[rynandstompy]

Hi there
This morning, while we were signing DD (22mth) into her room for daycare, my DH noticed that an earlier parent had filled out a medical request form requesting that their child be regularly treated with Zovirax for 'red eye'.

Now, googling zovirax and red eye, it appears that this child 'may' have herpes simplex in their eye, with some medical advice pages recommending children be excluded from situations where they could spread it to others, particularly if they cannot yet practice good hygiene.

Now the toddlers are all around 15-26 mths old in this room, and are very huggy and kissy at the moment. I have no problem with DD catching the odd cold, or other transient bug from this as that's just life in daycare.

However is the risk of a toddler catching Herpes Simplex in their eye (or face) a greater risk to their long term immune system? Should our daycare be excluding the other child until the blister/discharge is no longer moist (as some pages recommended).

Now, our info is off Dr Google so is not really a medical source. Can anyone here advise if Zorivax is prescribed for other non-herpes eye conditions for todders?

Or can they advise what their daycare would likely do in a similar situation.

We're mulling over having one of us work from home the next day or so and have her at home with us. However also wondering if there's an expectation on the daycare to be more proactively vigilent in such cases or if we're just being 'precious'.

Opinions welcome. We're new to the idea of our child catching cold sore virus at a young age, so possibly are over concerned.

[lozoodle]

Cold sores aren't excluded from daycare. Not sure about the eye thing, I've never heard of that.


This post has been edited by lozoodle: 21/08/2012, 10:29 AM

[wallofdodo]

I would be concerned about the daycare leaving private information for all to see.

At my son's daycare if there is an infectious condition reported and confirmed, then a note is put up on the door of all rooms. So parents can make a decision on what to do.

Why don't you ask the director what their protocol is on infectious conditions. Some don't have an exclusion period if they are being treated.

If there was the chance of catching somethign like that, not sure what I would do.

Edit for clarity.

This post has been edited by wallofdodo: 21/08/2012, 10:51 AM

[Sloane Peterson]

Cold sores aren't excluded from daycare. Not sure about the eye thing, I've never heard of that.

I'm not sure if it's a department of health regulation, but children with coldsores are excluded at our daycare, unless they are old enough to understand how to stop transmission, or if they can be covered.

[laridae]

Cold sores aren't excluded from daycare. Not sure about the eye thing, I've never heard of that.

They are if the child isn't old enough to understand not to touch it then touch someone else. I would think that is probably 3 or 4 maybe, 18m olds would not understand.

Herpes simplex (cold sores, fever blisters)
Exclusion is not necessary if the person is developmentally capable of maintaining hygiene practices to minimise the risk of transmission. If the person is unable to comply with these practices they should be excluded until the sores are dry. Sores should be covered by a dressing where possible.
http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/publi...ch43poster4.pdf

If it is a cold sore in the eye, then they should be excluded at that age I would say. Perhaps the parents just dropped & filled in form & ran though.

[niggles]

I agree with dodo on all counts. Talk to the director about their policy. If you are not happy with it then discuss that with her. After that you can exclude your own child and tell them why but not sure what else you can do.

Personally, I'd exclude my baby if they had a coldsore anywhere on their face. I'd exclude my toddler too until it was starting to heal and could be covered with a dressing. Maybe I take this more seriously than others but I've suffered from regular coldsores on my lip throughout my life and I'm going to try my darndest not to give them to my kids, my husband or anyone else. I hate them.

[lozoodle]

I'm not sure if it's a department of health regulation, but children with coldsores are excluded at our daycare, unless they are old enough to understand how to stop transmission, or if they can be covered.

Yes that makes a lot of sense. I haven't ever dealt with coldsores personally so obviuosly haven't looked too far into it other than what it says in the excluded illness thing we were given.
I too would use my own discretion and keep a child home with them, but I'm sure there are parents out there who wouldn't.

[akkiandmalli]

when i was director we used the above table (link) table to evauate a condition and whether exclusion is necessary...

This post has been edited by akkiandmalli: 21/08/2012, 10:45 AM

[MakeLoveNotBacon]

I would be very surprised to find Zovirax is used on the eye? I also think it's not to be used under 5 years of age? Maybe your dh read it wrong. Really he shouldn't be reading other people's information.

[willow79]

The infection may have cleared up but treatment would normally need to continue for a few more days.