WWYD: HFM Cases

[Unregistered]

About 3-4 weeks ago an 11 month old showed up to daycare and we noticed spots on his mouth and immediately called his mom. He had Hand Foot Mouth disease. He stayed home for a week. Then 2 weeks ago a 14 month old was here on a Thursday and Friday, then the next Tuesday (4 days later) she was supposed to be here but called in with HFM. So she was never here when she had the spots, so I don't know if she got it from the 11 month old a couple of weeks before that or if she got it from somewhere else. So she wasn't here all week. Then on Friday night I noticed my 13 month old had spots on his foot and a few more developed over the weekend. We cleaned like CRAZY this weekend (with my kid not around), but from what I've read it other kids could be carrying it without the symptoms.

So, do I need to keep my child home and away from the daycare kids tomorrow/this week? (We don't live in the same house) Or does it even matter since all the kids were around the kid with HFM, and not just my son?

[Leigh]

I'd keep your child away until fever free and sores scabbed over. I recently had a kid with HFM...he was fine when he got to my house, but in less than an hour, developed a fever. I sent him home and he stayed home for a week. Not one other kid got HFM. Even though the others may have been around the sick kid, they may not have contracted the illness. I believe incubation is 3-6 days (not sure)...yours may infect the other kids, so I would exclude your own just like you would another.

[Christina72684]

He has no fever, never has as far as I know. And 5 of the 6 spots are flat against the skin. They might not even be HFM, I'm just guessing that they are since they are on his hands and feet but they could be anything. One is raised up and looks like it could pop and have pus. It's on his big toe so I have a band-aid over it and socks. I could be over reacting and he might not have it, but I know the little girl did 2 weeks ago bc it was in her throat.

[Blackcat31]

About 3-4 weeks ago an 11 month old showed up to daycare and we noticed spots on his mouth and immediately called his mom. He had Hand Foot Mouth disease. He stayed home for a week. Then 2 weeks ago a 14 month old was here on a Thursday and Friday, then the next Tuesday (4 days later) she was supposed to be here but called in with HFM. So she was never here when she had the spots, so I don't know if she got it from the 11 month old a couple of weeks before that or if she got it from somewhere else. So she wasn't here all week. Then on Friday night I noticed my 13 month old had spots on his foot and a few more developed over the weekend. We cleaned like CRAZY this weekend (with my kid not around), but from what I've read it other kids could be carrying it without the symptoms.

So, do I need to keep my child home and away from the daycare kids tomorrow/this week? (We don't live in the same house) Or does it even matter since all the kids were around the kid with HFM, and not just my son?

I understand that it is difficult but I firmly believe providers have the same obligation to keep their child home/separated from the other child when they are sick just like a regular daycare family.

I believe you should have some sort of back up plan so that when your child is ill, you have a substitute for yourself at work or someone who can care for your child while you go to work. Just like you would any other job.

I do not feel it's fair or right to bring your child to work and have him expose others just because someone else had it first or he picked it up there. If that were a valid reason then you would have to allow parents to do the same and bring their sick kids to you and expect you to keep them separated from others because they probably picked up the virus while in care anyways...kwim?

Again, I know it's inconvenient and sometimes hard to juggle/manage but if you don't respect your own policies, I don't see why others should either.

Hope your son feels better soon.