Need advice re Chickenpox & b-day party -- UPDATE #3

[bubbaray]

Oh, Good GRIEF.

OK, well, its 1am and they are FINALLY home. Its not CP and its not strep throat either. Its something called HSP.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/980800ap/980800b.html

HSP is not contagious and it seems there's no treatment. Its an autoimmune disease. She has to have a kidney test of some sort in 2 weeks. DH, who didn't have dinner until now, is NOT the best communicator, so I'm not too sure what the deal is on that.

But, he does have a note from Children's saying she d/n have chickenpox, that she has HSP and its not contagious. (sticking my tongue out at our daycare provider)

ETA: and, we have to take DD#2 to Children's tomorrow if she still has a fever.

___________________

Its NOT chickenpox! AHHHH, I just want to scream!

Long story short, we REALLY didn't think DD#1 had chickenpox. She woke up today with a high fever, lethargic, sore throat, and vomitting -- previously, she had had no symptoms other than a rash for a week. And, none of the "pox" look like chickenpox. She got worse through the day (fever climbing, no peeing/pooping, lethargic & limp), so DH and I finally decided that he would take her to a different walk-in clinic at 6pm (while I stayed home with DD#2). The dr there, who was apparently wonderful, took one look at her and sent DD#1 off to Children's Hospital (not via ambulance, but told DH to drive straight there). That dr said it was NOT chickenpox, but he was very concerned. I still don't know exactly what he thought it was b/c DH was really very upset when he phoned me en route to the hospital.

That dr called ahead to the hospital (bless him! -- the waiting room was insane at the ER) and he must have told them it was something nasty, b/c DH and DD#1 went straight in (and not to an isolation room).

The dr's (2 pediatricians) at Children's ER say that it is most definitely NOT chickenpox. They think she has strep throat and that the rash is Erythema multiforme. I looked that up on the internet and found this photo, which is what the rash looks like:

http://www.stv.org/adam/encyclopedia...pages/2413.htm

They are doing tests (still). Its going to be a long night, b/c DH had to wait an hour for the lab tech to come draw blood -- they've been gone for four hours already and neither have had dinner. Everything hinges on the tests they are running, but the dr's there seem to think she will be fine for the party on Saturday (more than 24 hrs on an antibiotic, I'm guessing is their rationale).

At this point, I'm pretty relieved b/c I was concerned it was meningitis (she had a headache and little tiny purple dots on her face). The dr's have already ruled that out, so DH tells me. Good news for DD#1, at least she won't have to have a spinal tap.

If its strep, I'm wondering if they will put all of us on antibiotics (the girls and I have been sick for months now, there hasn't been a single day where all three of us are not sick). I've just finished 2 rounds of antibiotics for a sinus infection, not sure if they would have worked on strep though. And, I'm wondering if DD#2 will need antibiotics.

In a way, I'm kinda bummed, though, that they won't have gotten "wild" chickenpox. Of course, the complications for DD#2 are crazy scary and if she broke out in spots, we would have had to page her specialist at Children's and she was going to call in a script for acyclovir.

Sooooo, once everyone gets healthy, has filled their faces with cake at the party, I write a nasty email (strike that, I really *will* try not to be nasty) to her daycare, and DD#2 is healthy, I have to get DD#2 the chickenpox vax. I kinda got chewed out by the dermatologist on the phone yesterday. I really had no clue how serious the complications would likely be for DD#2 (she has severe eczema and without the acyclovir, would have likely been hospitalized).

I guess alls well that ends well, but man, the past 2 days have been STRESSFUL.

Thanks for reading!

__________________________________________________ _________
This is a spin off from my earlier thread.

DD#1 has CP, had her diagnosed yesterday. She's had the rash for about a week, had a very mild fever for a day about a week prior to that. She was vax'd at 18m. The dr we saw yesterday (not our regular dr) said she had a "very mild" case and that she should be no longer contagious by the end of the week.

DD#2 now has a fever. She is not vax'd. I'm probably not going to vax her now (dr told us yesterday we should, to limit her symptoms, but she d/n have a fever yesterday and he thought DD#1 had only had the rash for less than a week, but we think its been a week now that DH and I have discussed it more).

DD#1's b-day party is Saturday. At our local YMCA. There was nothing in the brochures about cancelling for medical reasons on short notice. You can cancel 5 days prior, but we are closer than that now.

DD#1 isn't sick at all, and other than the mild fever 2 weeks ago and periodically itchy rash, has had no symptoms. She has no new spots today, only about 20 in total on her legs mainly. The ones she has are starting to crust over.

