Ear infection and exclusion policy

[TheGoodLife]

I had a DCM text me this morning 15 mins before DO letting me know DCB was running a fever and she was keeping him home. Great!
So I worked at my restaurant today, and I texted her before (around 4:45) checking in to see how he was and reminding of my 24 hour fever-free policy. I got a reply that they went to the Dr. and he had an ear infection. He's in a good mood except the pulling at his ear.

This DCM has been great so far (started a month ago). She'e the one that asked if 2 weeks was long enough for my maternity leave and said if I needed more time to let her know- her and her husband have PTO happyface

Well, I'm wondering if she's going to show up tomorrow to drop off, since she stated he is feeling better... or if she'll keep him home. She never told me when his fever broke, but since she let me know at 7:15 that he had a fever and it was bad enough to take him to the Dr. I will not take him in the morning. How do I possibly counter the DCM if she comes since I don't know when he last had a fever?

[NightOwl]

Well... Personally, I don't exclude for ear infections, even with fever, unless the child is in pain and can't participate normally. It's not contagious, so nothing can be spread. I tell my parents their child can come as long as they are behaving normally and as long as the parent supplies Tylenol for discomfort, if the child starts having pain or their fever returns throughout the day.

[TheGoodLife]

Well... Personally, I don't exclude for ear infections, even with fever, unless the child is in pain and can't participate normally. It's not contagious, so nothing can be spread. I tell my parents their child can come as long as they are behaving normally and as long as the parent supplies Tylenol for discomfort, if the child starts having pain or their fever returns throughout the day.

I agree that an ear infection isn't contagious, but I exclude based on symptoms since I can't guarantee that the fever is 100% from the ear infection alone. So since he had a fever today (Wed) he would still need to remain home until 24 hours after the fever broke without medication.

I had mom with "teething" keep her DCG here with a fever... Turned out to be croup. I had my own 2-3 month old baby at the time. She really thought it was teething, so now I am firm on symptom exclusions.

[Second Home]

If he is on meds he would need to be on them for 24 hours before coming back per my policy . Do you have something similar?

[SSWonders]

I don't exclude for ear infections. They aren't contagious and unless the kid is totally miserable and crying all day long, I'm ok with them being here.

[Blackcat31]

I agree that an ear infection isn't contagious, but I exclude based on symptoms since I can't guarantee that the fever is 100% from the ear infection alone. So since he had a fever today (Wed) he would still need to remain home until 24 hours after the fever broke without medication.

I had mom with "teething" keep her DCG here with a fever... Turned out to be croup. I had my own 2-3 month old baby at the time. She really thought it was teething, so now I am firm on symptom exclusions.

I would go with the stance below...

My policy states ANY time a child is prescribed antibiotics, they need to be on them for a FULL 24 hours before returning to care.

He may be treated for the ear infection but that is no guarantee that is what the fever is from. He could have a fever in conjunction with something else and the ear infection was just the most detectable or noticeable ailment at the time he saw the Dr.

I would take the stance of ON meds for a FULL 24 hours AND fever free for the FULL 24 hours.

If he is on meds he would need to be on them for 24 hours before coming back per my policy . Do you have something similar?

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I would go with the stance below...

My policy states ANY time a child is prescribed antibiotics, they need to be on them for a FULL 24 hours before returning to care.

He may be treated for the ear infection but that is no guarantee that is what the fever is from. He could have a fever in conjunction with something else and the ear infection was just the most detectable or noticeable ailment at the time he saw the Dr.

I would take the stance of ON meds for a FULL 24 hours AND fever free for the FULL 24 hours.

I'm the same way here.
I feel for you, OP. I've had many people "SURE" their child had food poisoning, allergies, teething, etc. and it wasn't so I just don't play the "diagnose it game" anymore. If they have a symptom that I exclude for they stay home period.

[Kabob]

I had a parent ask me about exclusion for ear infections too since they pointed out they are not contagious. Apparently their child had a lot of them in the past and one time their fever spiked up high quickly and he had a seizure as a result. I pointed out that the parent answered their own question as I certainly don't medicate here and if he spiked a fever that quickly and had a seizure before, he definitely could again. Why send them to daycare and risk a huge hospital/ambulance bill just to save a few bucks? Why risk their child's health? That put things in perspective for them...

My ds used to get terrible ear infections and even though he was never crabby during them, he had high fevers that weren't controlled with meds and he had a terrible rash from an antibiotic once. That easily could have gotten out of control....plus with his immune system under attack, he easily got sick from other things...like norovirus.

[Annalee]

I agree that an ear infection isn't contagious, but I exclude based on symptoms since I can't guarantee that the fever is 100% from the ear infection alone. So since he had a fever today (Wed) he would still need to remain home until 24 hours after the fever broke without medication.

I had mom with "teething" keep her DCG here with a fever... Turned out to be croup. I had my own 2-3 month old baby at the time. She really thought it was teething, so now I am firm on symptom exclusions.

I have had this same issue happen before..so absolutely NO fever at daycare and 24 hours fever free without meds before returning!

[TwinKristi]

It would fall under whether or not they're acting normal or not. If they can't participate like normal, have a fever, need medication to be comfortable for whatever reason then I ask them to keep them home. It really depends on how they're acting. Some babies don't even act like they have anything wrong and some are sick as a dog with a 103+ fever. So if they're otherwise okay and normal then i wouldn't exclude.

[TheGoodLife]

When I explained the policy (for the 3rd or 4th time again after she asked about the 10:00 drop off) I just got an "OK" text. But then never showed at 10. I told her he could come if indeed he'd been 24 hours w/o fever and I thought he was, but never got any real answer. BUT, he's not here today and my other DCB was kept home with a cold (he was OK to come, but was miserable yesterday so DCM kept him home for his benefit happyface ) Ugh, it's been a horrible day with dealing with an electrician coming to fix some wiring that a cable installation guy cut 2 days ago and all the stress with that (still have a large hole we have to have someone come fix in our wall from where the electrician had to cut intot he wall to get to the cut wires ) so I'm OK with being down to just 1, but I waited for 30 mins thinking they were coming. Don't know why she didn't bring him unless she lied about the fever- UGH! Oh well, it's nap time and I need to start on dinner.

I am going to explain again, in person, my exact health policy and reasonings for it! Fever= no care for 24 hours, no matter the cause. I don't want to have croup go around again from a child who was in DC with a fever caused from "teething"! I am very firm on that policy.