Hand, foot and mouth disease

One parent mentioned their child had a sore in their mouth and said it was due to her soother (or so she thought). Thought nothing of it to be honest. Had another child complain about a sore mouth, he didn't eat much today. Checked his mouth and he had a sore as well. So, checked all the kids and another kid has a blister in their mouth. Pretty sure it is hand, foot and mouth disease. My DD had this when she was in a centre. It wasn't a big deal for her and she was just excluded for 24 hrs to see her Dr and he said no exclusion is necessary. What do you do in this case? It seems silly to exclude from my research (unless they can't function). I need to give my DC parents direction so advice would be appreciated.

I would just ask them to see a doctor. I'm pretty sure I have a blurb about hfm disease in my sick policy, I'll have to check.

Checked...nothing specific to hfm, I just ask that any contagious illness stay home. Sounds like everyone has been exposed already so I guess it's up to you now. If they are fine otherwise, there's no reason I guess that they can't come. I'd let everyone know it's going around though !! I'd also increase my cleaning and disinfecting until this passes

How many kids do NOT have it yet? It is usually most contagious before the blisters. So if 3 kids already have the blisters then odds are everyone has been exposed to it for a good week now. I would be tempted to tell the parents of the kid(s) that have NOT showed symptoms that 3 kids have blisters, meaning everyone has been exposed for over a week now and it is up to them if they wish to keep their child home for a couple days to prevent exposure while you clean the place and the others recover.

It just kind of seems pointless to send ALL the sick kids home when they are less likely to spread anything...especiall y since your home is likely also contaminated!

Then, the parent of the healthy child can decide if they want to take the extra precaution by keeping their child home (where it is not contaminated)!

NOTE: this is just my thoughts and I don't really have first hand knowledge if this is the best plan!

These are the 2 resourses I use for daycare exclution periods. I would LOVE to know if anyone has anything like this from Canada!:)


Click on the Infectious Diseases manual:
http://www.hennepin.us/childcaremanual

PDF from Australia:
http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc...ted_140616.pdf

I exclude until all blisters are no longer fluid-filled, and they must be fever-free. Usually they will run a low grade fever/have runny nose etc. That's the health dept. policy we followed when I worked in a centre.

So I decided to stay open today after having all the parents check their kids for spots. Every kid has it so I said they could come as long as they are physically able to manage/participate. This especially made sense because my daughter has it as well. The kids are fine. They were all crabby last week so I think we saw the worst of it last week. I just changed the menu to be soft/bland foods and have kept the program the same.

They are not welcome with a fever or diarrhea as per my usual sick policy.

the blisters contain the virus and well it stays in the feces for up to 3 weeks ...all the kids have it so totally your choice but i would check with your dr since you are preg and see if there is any danger to you or baby

It's funny, I was pregnant with my 2nd daughter when my eldest got it. I am not worried about that. Their blisters are really only a few, they are covered and they are small ones. They all seem to have a relatively minor case.