Our daycare provider has completely flipped out. Um, OK. She's done licensed daycare for over 20 years. This can't possibly be the first case of CP she's had. She is saying that she or her husband could get shingles from DD#1 (no, that's not how you contract shingles -- you get it from yourself, from having had CP or the vax previously, the virus lives in your spinal fluid). She's also going to tell all the daycare kids that they shouldn't go to the party, even if they've been vax'd.

DH and I thought we would send out an email on Friday to the parents of the invited kids. Hopefully by then DD#1 will be completely "crusty" (LOL). I was also going to call the one mom who I know is PG.

I'm really pissed at our daycare provider. I don't really think its her business to be telling parents all sorts of misinformation. Like, vax'd kids get just as serious CP as unvax'd (the dr told us the exact opposite). That you can catch shingles from s/o with CP (not true, but s/o with shingles can give a non-immune person CP).

I feel so bad for DD#1. She d/n even feel sick, d/n understand why she can't go to daycare. And she will be SOOOOOO sad that no one shows up for her b-day.

What should I do?!??!?

[o_mom]

nak, so excuse any typos...

#1 - The Daycare provider has NO business giving out your DD's private medical info. None. Period. End. of story.

#2 - Your Daycare provider's husband should be thanking you for boosting his immunity to make it less likely that he will get shingles.

#3 - I would send an e-mail/call the parents tomorrow and explain the situation. It would give them enough time to make other arrangements as needed. I would also exclude DD2 from the party. She won't know the difference and that would eliminate the source of transmission.

[bubbaray]

Originally Posted by o_mom

I would also exclude DD2 from the party. She won't know the difference and that would eliminate the source of transmission.

Yes, sorry, I forgot to mention that -- that is completely our intention. Kinda sucks as one of us will have to stay home. DD#1 has volunteered ME to stay home with DD#2. Gee, thanks.

Thanks for your reply. I'm so @#$%$^ steamed right now. DH has reminded me not to "do anything stupid" because we need to suck up to our daycare provider -- daycare spots are impossible to find....

[bubbaray]

So, what do you think about me sending this email to the daycare provider:

From the Canadian Pediatric Society:

http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/immu...oxStayHome.htm
Many children with mild chickenpox are ‘well’; that is, they can participate fully in all activities by the second or third day of the illness. Mild chickenpox is defined as having a low fever for a short period of time and only a little rash (less than 30 spots).
Children with mild chickenpox should be allowed to return to school or childcare as as soon as they feel well enough to take part as usual in all activities, regardless of the state of their rash. This recommendation doesn't apply to hospital settings.
Facts about chickenpox
Chickenpox may typically develop two to three weeks after contact. It is most infectious 12 to 24 hours before the rash is recognized. The rash usually starts on the trunk or the neck
A child with chickenpox can return to school or to daycare as soon as he or she can participate normally in all activities.

http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/immu...enpoxFacts.htm

What is shingles?
Shingles (zoster) looks like chickenpox and is caused by the same virus. However, it usually appears on only one part of the body. Shingles occurs in people who have already had chickenpox, usually many years later.
Shingles is very contagious. You can catch chickenpox from someone with shingles through contact with their secretions or their skin rash. You cannot get shingles from someone with chickenpox.

And, here’s the science behind their recommendations:

http://www.cps.ca/english/statements/ID/id99-01.htm



I'm still steamed..... Trying to not be bitchy...

[o_mom]

I think it sounds pretty good - nice and 'official'.

[MamaMolly]

Hi Melissa,
I'd be totally pi$$ed in your position! What nerve your daycare provider has!!

That said, I'd definitely use this as a opportunity to educate her. She is grossly misinformed about CP. It is very smart of you to give her the info you found. I think she will have a much easier time taking it coming from an 'official' source rather than just taking your word. Not that your word isn't gold, but that she won't be able to question the motives of an outside source. KWIM?

I also strongly feel that the information needs to go to the other parents from you not your DCP. You need to beat her to the punch on this one, I'm afraid, just to do some damage control. If she gives out her misinformation it could really muddy things up! And just as an aside, when I taught in preschool we had moms regularly bring their toddlers in for the day (and Mom would stay to volunteer as helpers too!)when we had CP going around. The thought was if one was getting it, mom wanted them ALL to get it. So you might have a better turn out than you think.

[DrSally]

I like your letter to your DCP. It would be even greater if it came faxed from your doctor, wouldn't it?! I wonder if your doctor would agree to do something like that? It is short and to the point, and clear though.

