Strawberry Allergy?

[Denali]

I just enrolled a 21 month old little girl on February 8th. I was told no allergies.

Yesterday she was dropped off at 10:30am, before lunch I change her diaper and notice what look kinda like mosquito bites on her tummy, and some on her right side. 7 in total. We are in Alaska and it's bellow 0 outside.

They were not bothering her, were not very red, or anything like that. So I just kept an eye on them. Informed mom at pick up at 4:30pm.

DCM proceeds to tell me that two weeks ago they had given her a bowl of mixed berries and she had had "gotten very red and had taken her to the doctor" where the doctor told them it was just an allergic reaction and must be from the berries. I was not informed of this at all. I am definitely upset about this, as if the reaction was bad enough to take her to the doctor you'd like they would have told me if there was a possibility of a food allergy. Also, I check all kids right after drop off or at first diaper change, and didn't notice anything like these spots since DCG started.

DCM says she thinks it's strawberries. I serve these on a regular basis and all families are informed of this upon enrollment. Also, we have not had any berries of any kind here since Thursday last week.

So I asked yesterday, that if this is an allergic reaction, what did they doctor say about figuring out what it could be? DCM was very vague.

This morning I check DCG at drop off and the spots are still there, but definitely fading. I straight out asked mom what fruits they have eliminated and are safe, as if I remember correctly, the doctor should've told them to withhold all fruits and gradually introduce one at a time to illuminate possible allergens.

Again mom tried to be vague, telling me it must be strawberries, to which I reminded her we have not had any here in a week, not to mention that I noticed them before she had eaten lunch (so that would also rule out peanut butter as we had pb&j for lunch)... she then said DCG could be allergic to apples too... I told her that we had apples with our lunch yesterday and that if that was it the spots would be getting worse not better.

I did manage to get that she had a banana yesterday and this morning and that they are a safe fruit, but I do know that DCP's feed DCG a lot of fruit, she poops 3-4 times a day and always has parts of Mandren oranges in her poop along with other parts of unprocessed fruit.

I need help... does this sound like a fruit allergy or any kind of food allergy?

[Sumshine]

I am not really experienced with allergies. My kiddos don't have any! But if you had even a suspicion of an allergic reaction I think I would personally demand a doctor's note explaining the rash/symptoms. My policies state any kind of rash that's not heat/diaper related means they have to be excluded from care and come back with a doctor's note explaining the rash. Rashes can mean so many different things I wouldn't risk it. I would just explain to Mom if it is a possible allergen you need a doctor's note on file and she cannot return until you get it and even if there is no allergen you still need a doctor's note on file explaining the prolonged rash in order for her to come back into care.

[Blackcat31]

I just enrolled a 21 month old little girl on February 8th. I was told no allergies.

Yesterday she was dropped off at 10:30am, before lunch I change her diaper and notice what look kinda like mosquito bites on her tummy, and some on her right side. 7 in total. We are in Alaska and it's bellow 0 outside.

They were not bothering her, were not very red, or anything like that. So I just kept an eye on them. Informed mom at pick up at 4:30pm.

DCM proceeds to tell me that two weeks ago they had given her a bowl of mixed berries and she had had "gotten very red and had taken her to the doctor" where the doctor told them it was just an allergic reaction and must be from the berries. I was not informed of this at all. I am definitely upset about this, as if the reaction was bad enough to take her to the doctor you'd like they would have told me if there was a possibility of a food allergy. Also, I check all kids right after drop off or at first diaper change, and didn't notice anything like these spots since DCG started.

DCM says she thinks it's strawberries. I serve these on a regular basis and all families are informed of this upon enrollment. Also, we have not had any berries of any kind here since Thursday last week.

So I asked yesterday, that if this is an allergic reaction, what did they doctor say about figuring out what it could be? DCM was very vague.

This morning I check DCG at drop off and the spots are still there, but definitely fading. I straight out asked mom what fruits they have eliminated and are safe, as if I remember correctly, the doctor should've told them to withhold all fruits and gradually introduce one at a time to illuminate possible allergens.

Again mom tried to be vague, telling me it must be strawberries, to which I reminded her we have not had any here in a week, not to mention that I noticed them before she had eaten lunch (so that would also rule out peanut butter as we had pb&j for lunch)... she then said DCG could be allergic to apples too... I told her that we had apples with our lunch yesterday and that if that was it the spots would be getting worse not better.

I did manage to get that she had a banana yesterday and this morning and that they are a safe fruit, but I do know that DCP's feed DCG a lot of fruit, she poops 3-4 times a day and always has parts of Mandren oranges in her poop along with other parts of unprocessed fruit.

I need help... does this sound like a fruit allergy or any kind of food allergy?

Here is how I handle allergies so that I don't get muddled down with a bunch of "I think..." or "Maybe its...."

