What is going on this month!? Geeze!!

[Angelwings36]

So in the last week I had to send three families home at my door with their SICK children.

DCF #1 Brings dcg to daycare with very obvious pink eye. I had to tell Dcd sorry I could not take her and that she needed to go to the doctor. He took her to the doctor and she had pink eye!

DCF #2 Brings dcb to daycare with a very obviously bad cold. I accept minor colds only. The boys nose was running like crazy when she came to the door, flush cheeks, glossy eyes and he was cuddling up to her (which is not typical of his behavior). She told me the day prior he was not himself for most of the day. I sent her home with him.

DCF #3 Brings dcb to daycare with a full body rash. He also had a minor cold. I would have accepted him with the minor cold but not the rash. Dcm said that it was heat rash. I sent dcm to the doctor to get dcb checked to ensure it was nothing major as she had originally said. Dcm texts later and said it was caused by the cold virus.

So now here is my question. Would you accept dcb into care today given the diagnosis that the rash was caused by a cold virus even though he still has a rash on his whole body? Dcm took dcb to the doctor yesterday. She said she has a doctor’s note with diagnosis but I am still uncomfortable that the rash may be caused by something else.

Opinions?

[Angelwings36]

No one?

[littlemissmuffet]

Hmmm, I don't allow rashes - even with a diagnoses. It's just too risky... and dotors aren't always right. I only accept children back into care after a rash is gone.

[Angelwings36]

Hmmm, I don't allow rashes - even with a diagnoses. It's just too risky... and dotors aren't always right. I only accept children back into care after a rash is gone.

I wish I had this as part of my policy.

[littlemissmuffet]

I wish I had this as part of my policy.

It's something you can add now - and in the meantime, let the parent know you aren't comfortable with allowing the child back in until the rash clears just in case it does spread... she what she says?

[Angelwings36]

It's something you can add now - and in the meantime, let the parent know you aren't comfortable with allowing the child back in until the rash clears just in case it does spread... she what she says?

I did let dcm know last night via text message to keep dcb home until the rash had cleared up. She doesn't seem very pleased with me and that's when I began to question myself. I am typically very good at enforcing my policies but since I allow minor colds and the rash was "suppose" to be caused by a cold virus I felt like I was contridicting my own policies. Kwim? If I wanted to add this as part of my policies now could I just send a letter home to parents with notification and have them sign off on that rather than sending out new contracts to each family?

[MarinaVanessa]

I was just going over my illness policy and about to update it to show a chart or list of some type with communicable illnesses and exclusion period etc so that clients can refer to it when they had doubts so I have been reading up on the recommendations (CDC, Public Health, Health Textbooks etc.) and didn't remember any one of them saying that a cold could result in a rash. I went back and looked through the info again and still couldn't find any mention of that.

That being said, it doesn't mean it isn't possible. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable allowing this child back into my care if she had a rash even with a Dr's note. I allow minor illnesses like minor colds in my DC but to me a rash does not equate minor. What do your policies say about illness?

[Angelwings36]

I was just going over my illness policy and about to update it to show a chart or list of some type with communicable illnesses and exclusion period etc so that clients can refer to it when they had doubts so I have been reading up on the recommendations (CDC, Public Health, Health Textbooks etc.) and didn't remember any one of them saying that a cold could result in a rash. I went back and looked through the info again and still couldn't find any mention of that.

That being said, it doesn't mean it isn't possible. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable allowing this child back into my care if she had a rash even with a Dr's note. I allow minor illnesses like minor colds in my DC but to me a rash does not equate minor. What do your policies say about illness?

I accept children with a minor cold anything above that and the child is excluded. Rashes are on my list of CAN NOT COME. However, because the doctor had said the rash was caused by the cold virus I was unsure if it was fair for me to exclude or not.

[Cradle2crayons]

I accept children with a minor cold anything above that and the child is excluded. Rashes are on my list of CAN NOT COME. However, because the doctor had said the rash was caused by the cold virus I was unsure if it was fair for me to exclude or not.

Lots of rashes appear with symptoms that LOOK like a common cold.

For instance, fifths disease. Some kids only have cold symptoms.

But I'm the same way, cold is one thing, rash is another. It sort of depends because it MAY be from the cold or it may be from some other viral thing as well.

Some kids get rashes with every cold. Some never do. If you've had the child before with a rash when he gets a cold I could understand. But if not, then no.

Most important, GO WITH YOUR GUT.

[MarinaVanessa]

I accept children with a minor cold anything above that and the child is excluded. Rashes are on my list of CAN NOT COME. However, because the doctor had said the rash was caused by the cold virus I was unsure if it was fair for me to exclude or not.

I really think that it is up to you. I personally have a clause in my policies that says that although I may require a Dr's note for re-admittance it does not guarantee that the child will be allowed back into care. The note is for my consideration only and I make the final decision about whether the child is healthy enough to come or not. I'd be worried about the possibility of the rash not being caused by the cold but rather the child having a cold AND something else coincidentally at the same time.

On some websites I did read that sometimes rashes may appear when the child has a cold but that they go away within 1-2 days. I'd suggest that you talk to the DCP's about this and just explain that you really feel uncomfortable taking the risk of possibly exposing the children to something other than just a cold rash. Ask that they keep the child home today and tomorrow if the rash is still present and if it doesn't clear up over the weekend then you know it caused by something else.

It's definitely a hard decision if your policies only say that a Dr's note is required but maybe after talking to them they will understand.

[LittleD]

Yes, children CAN get a rash with a virus, but it usually clears up pretty fast. by 48 hrs after it comes, you can tell its faded by half at least. (Thats been my experience)

http://children.webmd.com/tc/rash-age-11-and-younger-topic-overview

[Angelwings36]

I really think that it is up to you. I personally have a clause in my policies that says that although I may require a Dr's note for re-admittance it does not guarantee that the child will be allowed back into care. The note is for my consideration only and I make the final decision about whether the child is healthy enough to come or not. I'd be worried about the possibility of the rash not being caused by the cold but rather the child having a cold AND something else coincidentally at the same time.

On some websites I did read that sometimes rashes may appear when the child has a cold but that they go away within 1-2 days. I'd suggest that you talk to the DCP's about this and just explain that you really feel uncomfortable taking the risk of possibly exposing the children to something other than just a cold rash. Ask that they keep the child home today and tomorrow if the rash is still present and if it doesn't clear up over the weekend then you know it caused by something else.

It's definitely a hard decision if your policies only say that a Dr's note is required but maybe after talking to them they will understand.

My policy state that a Dr's not is required for certain things but in the end I will be the one to make the final decision on whether the child can attend or not.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I exclude based on symptoms, not causes. A rash is a rash is a rash to me so regardless of reason, that child would not be able to attend here.