HELP!!!I have a doozie of a situation.

[Zoeysdaycare]

Ok guys here's a doozie!

So here is what is happening, A child in my care has been diagnosed with a skin virus that is contagious. The parent said the doctor said there is no exclusion period. HOWEVER, it seems to be getting worse and is spreading on the childs body and there are spots the child can't cover. Teleahealth suggested I get a doctors note from the doctor saying that the child is able to come back to daycare. I told the parents they are not able to bring the child back until I have this note. The sibling has a similar bump I've noticed. There is NOTHING in the days nursery act that helps me with this situation. It's a skin virus that is not common but is very contagious. I'm just trying to get some advice on what you would do if you were in my shoes. I have a new baby that just started 2 months ago and she is 13 months old. I have told all the parents and tried to keep the privacy of child however the kids infected has band aids all over their body.

Suggestions? Anyone! please!

[Sandbox Sally]

I have it written in my contract that any communicable illness, or any undiagnosed rash will exclude a child from daycare services until they have a doctor's note. I would stick to my guns. They need a doctor's note. Tell them that you're not risking the health of your entire daycare for the sake of one child.

[apples and bananas]

Well... some highly contagious diseases are not excludable. Hand foot mouth diseas, chicken pox... both are perfectly fine to send a child to school or daycare.

However, this is my home and my business and if I choose to exclude an illness that's up to me. My policies are as follows... No rashes with fevers or that follow fevers in the last 48 hours. Children are only able to come if they can participate in normal activities. I do not allow contagious skin diseases just out of respect for the other parents. If it's that highly contagious then the others probably already have it, and they probably had it before you even knew about the first child. Usually skin diseases are contagious before they even show up on the body.

Because it's not an excludable disease you may not get a note from the doctor, or you may get it while the child is still contagious. There may be no point in asking.

What is the disease called?

[Sandbox Sally]

Yeah, my home, my business, up to me. Nobody comes to my daycare with a communicable disease. So they ARE excludable to me, and everything can get a doctor's note.

[BlueRose]

One of my policies is

I hold the right to ask for a Doctor's Note before your child can return to care.
I also have the right to refuse a Doctor's Note, if I feel that your child is not ready to join in all activates or just isn't ready to return to care.

This covers me if I feel that the Dr. was just being nice and helping out the parents with the note, I know too many people who's Dr.s don't care and will just write a note saying whatever, even if the person wasn't sick or should not be in daycare/work etc. I feel that most Dr.s notes these days are jokes, but it is always good to ask for one anyways. If something happens and a other child gets the virus/rash or whatever and the parents go after you for it, then at least you have a note stating the the child's Dr allowed the child in care.

[Crayola kiddies]

I do not ask for dr notes for the reason above but I also do not allow rashes and just because the dr says the child can attend daycare doesn't mean I agree.... I also have a stipulation in my contract that reads "to parents of siblings .... If one child is too sick to attend daycare you must keep both home" .... I know not everybody agrees with that but if a parent is home with one child then no reason why both cant be there plus the parent would have to bring the sick kid to my door to drop off and pick up the other kid also if it is the older on who is well they are not going to be too happy to come to daycare if they know they could be at home with mom or dad. Not to mention with something contagious the chances of the sibling getting it are greatly increased

[Inspired by Reggio]

My reentry note has to clearly state that the 'child's symptoms pose no threat of illness to the other children in care' ... most Dr's are not willing to sign a reentry note that says the child poses no threat to others if indeed it IS communicable because even some common childhood diseases like chicken pox can be 'life threatening'

I too would stick to my guns ... out of curiously what IS the rash called cause our public health lists numerous ones that do indeed have an 'exclusion' for them?

[Inspired by Reggio]

http://www.healthunit.com/articlesPDF/14630.pdf

This is the list of things and any exclusions required by our local public health.

[Momof4]

I don't ask for notes. A lot of doctors charge $20 or more to write a note like that. I use my common sense and my clear contract policy. I go by my fever policy and no open sores policy. Once a child has a full blown virus like this (sounds like Hand Foot and Mouth to me) the other children have already been exposed so you can't win there. However, a sick child who feels crappy wants to be home with a parent and chances are they can't participate and have fun at daycare.