Pink Eye Question

[MamaBear]

Okay - so I had a DCG go out Friday with bacterial pink eye. The mom took her to the Dr Friday afternoon and started her meds that night. The mom just text me (today is Sunday) and said "Her eyes look a lot better. She has a couple more days of her eyedrop meds and then she'll be 100% all good. Now I got it though. Can she come back tomorrow?"

My reply was "She can return on Wednesday if her medication drops are complete and her eyes are 100% better. I cant risk any of the other kids catching this. Now that you have it, can she catch it again?" She responded with "No she wont get it again because I'm not contagious since I'm taking her drops too and we both wont get it again. I'll keep her home till Wednesday".

I really dont care if shes mad that I'm making her stay home till Wednesday because the other babies are my concern right now. But my question is - can she get it again from her mom while taking those drops? And shouldn't she not be sharing those drops?

Thanks!

[lovemylife]

Okay - so I had a DCG go out Friday with bacterial pink eye. The mom took her to the Dr Friday afternoon and started her meds that night. The mom just text me (today is Sunday) and said "Her eyes look a lot better. She has a couple more days of her eyedrop meds and then she'll be 100% all good. Now I got it though. Can she come back tomorrow?"

My reply was "She can return on Wednesday if her medication drops are complete and her eyes are 100% better. I cant risk any of the other kids catching this. Now that you have it, can she catch it again?" She responded with "No she wont get it again because I'm not contagious since I'm taking her drops too and we both wont get it again. I'll keep her home till Wednesday".

I really dont care if shes mad that I'm making her stay home till Wednesday because the other babies are my concern right now. But my question is - can she get it again from her mom while taking those drops? And shouldn't she not be sharing those drops?

Thanks!

Bacterial pinkeye may cause more drainage than viral pinkeye. Bacterial infections usually last 7 to 10 days without antibiotic treatment and 2 to 4 days with antibiotic treatment. The person can usually return to day care, school, or work 24 hours after an antibiotic has been started if symptoms have improved. Prescription antibiotic treatment usually kills the bacteria that cause pinkeye.

^ this is from web md. In my contract it states that must be on antibiotics for pink eye for 48 hours. As for the mom, I would be iffy about her. The child shouldn't get it again because the medicine is in the body and working. If I remember correctly it is in the body for 2 weeks after treatment has ended. But that I'm not 100% sure on. The mom shouldn't be using her eye drops for a number of reasons, its illegal, children receive smaller doses of medications. So her eye drops could possibly not be strong enough to treat the mothers pink eye. Mom comes to drop off touches eye, touches door knob...everyone gets it. I would say the child is safe IMO.

[MamaBear]

Thanks for that. Yeah I was thinking that too... the meds are made for a 25 lb kid... not a "large" adult woman

So I responded to her texts and said "I hope that you go to the dr too because you might need to find out if yours is viral or bacterial... since your sons was viral you said, vs hers being bacterial. Also her meds are a different dosage then yours would be I'd think. I hope you guys dont give it back & forth to each other ". She reponds with "My husband says it doesnt work that way. Since we're both on the meds she wont get it again".

Theeeeen she tries to threaten me... She says "If you want her out for 3-4 weeks then I'll just switch her to Kindercare". I said "I wasn't asking her to stay out for 3-4 weeks.. Just until her drops are complete on Wednesday... 2 days out - if she is all good. Kindercare would not allow a child to attend with pink eye either. If you are saying you want to switch her there permanently, thats fine - just let me know. Not sure if thats what you meant?"

