green runny noses, then I would hve to exclude almost all of my kids
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Tags:green boogers, mucous, sick policy, sickness
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