Hand foot and mouth Virus

[Skysue]

Has your daycare had an outbreak and how did you handle it?

I'm going through it right now, I'm down 2 kids since last Wed (1st kid showed symptoms at home that night), 2nd child showed sympotms on Friday at home and I'm not sure if my DD has it or not?

To be safe I'm closing tomorrow to see how she is feeling. All day today she has been sleeping and saying her throat hurts, tummy hurts and dosen't have much of an appetite until I gave her advil.

What to do?

[Bookworm]

Unfortunately, I don't believe there really isn't much you can do but let it run its course. I would close tomorrow and then see how the other kids are in your care to see if you need to be closed until further notice.
I personally have not had it go through my daycare, but my daughter did have it last year, and it took a few days for it to run its course and her feel better.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Ya it is a virus - you can only treat the symptoms and ensure they do not dehydrate

I have not excluded for HFM itself - if they are fever free and able to cope in program they can attend ... but thats my comfort level!

[Skysue]

Even with sores on there hands and feet you let them attend?

[Skysue]

Unfortunately, I don't believe there really isn't much you can do but let it run its course. I would close tomorrow and then see how the other kids are in your care to see if you need to be closed until further notice.
I personally have not had it go through my daycare, but my daughter did have it last year, and it took a few days for it to run its course and her feel better.

Did you have to close inorder to aatend to the needs of your DD?

[sunnydays]

My own kids had it a couple of weeks ago! Then two other dck's got it as well, but the others were okay. I closed for 4 days until my kids' spots were gone, but they were feeling fine after a couple of days...it wasn't that bad. I just really didn't want to spread it to those who didn't have it already and my doctor said that it is contagious until the spots are gone. The other option is giving the parents the choice...but then I thought if one decided to send their kids and another not and the first child got it and spread it to the one who had kept theirs home, that would be unfair. I just err on the side of caution with these things to keep it from spreading and it did work..three kids did not get it Good luck with it! Sounds like your DD may be coming down with it...we thought it was strep throat at first...sore throat and fever were the first signs.

[fruitloop]

I had 2 dck with it in my dayhome...about 2 weeks apart so I'm not sure if the cases were related or not but after the second case was reported to me, I closed my daycare for a day to scrub the he!! out of it from top to bottom. knock on wood...no one else has caught it.

[Momof4]

It went through my daycare 2 years ago and I went by my fever rule because the children all came down with high fevers and 3 out of 5 had terrible spots and rashes, mostly in their mouths were the sorest ones. Then they didn't want to eat so it was best for them to be at home. They were miserable. So I asked the parents to keep the children home if they had open sores and 24 hours after their fevers returned to normal which is my policy for any sickness. Once one child caught it he exposed it to the entire daycare so they all got it within the same week.

[Skysue]

Just curious how it all played out? DD had sore throat and loss of appetite and slept most of the day. I gave her Advil and she ate and danced and sang around the house tonight?

When will the visual signs appear? This virus really sucks as its mostly a stupid waiting game. I took out 80% of toys in the playroom as I have already disenfected and this way each day I only need to disenfect a small amount until things get back to normal!

[Inspired by Reggio]

Even with sores on there hands and feet you let them attend?

Yup - it's like the common cold by the time the spots show up they have "shared" with everyone - the Health Unit does not require exclusion as long as they can participate ~ to help reduce spread keep socks on their feet on and with hands I suspend any group sensory play and increase hand washing.

I've had it in the program twice and both times only the initial child had it - the one stayed home for the fever portion the first day and when spots showed up went to Dr for confirmation than returned - the one child they thought it was spider bits initially the other you'd have never known he was sick did not affect him at all no fever before and the spots did not bug him - he was only out half day to get spots confirmed.