She hasn't responded. I hate crap like this. I'm just trying to protect my other kids. I have a really tiny 3 month old in my daycare that was a preemie and I dont want to risk her or the other infants catching this. I dont appreciate her little threat about removing her. I really could care less if she does - because if you read my posts about her the other day - shes been wearing me thin lately anyway with her lies. So annoying to deal with this on a Sunday. Blahhh

[Cradle2crayons]

Thanks for that. Yeah I was thinking that too... the meds are made for a 25 lb kid... not a "large" adult woman

So I responded to her texts and said "I hope that you go to the dr too because you might need to find out if yours is viral or bacterial... since your sons was viral you said, vs hers being bacterial. Also her meds are a different dosage then yours would be I'd think. I hope you guys dont give it back & forth to each other ". She reponds with "My husband says it doesnt work that way. Since we're both on the meds she wont get it again".

Theeeeen she tries to threaten me... She says "If you want her out for 3-4 weeks then I'll just switch her to Kindercare". I said "I wasn't asking her to stay out for 3-4 weeks.. Just until her drops are complete on Wednesday... 2 days out - if she is all good. Kindercare would not allow a child to attend with pink eye either. If you are saying you want to switch her there permanently, thats fine - just let me know. Not sure if thats what you meant?"

She hasn't responded. I hate crap like this. I'm just trying to protect my other kids. I have a really tiny 3 month old in my daycare that was a preemie and I dont want to risk her or the other infants catching this. I dont appreciate her little threat about removing her. I really could care less if she does - because if you read my posts about her the other day - shes been wearing me thin lately anyway with her lies. So annoying to deal with this on a Sunday. Blahhh

The problem I have with this whole scenario is that unless the doc did an actual CULTURE of the eye drainage it's impossible to be for sure if its viral or bacterial. If the doc did that, it takes 48 hours at least to get the lab results back. I've never seen a doc do a culture just for pink eye.

Secondly, nobody here (daycares or schools) exclude for pink eye anymore.

Thirdly, there shouldn't be a worry for infants in your care because unless they are being touched by other kids, they aren't going to get pink eye. E number one line of defense is hand washing. As long as you are washing your hands before touching the babies and you don't allow other children to touch them, they will be fine.

Also of note, if its truly viral pink eye, it is usually associated with a cold. And with both types, it is cintageous before symptoms are even noticed. If the brother had viral pink eye, which is commonly cause by e cold virus adenovirus, everyone has already been exposed.

As far as the drops for pink eye, it's usually exactly e same drops that they give kids and adults. Per my pediatrician. Oral dosages of meds are different for a 25 lb vs an adult but that's not necessarily the case with eye and ear drops.

[MamaBear]

The problem I have with this whole scenario is that unless the doc did an actual CULTURE of the eye drainage it's impossible to be for sure if its viral or bacterial. If the doc did that, it takes 48 hours at least to get the lab results back. I've never seen a doc do a culture just for pink eye.

Secondly, nobody here (daycares or schools) exclude for pink eye anymore.

Thirdly, there shouldn't be a worry for infants in your care because unless they are being touched by other kids, they aren't going to get pink eye. E number one line of defense is hand washing. As long as you are washing your hands before touching the babies and you don't allow other children to touch them, they will be fine.

Also of note, if its truly viral pink eye, it is usually associated with a cold. And with both types, it is cintageous before symptoms are even noticed. If the brother had viral pink eye, which is commonly cause by e cold virus adenovirus, everyone has already been exposed.

As far as the drops for pink eye, it's usually exactly e same drops that they give kids and adults. Per my pediatrician. Oral dosages of meds are different for a 25 lb vs an adult but that's not necessarily the case with eye and ear drops.

The mom said that her dr said the girl has bacterial pink eye based on what he saw. No test done that I know of. Her son (who goes to preschool) supposably had viral pink eye a week prior and was sent home from school... Her dr said that because she had eye buggers that hers was bacterial and his was viral because no eye buggers. I dont know.

When you say "nobody here excludes for pink eye" - are you speaking for everyone on this board or just your area? Because all preschools and daycares where I live exclude them the same as I do. I've never heard of a daycare or school that is okay with it spreading like wildfire thru their daycare.

