What would you do?

I have a parent informed me that her child is still fighting with cold and he coughs and his chest wizzes when he breath. He had a runny nose last week and still has. She also said he seems OK. he plays and act normal. She is asking whether she shouold bring him or not.

Now, I have a cold because of this kid and I have another dck is coming tomorrow as well. So should I tell her to keep him at home or bring here? I have a runny nose too but not bad at all and I don't cough or feel sick at all. What would you do? I don't want other child to get the cold.

Thanks

With colds really what can you do? Everyone has already been exposed to what he has. If he doesn't have a fever than he should be fine to come back. That cough could last a week to a month depending on his immune system.

If his chest is wheezing, this means that his airway is constricted, and who knows how much? I'd tell her to take him to see the doctor. I'd be nervous to take a wheezing child.

If it were just the cold I would have him come because someone almost always has at leasta touch of a cold...nothing you can really do. But because of the wheezing I would be more concerned for the child in question and request that he see a doctor first before returning.

I had one here last week who started wheezing on me on the friday. He ended up in the hospital for 4 days with bronchitis. Thankfully, his parents took him to a DR. He was happy, playful and ate like normal on friday. I just noticed this his breathing was NOT normal. Wheezing makes me nervous, they are so little that it doesn't take much. This poor guy was on oxygen and everything for days :(

Yup, the thing that would concern me is his wheezing. I have a child (of mine) with asthma. When he starts to audibly wheeze, it's almost a guarantee that his oxygen levels are down into the 80's (which is not good).
I would ask mom to get that issue checked out first.
If it was just the cold, there's not much that you can do. Part of the "hazards" of both running a daycare, and having your kids in childcare.

I agree about the wheezing...I had a little guy come down with croup while in my care and the wheezing was so bad he awoke from his nap and was having a hard time breathing.

Thank you for your responses. She has made an appointment to see a doctor.

Good job Cocoon, it never hurts to suggest to a parent that a child sees the doctor when you are really concerned about them. We spend so much more time with the children than the parents sometimes. Unfortunately they are with us 9 hours a day and go home to sleep after just a few hours with their parents, who have so many other things to accomplish in a short evening. It isn't that they are neglectful most of the time, it's that we know their children so well.

I agree that we have to suffer through the viruses, but when I see something that I think a doctor should look at I suggest it too. Because we are ALL going to get it!

Ya - I have no issue taking the common cold or having a child who has been to the Dr and being treated for something ... aka I have a child with asthma who when he gets a cold gets 'wheezier' so his puffer has to get upped to a 4th time a day ... but undiagnosed restricted breathing would concern me too - glad she took him to the Dr.