https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 04 Jun 2026 22:27:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1891229 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:46:55 +0000 MamaG 1891229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: That might be a place to start, is to request that they post all contagious illnesses. I believe the notice that is printed at our school is from the CDC. It gets taped to the classroom door of the infected child. I know last week as I walked the hall there were postings for head lice, HFM and pink eye (conjunctivitis) on various doors. It at least provides the other parents with an awareness of what their child has been exposed to so they can be on the look out for symptoms.</p> <p>Things like ear infections are not posted as they aren't contagious. Over the past two years we've also seen strep throat, croup, and Influenza A &amp; B posted. </p> <p>Also, when we had HFM in our house last summer, no one else in our daughter's class had it before or after her. So either someone was a carrier with no symptoms or she got it from somewhere like the grocery store or a restaurant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1891181 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:22:32 +0000 lilyofthewest 1891181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just read the WHO policy guide on managing and preventing HFMD outbreaks. (<a href="http://www.wpro.who.int/entity/emerging_diseases/documents/HFMDGuidance/en/index.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.wpro.who.int/entity/emerging_diseases/documents/HFMDGuidance/en/index.html</a>)</p> <p>Seems like many people are contagious carriers who never develop symptoms, people are likely highly contagious before they're symptomatic, and that some individuals (but not all) continue being contagious for several weeks after feeling better. How maddening! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1891180 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:21:44 +0000 Mamaof2 1891180@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: That's shocking! We get notices for all major illnesses - They are generic and say "A student in our program has contracted XYZ. Here are things to look for in your child. here are ways you can help prevent the spread, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1891173 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:14:52 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1891173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaG: they don't. If a classmates mom hadn't told me as a courtesy I never would have known. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1891157 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:09:34 +0000 MamaG 1891157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would try addressing it as while Chloe has been fortunate, I'm concerned about the school policy for handling things like HFM. Can you tell me what the guidelines are that you are adhering to when a student is ill with this virus? You might throw in some of your observations and how they seem conflicting with CDC advice. </p> <p>Do they post contagious illnesses on the classroom doors so that you know when Chloe has been exposed? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1891051 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 06:16:08 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1891051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaG: that's an excellent point, but Chloe never had HFM. I feel really uncomfortable saying, "my child never had this but her classmates did, and I don't know what *their* doctors said, but here's what you should do!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1890949 Mon, 06 Oct 2014 21:16:07 +0000 MamaG 1890949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It amazes me the range of recommendations that I've seen in this thread. It might be worth looking at the CDC's recommendations and comments on the virus and using some of it in your email to the director.</p> <p>Certainly sounds like they need to firm up their policies at the school. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1890903 Mon, 06 Oct 2014 20:20:56 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1890903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Train: I thought of you immediately! The contagious-at-school-students mom caught it, and I was like... Why isn't she at home?! They have to be miserable! I remember you telling me how horrible it was! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1890898 Mon, 06 Oct 2014 20:18:11 +0000 SeptMomma12 1890898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO has had HFM four times now, and our pediatrician has told us to keep him home for a week every time. It's definitely very conservative, and it sucks for us schedule-wise, but we have gone along with it because it's such a horrible virus and I can't stand the thought of passing it on to another child. But day care has always said he's welcome back as soon as he's 24 hours fever free, as long as there are no open sores. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1890890 Mon, 06 Oct 2014 20:11:11 +0000 Mrs. Train 1890890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our pediatrician told me it's contagious before symptoms show up. It's the reason why so many schools and day cares have such big cases. You could be sending your kid to school for several days without knowing they were sick. It really is awful. Our whole family got it this summer including me (3 months later and my nails are still growing back). I know we were out and about the few days before my first kid showed symptoms so we could have passed it on to others without knowing. I hope Chloe feels better soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1890793 Mon, 06 Oct 2014 18:36:11 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1890793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here's my update!