And yes - this DCG is very touchy touchy and likes to hug the infants and touch them... I'm a small home daycare - not a center - so they are in closer proximity to eachother then a center situation. PLUS I have my own family that lives here and MYSELF that I wouldn't want to get it. Pink Eye is vey contagious and NOT enjoyable so why someone who runs a daycare would be cool with it running rampant at their home is beyond me!

She doesnt have viral pink eye.. she has Bacterial Pink Eye.

Also the mom just stated to me that her dosage IS different then her daughters - which she just confirmed with her own dr... so she is going to the dr herself tomorrow to get the correct meds for an adult.

Anyway - I hope you never get a Pink Eye outbreak at your daycare!

[Cradle2crayons]

The mom said that her dr said the girl has bacterial pink eye based on what he saw. No test done that I know of. Her son (who goes to preschool) supposably had viral pink eye a week prior and was sent home from school... Her dr said that because she had eye buggers that hers was bacterial and his was viral because no eye buggers. I dont know.

When you say "nobody here excludes for pink eye" - are you speaking for everyone on this board or just your area? Because all preschools and daycares where I live exclude them the same as I do. I've never heard of a daycare or school that is okay with it spreading like wildfire thru their daycare.

And yes - this DCG is very touchy touchy and likes to hug the infants and touch them... I'm a small home daycare - not a center - so they are in closer proximity to eachother then a center situation. PLUS I have my own family that lives here and MYSELF that I wouldn't want to get it. Pink Eye is vey contagious and NOT enjoyable so why someone who runs a daycare would be cool with it running rampant at their home is beyond me!

She doesnt have viral pink eye.. she has Bacterial Pink Eye.

Also the mom just stated to me that her dosage IS different then her daughters - which she just confirmed with her own dr... so she is going to the dr herself tomorrow to get the correct meds for an adult.

Anyway - I hope you never get a Pink Eye outbreak at your daycare!

I meant nobody in my state excluded, centers, schools included. Myself included.

Sure, I've had a child with pink eye. It generally is more catchy in schools because one teacher can't keep 30 kids hands off each other . But I've never had it spread in my home beyond that first kid. Same with a cold.

I don't allow my older kids to touch my littles. AT ALL. EVER. they don't share toys either. I'm not a center. Just a small in home. 5 daycare kids. 2 of my own. They rarely share germs here at all as a matter of fact. The littles have their own area of my living room the kids over two aren't allowed to occupy. I have a visible barrier they all know not to cross.

Call it luck or very rigid hand washing but we just don't have anything running rampant here!

And again, everyone's symptoms are different and there is just no way to know between viral and bacterial for SURE. as far as dosage being different. Sure, mom needs two drops while daughter gets one drop. Here, docs prescribe exactly the same meds for pink eye for adults and kids, just one drop vs. two drops (of course, yur dck doc may do a completely different med). Everyone here has different daycare and etc experience. I'm only speaking from my own personal daycare and medical experience. It is what it is.

[lovemylife]

I'm sorry but I don't agree with that. Keeping young children away from the older children every day.

As for the pink eye, I have heard of some places doing that. But I will never remove pink eye out of my contract.

[Cradle2crayons]

I'm sorry but I don't agree with that. Keeping young children away from the older children every day.

As for the pink eye, I have heard of some places doing that. But I will never remove pink eye out of my contract.

And that's the fine thing about being an individual! We don't have to agree or do everything the same way

And I'm not sure anyone here recommended to remove anything from anyone's contract or illness policy??

[Unregistered]

In our area the general rule is that they can return to care 24 hours after the start of drops.

[Familycare71]

Yes- new protocol is to allow children back in to once drainage stops. I don't allow it at my home.
However once she is on drops or even an oral antibiotic it is no longer contagious. So really she should be allowed back based on contagiousness.
If mom is doing the drops- even if it isn't the right amount it will at least prevent spreading to others.
Ik you are upset at mom and totally understand however I do think you are going a bit over board with exclusion. In my opinion it would be the same as a child having strep, starting an antibiotic, being in the antibiotic for 24 hours, feeling fine and still being excluded for the 10 day antibiotic course- it really doesn't prevent anything.
My personal suggestion is that you term if you can- based on the lieing. You don't trust this mom and it sounds like it is going down hill quickly-

[Cradle2crayons]

In our area the general rule is that they can return to care 24 hours after the start of drops.