DCG needs to be excluded for ANY un-diagnosed rash.
DCM does NOT get to "think" or "guess" that it might be strawberries...it either is or it isn't.

But the Doctor MUST provide me with a list of KNOWN allergens so that I can make sure the child is not exposed to them and does not have an allergic reaction.

If the Dr can't diagnose the cause/root of the rash then child is excluded until the rash is gone.

DCM doesn't get to be vague about this.
If her child DOES have an allergic reaction on YOUR watch it's YOUR butt that needs to be covered so I would NOT accept "guesses" or "vague" replies to something that oculd potentially be life threatening.

[Denali]

Here is how I handle allergies so that I don't get muddled down with a bunch of "I think..." or "Maybe its...."

DCG needs to be excluded for ANY un-diagnosed rash.
DCM does NOT get to "think" or "guess" that it might be strawberries...it either is or it isn't.

But the Doctor MUST provide me with a list of KNOWN allergens so that I can make sure the child is not exposed to them and does not have an allergic reaction.

If the Dr can't diagnose the cause/root of the rash then child is excluded until the rash is gone.

DCM doesn't get to be vague about this.
If her child DOES have an allergic reaction on YOUR watch it's YOUR butt that needs to be covered so I would NOT accept "guesses" or "vague" replies to something that oculd potentially be life threatening.

It just all seems odd, this family has never been in daycare before (DCG was being watched by DCD while he taught, so she was in the classroom with him and Grandma...), I already had to lay down boundaries with them about hanging out here, that grandma can not come hang out for an hour because she can't leave because that would make DCG cry... about drop off times (started out at 9 and as been pushed all the way back to 11:45, because I do not do drop offs during/after lunch), and so on. They are leaving on vacation this weekend and will be back either 13th or 14th.

I have the feeling in my gut they are one of those families that say whatever they have to to get care (spots for 30 months and younger are very hard to find, I have 3, DCG is taking one) and plan on pulling once school is out...

DCD is a teacher, and so is grandma, DCM works at subway. I keep leaning toward letting them go do to a whole lot of failures to communicate and not being "what was advertised"

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Here is how I handle allergies so that I don't get muddled down with a bunch of "I think..." or "Maybe its...."

DCG needs to be excluded for ANY un-diagnosed rash.
DCM does NOT get to "think" or "guess" that it might be strawberries...it either is or it isn't.

But the Doctor MUST provide me with a list of KNOWN allergens so that I can make sure the child is not exposed to them and does not have an allergic reaction.

If the Dr can't diagnose the cause/root of the rash then child is excluded until the rash is gone.

DCM doesn't get to be vague about this.
If her child DOES have an allergic reaction on YOUR watch it's YOUR butt that needs to be covered so I would NOT accept "guesses" or "vague" replies to something that oculd potentially be life threatening.

I agree.

A new minimum standard that has passed in my state is that all food allergies MUST have a food allergy plan written up by the Doctor. I would require it even though that isn't required in your state.

You'd like them to leave sooner anyways so who knows? Maybe it will force their hand.

[Snowmom]

I agree with everything said above.

You mentioned they look like bites... I'm not an expert at food allergies, but don't they present as more of a hives look and not "bites".
To me, "bites" make me think something like bed bugs, scabies or impetigo.

[daycarediva]

Here is how I handle allergies so that I don't get muddled down with a bunch of "I think..." or "Maybe its...."

DCG needs to be excluded for ANY un-diagnosed rash.
DCM does NOT get to "think" or "guess" that it might be strawberries...it either is or it isn't.

But the Doctor MUST provide me with a list of KNOWN allergens so that I can make sure the child is not exposed to them and does not have an allergic reaction.

If the Dr can't diagnose the cause/root of the rash then child is excluded until the rash is gone.

DCM doesn't get to be vague about this.
If her child DOES have an allergic reaction on YOUR watch it's YOUR butt that needs to be covered so I would NOT accept "guesses" or "vague" replies to something that oculd potentially be life threatening.

all of that, but the child would go home immediately due to that rash. I need a dr's note. PERIOD.

I agree with everything said above.

You mentioned they look like bites... I'm not an expert at food allergies, but don't they present as more of a hives look and not "bites".
To me, "bites" make me think something like bed bugs, scabies or impetigo.

That was my thought. It usually presents as hives, not bites. Fleas, bedbugs, scabies, possibly even chicken pox all came to mind.

[Denali]

If it shows up again I will be excluding until I get a doctors note. I've already informed the family of this and had mom sign a form and told her verbally, so if the spots show up again, it won't be a surprise.

This family has been gone on vacation so DCG has been out all week and will be out Monday as well, her first day back will be Tuesday, maybe. Dad and grandma are teachers so we'll see if she comes...