</p> <p>I had lunch with three moms today-- one of them was the mom who texted me two Fridays ago to see how Chloe was feeling. </p> <p>Another mom said her son was sent home when she dropped him off last Wednesday. He was covered in bug bites, likely from playing in the woods the day before, and the teachers aide (coincidentally her next door neighbor!) said he has HFM and has to go home. Mom said there is no way, these are big bites on his legs, he has no blisters or fevers! Yet she insisted he go home. Mom didn't want to cause a big stink, so she went home with son. </p> <p>At home, her husband was angry! He called the school and immediately spoke to the director, who said the policy is 24 hour fever free and stay home if you're actively contagious. Dad pointed out son was *not* ill yet there WAS two kids in class that day with confirmed cases of HFM. Not sure what is happening to them, but neither were at school today. One was the classmate I posted about; I didn't know another classmate had it but was present. The director also said no one but herself can send a student home, so if a teacher or an aide suspects something like an illness they need to contact her (director) and she will make the assessment /judgement call. </p> <p>I'm still going to email the director myself! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1890685 Mon, 06 Oct 2014 15:59:37 +0000 My Only Sunshine 1890685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: I would absolutely say something to the teacher and the director. Sounds like they either need to do better at enforcing their sick kids policy or create a better policy.</p> <p>My daughter and I both got HFM twice this summer (somehow my husband missed it both times). It was from her daycare both times. Her ped said it's especially bad this year. Both times it was a huge annoyance and uncomfortable, but not too awful. Her daycare required children to stay home if they have a fever, and until their blisters crust over. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1890118 Mon, 06 Oct 2014 10:56:00 +0000 aegie 1890118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>FWIW, you can catch HFM more than once. Granted, if it's the same strain probably your kid will just get another "viral" fever instead of the full blown HFM. But if it mutates enough through the various kids, they could all catch it again. HFM is bad. It starts out as coxsackie and then could become HFM. coxsackie isn't that bad. It's just another viral rash and fevers. Sometimes not even a fever. The fevers come before the rash, so you're infectious when you have the fever. I think that's why parents send their kids to school because they think it's just a mild fever that they can manage with motrin/tylenol. Then a few days later the rash comes. By then, the other kids have already been exposed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1890058 Mon, 06 Oct 2014 10:31:18 +0000 xmaskidjr 1890058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My ped says if one kid shows symptom of HFM, the rest kids were already pretty much exposed to HFM in previous weeks in normal daycare setting (little kids chewing shared toys...). It starts as mostly fecal-oral transfer so infant and toddler in daycare settings are very prone to get HFM and it is very difficult to prevent. </p> <p>In our daycare, if kid no longer has fever, she/he can go back to daycare. We kept our LO even after her fever dropped since she couldn't barely eat other than small amount of milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1888879 Sat, 04 Oct 2014 19:56:18 +0000 regberadaisy 1888879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My ped said the same about it really being contagious during the fever. Once blisters appear it shouldn't be. Our daycare policy is you can send back when the blisters are crusted over. </p> <p>LO got it but not so bad. Thankfully it was a Wednesday so we kept her home the rest of the week through the weekend. DH got it after her and he was miserable!! He got sores in his mouth and throat. The stress on his immune system then caused shingles. </p> <p>I think it's really irresponsible of your preschool to allow kids with confirmed case of HFM back if they are still contagious<br /> . We're not allowed back until 24hr fever free! To be honest it sounds like your preschool needs a sick policy revamp! We have to be 24hr free of diarrhea, fever etc before the kids are allowed back. </p> <p>I would have no hesitation calling the director and saying something. Even without a NB at Home! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1888869 Sat, 04 Oct 2014 19:41:26 +0000 jetsa 1888869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I find the different protocols for HFM to be semi-disturbing. Do we know so little about it that all ped's say different things?!? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1888642 Sat, 04 Oct 2014 13:29:21 +0000 Mrs Spoon 1888642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would absolutely say something. We had to talk to our daycare owner when DD got HFM at 6 months. We KNOW she got it from daycare because she was at the time not around any other kids. Yet we were the first to report it at the daycare so some little germ bug was being sent to daycare with obvious symptoms like a fever. It made me so mad because while LO had a mild case DH got it really bad (like it hurt to wear socks) and was down and out for a while. We both had to take time off to keep DD home for a week. My blood boils when I think about other parents being so careless. Sharing a daycare setting means you need to do to he right thing to protect all kids so you can feel good that others are doing the same so your kid is protected as well. Nobody wants to take PTO to care for a sick kid, but it's part of being a parent. Apparently some people need a reminder and I think it's more than fair to address that with your director. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1888548 Sat, 04 Oct 2014 10:38:44 +0000 ladybee 1888548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would address it with the director. I'd be mad too. I don't have a baby at home by 11 month old has asthma so illness is harder on his respiratory system. I'd be pissed if someone in his class was at school sick and contagious. Where is common decency and consideration for others? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1888535 Sat, 04 Oct 2014 10:06:42 +0000 MamaG 1888535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would address it with the director. But we have had to address a number of items with our director over the past two years. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1888514 Sat, 04 Oct 2014 09:14:48 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1888514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, I'm feeling very conflicted. Would you say something to the teacher or director? Voice a concern? If I didn't have a four week old at home, I wouldn't be as angry. </p> <p>I'll be honest, I am still completely bitter and annoyed at another parent last year. She had the stomach flu and ended up in the emergency room, and passed it on to her 2yo then sent her to school. (Mom had it Tuesday &amp; picked up her kid at school, kid had it Wednesday, sent her to school Thursday) Every kid and parent in that damn school caught it, and I was 16 weeks pregnant. My OB almost hospitalized me because I was so sick and dehydrated. </p> <p>I get that shit happens. I get that we can't live in a bubble. But how about some common sense? If you're puking or a have a fever, stay away. Easy peasy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1888478 Sat, 04 Oct 2014 07:38:07 +0000 Cherrybee 1888478@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just chiming on to say that I currently have this!!!! Its HORRIFFIC - I actually described the tongue pain as being almost as bad as childbirth - and apparently kids get it worse than adults. If I were you I'd keep your child off so your whole family doesn't get it. I can't believe someone would knowingly send their child in with this - its agonising. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1888472 Sat, 04 Oct 2014 07:18:56 +0000 erwoo 1888472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Where we live in Asia, HFM is very common since it's a warmer climate overall. So the rule is that if two students develop they shut the entire class down for a few days to sanitize. The sick kids can't go back to school for 7 days and need to get a doctor's note for when they went to see the doctor the first time and then another note saying that he/she is better. It's very strict and for good reason. My son caught it the second week he started school here after we moved here. It was miserable... luckily he only had sores in his throat; but it hurt and he was miserable for quite a few days. There are different types of HFM and the throat is a mild kind, thankfully! Another thing they use commonly here are medical masks. I didn't like it at first but now I'm all for it, especially since it's very common so the kids don't feel out of place. At one point my son asked for it every day. The make really cute kid ones that conform to the shape of their face so it's a little more comfortable. I'm sorry you have to deal with this and with so many students with HFM. :bummed: So stressful... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1888363 Fri, 03 Oct 2014 22:25:56 +0000 yoursilverlining 1888363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There was an outbreak of HFM in our daycare class, and the kids without fevers continued to attend - even ones where it was obvious they had it because you could see blisters on their hands. LO's teachers and the director said they thought LO had it too (very, very mild case) and told me LO didn't need to stay home unless she had a fever. We didn't even end up taking her to the doctor because there isn't really anything they can do anyway, and because she was fine (no fever, acting like herself, etc). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1888353 Fri, 03 Oct 2014 22:16:35 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1888353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I get that shit happens and germs are everything, and you any prevent everything. I'm super annoyed that a kid with a confirmed case was sent to school sick twice. </p> <p>Blah. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1888342 Fri, 03 Oct 2014 22:07:23 +0000 MamaChin 1888342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our daycare requires a note from the doctor to come back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1888339 Fri, 03 Oct 2014 21:54:01 +0000 autumnlove 1888339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We can send kids back after the blisters aren't oozy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1888323 Fri, 03 Oct 2014 21:27:57 +0000 Mrs. Confetti 1888323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: our doc said only contagious during the fever stage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1888232 Fri, 03 Oct 2014 19:50:33 +0000 dolphin 1888232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: DD, DH and I all had HFM. Our doctor said for as long as we are getting new blisters, we are contagious. DD is not in school but I would be upset too if parents are sending their kids with HFM to school! We stayed away from the park and all kiddie places until everyone was completely healed (blisters start scabbing off), which took about a week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1888154 Fri, 03 Oct 2014 17:56:32 +0000 MamaG 1888154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jump Rope: Our ped told us the fluid in the blisters WAS contagious. Our daycare requires that you can't return if you have any visible blisters. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hand-foot-mouth-amp-sending-kids-to-school#post-1888152 Fri, 03 Oct 2014 17:56:21 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1888152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like I am overreacting then! </p>