[bubbaray]

Hello everyone!

Just wanted to let you know that DD#1 has had chickenpox. She was previously vaccinated and has a very mild case, according to the doctor we saw last night. She has very few spots (definitely less than 30) and the rash has started to crust over/heal. She had no other symptoms and we didn’t even know that what she had was chickenpox. The rash first appeared over a week ago, so she is past the contagious stage according to the Canadian Pediatric Society and the public health nurse that I just got off the telephone with.

We are planning on going ahead with her birthday party this Saturday ... at the ....

Here are a couple of links:

http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/immu...oxStayHome.htm

http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/immu...enpoxFacts.htm


We hope you can join us to celebrate DD#1's birthday. She’s very excited to see her friends at her party!

_____

The daycare just sent out this email, a few minutes before I sent mine (bummer) -- I find it VERY hard to believe that DD#1 is the first case of CP she's had in over 20 years of daycare..... Whatever.... I'm still steamed



Hi,
One of the children in Daycare has come down with Chicken Pox. The spots were visible to me yesterday so I wanted to let you all know
children present in the past few days may have been exposed to the virus. Please call me if you have a concern. A first for the Daycare since opening and bound to have happen some day! : (

I have not had anyone else break out so far...fingers crossed that it won't spread thru. I cannot guarantee your child will or will not be exposed as it will take a few days longer to see if anyone comes down with it. The contagious period for the other children is 2 days before spots appear until 5 days after. Children are required to be kept home until after the fifth day and all spots have dried up.

I will keep a close eye on those coming and of course let you all know if there is any further outbreak.

I just cannot guarantee no other child will come down with it. It most often takes about 10 days from when first exposed to break out in spots or show signs. So it may not be until another two weeks for a new case.

Please, if you notice your child has a fever (even slight) and what looks like mosquito bites even if just a few over the next few weeks please call me and have it checked by doctor. This will help prevent it from spreading and causing exposure to others. Do not give your child asprin or anything that contains asprin for comfort until your doctor has check them out and said not chicken pox.

I don't want to alarm you Chicken pox is generally a mild disease but it can be very hard on a very young child or children whose immune systems are lower than average because of other conditions they may have such as asthma or eczema. It also can be very serious for a pregnant woman to be exposed also.

Can all families please check and make sure you have brought me your most recent copy of your child's vaccines. If you need to update please bring when your child next returns to daycare. Thank-you!

[HannaAddict]

I think the daycare's email was very measured and not hysterical at all. I would not be upset at my daycare and I think her approach to be better safe than sorry with a five day period seems okay, considering some less vigilant parents may try and bring kids back early before scabs are formed. If my child went to the daycare, I would not want a child with CP in their midst if the parent knew they had it and I probably wouldn't go to the birthday party if I had a younger child at home that could be in any way at risk. Sorry. I hope your youngest is okay and doesn't come down with it. I would also check with they Y and see if there is any way they would let you reschedule. I would want to disclose the fact my child was recovering from CP to them since the facility and room is used by others, not just the kids invited to your party. I might even worry that a child exposed to your child, but who isn't showing symtoms yet, might attend and get others sick. A long shot but I would at least think about it and let the Y know since it is a public place.

[StantonHyde]

Some thoughts
:
1. Your daycare provider cannot give out your child's personal health info. It is against the law in the US

2. Your dcp is required to post a notice of communicable disease (without identifying the child). In our state, this has a couple of different levels. E.g. you have to communicate strep throat, thrush, hand/foot/mouth etc. within the center. If a kid has whooping cough, that gets communicated to the health department. Our notices usually have a description of the disease (symptoms), how it is transmitted, and how long symptoms have to be clear in order for the child to return to school. Also, the last date the child was in the center.

3. Chicken pox is a big deal. I know it is fairly common, but you can get bad complications from it. As aanother parent, I would be freaked. Parents do have the right to know that a child in the center was diagnosed with CP. (but not specifically your child)

4. I like the idea of sending out the email saying your daughter is no longer contagious according to xyz. I also think you need to let them know that you think DD 2 has it, but she will not be coming to the party. As a parent, I would want to know that--it would be part of my decision making process. And definitely call the pg mom.

5. People may make an incorrect decision based on the info you provide--but that is their right as a parent. Your daughter's bday does not supercede their rights to decide to stay away from a family with CP. It sucks and it is very sad for your DD. I would consider scrapping it, eating the cost, and doing the birthday party at another time. I know that sucks too!