That sounds about right. That used to be my policy as well as most everyone here. I think it changed because doctors started saying by the time the goop started it was already contagious?? I'm not sure but that's when I remember things changing here. Now it's rarely heard of around here. But once a year I get a note home from school that pink eye is going around there.

[MamaBear]

Yes - to each their own. I love for my children to interact with each other... I have infants only pretty much...some are full timers and some are part timers... 3 are under 12 months old, 1 is 16 months and the DCG just turned 2... but still acts like an infant at times. . They love to play together. I'd have to have each child gated in a separate area to be sure they never touch eachother... That would never happen!

Anyways... I just spoke with the mom on the phone because text messaging back & forth is super lame. She is going to the dr tomorrow to get her "own" meds and is having DCG re-checked at her dr on Tuesday. She is okay with my policies and understands my concerns. I just hope she doesn't lie to me everrrr again... You have to read my old posts to know what I'm even talking about.

Now to try to enjoy my Sunday and stop obsessing over this ca-ca

[lovemylife]

And that's the fine thing about being an individual! We don't have to agree or do everything the same way

And I'm not sure anyone here recommended to remove anything from anyone's contract or illness policy??

Oh sorry wasn't referring to the pink eye and changing the contract. Just the part about keeping the younger children and the older children separated. I personally wouldn't want to do that. But as you said (in so many words) everyone is different. Can agree to disagree. Just me personally.

[Familycare71]

Yes - to each their own. I love for my children to interact with each other... I have infants only pretty much...some are full timers and some are part timers... 3 are under 12 months old, 1 is 16 months and the DCG just turned 2... but still acts like an infant at times. . They love to play together. I'd have to have each child gated in a separate area to be sure they never touch eachother... That would never happen!

Anyways... I just spoke with the mom on the phone because text messaging back & forth is super lame. She is going to the dr tomorrow to get her "own" meds and is having DCG re-checked at her dr on Tuesday. She is okay with my policies and understands my concerns. I just hope she doesn't lie to me everrrr again... You have to read my old posts to know what I'm even talking about.

Now to try to enjoy my Sunday and stop obsessing over this ca-ca

I know exactly why you feel the way you do!! You were more forgiving than I would be. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday and I hope it all calms down! :hug:

[Cradle2crayons]

Yes - to each their own. I love for my children to interact with each other... I have infants only pretty much...some are full timers and some are part timers... 3 are under 12 months old, 1 is 16 months and the DCG just turned 2... but still acts like an infant at times. . They love to play together. I'd have to have each child gated in a separate area to be sure they never touch eachother... That would never happen!

Anyways... I just spoke with the mom on the phone because text messaging back & forth is super lame. She is going to the dr tomorrow to get her "own" meds and is having DCG re-checked at her dr on Tuesday. She is okay with my policies and understands my concerns. I just hope she doesn't lie to me everrrr again... You have to read my old posts to know what I'm even talking about.

Now to try to enjoy my Sunday and stop obsessing over this ca-ca

My kids are ages 9 weeks, 22 months (majorly physically challenged), 2 yrs, 3 yrs, 6 yrs, and my own kids are 5 yrs and 10 yrs.

The 22 mon old just now is allowed to be approached by the older kids. That's because I can't risk em pulling out her feeding tube or knocking her over.

It's really not difficult to teach those over a certain age to leave the littles alone. Took me about a week to train this three sibling set. I don't use gates or super yards at all here.

If I had that age group, if have the younger three together and the older two together. Except for when we are in circle time of course.

Ad it's a rule here. NO SHARING GERMS DURING CIRCLE TIME LOL