Chicken Pox

[godiva83]

So, one of my little DCB's may have chicken pox.... I know you are most contagious prior to spots, but all the children have been vaccinated for it. Anyway, how long does this boy need to be off for? Is it untill the pox scab over? In my old centre the policy was all pics needed to be scanned over no open sores.
However, for a HDC is this the same? And approx. what is the timing on that? DCB's mum is a little irate at the moment

[nannyde]

No open sores. All pox must be healed over. It usually takes about seven to ten days for the complete break out and healing of the last one.

She can be upset. It's just part of having a child. Did her kid have the immunization?

I haven't had chicken pox in my day care after they came out with the vaccination.

[godiva83]

Yes, he did have it - I haven't seen chicken pox's for awhile either!
I am hoping it isn't a bad case
And it shouldn't be because he had the vaccine

[Blackcat31]

Parent sheet:

http://www.hennepin.us/files/HennepinUS/HSPHD/Public%20Health%20Protection/Epidemiology/Daycare%20Manual/1235_chickenpox%20parent.pdf

Provider fact sheet:

http://www.hennepin.us/files/HennepinUS/HSPHD/Public%20Health%20Protection/Epidemiology/Daycare%20Manual/1230_s6ChickenPOX.pdf

I have had two (mild) cases of chicken pox since vaccination has come out.

[MsMe]

Is she sure it is Chicken pox and not HFM?

[youretooloud]

If the boy has had the vaccine, he will probably have a mild case of CP. But, i'd still tell her to count on being out for the whole week. It might not even be the whole week.

In my own personal daycare....IF he truly had the chicken pox, and I was convinced that's what it was, I'd let him come back after a day or two... he already exposed the other kids, and I don't see any reason (unless I had an infant in my care) to exclude him. This year, I have two infants at home with siblings here, so I would exclude him to protect the infants.


I wouldn't vaccinate my own child against CP until the year before school starts....but, that would be MY choice, and not the daycare provider's fault. It's not the job of the provider to make my choices easier for me. If I have a sick kid, that I chose not to vaccinate, then I stay home with MY kid.

Edited to add... Chicken Pox is more common in the late winter, through early summer. It's not that common in October...so, I would be suspicious that it really isn't CP.

[godiva83]

That's what I said to Mum- I personally think it is a reaction to amoxicillian that he has been on for an ear infection! It is just odd, but a trip to the doctors is in order before he can return to daycare.

[youretooloud]

That's what I said to Mum- I personally think it is a reaction to amoxicillian that he has been on for an ear infection! It is just odd, but a trip to the doctors is in order before he can return to daycare.

That's what I would tell her.

I still find it amusing that she's annoyed at the possibility of having to stay home with her own sick child. I get that it's hard to do with work. But, don't try to make the provider feel bad.

[Rachel]

No open sores. All pox must be healed over. It usually takes about seven to ten days for the complete break out and healing of the last one.

She can be upset. It's just part of having a child. Did her kid have the immunization?

I haven't had chicken pox in my day care after they came out with the vaccination.

My kids all had chicken pox 2 years ago. Half the neighborhood did. FYI, there was no difference in kids who had the vaccine vs. kids who didn't. Mine didn't and thank goodness they were hardly sick at all. My friend's ds did and he had high fevers, hugs numbers of spots, and was really, really, sick. In fact most of the kids who had the worst cases were the vaccinated ones.

All the spots healed over, mine were out about a week (7 days or so).

[godiva83]

False diagnosis from Mum! He ended up having an adverse reaction to *********** and was rushed to the ER... self diagnosis can be very dangerous.

[Meyou]

False diagnosis from Mum! He ended up having an adverse reaction to *********** and was rushed to the ER... self diagnosis can be very dangerous.

I know exactly what that rash looks like. My dd had a reaction to a sulpha drug a few years ago and I would have SWORN she had the measles. In fact they were so unsure at my doc's office that they called the 3 most senior doctors to come look at her since the younger ones had never seen a case. It was definitely an allergic reaction but it look just like early CP before she got to the point where there were hundreds of spots.

[godiva83]

Oh wow! I know it can be hard to differentiate at times but I always suggest a trip to the Doctor when you are not 100%
Anyway, the little guy is doing well and being well taken care of

[Meyou]

Well, it's just common sense to go to the doctor if a young child is covered in a rash of any kind. But we all know that's giving out in small doses and not to everyone.

[Country Kids]

Oh wow! I know it can be hard to differentiate at times but I always suggest a trip to the Doctor when you are not 100%
Anyway, the little guy is doing well and being well taken care of

Is she still upset with you? That's what gets me-being upset with you for letting you know he needs to go to the doctors and then he has to be rushed to ER.