I had to pick DS up from nursery yesterday as they suspected he had Hand Foot and Mouth, as he had little spots on his feet, (I had put it down to playing bare foot in the garden at the weekend, scratches and/or bites) Didn't seem to be bothering him, so I didn't let it bother me.... Anyway, when I got there she told me they have had an outbreak of this recently, and also Chickenpox.......

I thought they should be warning the other parents so we could be looking out for signs etc. I thought this would be normal practise, but DS has only been in nursery for 8 months, so his is the first time I've come accross it. Do nursery's usually 'warn' you by way of a newsletter or a notice in the door? Or am I being totally wrong in being annoyed?

My DD has been to 3 different nurseries and yes, they all put a little board or a notice on the rooms door eg: there has been 2 reported cases of chickenpox in bumblebees

Thanks, I thought so... I'm not one for confruntation (sp?) so I'll leave it, but It's nice to have my mind put at rest!

If they are not obliged to tell, I don't see why they should. I've only ever been warned of an outbreak of scarlet fever (and I think they had to warn the parents in that case).

Always been warned before, by way of note on the door.

Our nursery always put's a note up saying of any confirmed outbreaks of diseases. Would be very anoyed if they didn't as DD has a heart condition and something like chicken pox is a very serious disease to her.

Always warned here as well think it's just good practice...

Maybe you could make a suggestion you've seen it work elsewhere....

I think I was more annoyed as I am pregnant and it scared me a little as I had no idea what Hand Foot and Mouth was, and if baby and myself were in danger.. whereas if I had been warned, I could have googled it... As it was, at 31 weeks, I am safe, but what about the mothers who are early on and haven't told anyone?

Is hand foot and mouth dangerous to pregnant women?

The problem with that illness is that it can cause symptoms in one child but not another, so many parents don't even realise their children have it. And often it's put down to teething, as the symptoms can be similar.

And should parents always tell the nursery why their children are off sick?

There is a semi permanent notice (well two actually) on our nursery door. "We have been informed that a child within the nursery has head lice/ chickenpox"

We ask at the office if we need to know more, obviously they don't tell us which child is infected.

When I was pg it was important (as my immunity wasn't confirmed) that I knew about the cpox.

I choose to tell the nursery why my dd is off sick if she ever is. Mainly because I feel it is good communication but that is just imo. Also if (for example) she has been off her food/less energetic etc they are then aware of that and can take it into consideration.

When I went to the docs about it yesterday she said it can be in very early stages, but most adults don't contract it anyway, Also it can be dangerous in the very latter stages of pregnancy as the new born can get it as it's highly infectious. (and there are 4 of us that I know that are between 31 and 36 weeks pregnant! must be something in the water! )

Also with Chickenpox, if you are pregnant it can be dangerous if you are not sure about your immunity.

I do always tell nursery if DS has been abit lathargic (sp?) or off his food so that they can keep an eye on him for me. As yet he's not been ill enough to be kept off.

I do know what you are saying though Belgo, DS has had tonsilitus and an ear infection before now and I've not seen any signs for days! The only reason I knew was he was off his food for about 3 days so I took him to docs (as was BH weekend and didn't want to leave it for another 4 days) and he diagnosed it!