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General health

Should a child with impetigo be in school?

45 replies

mykidsmum · 21/03/2006 14:12

Just that really, kid at school with impetigo not sure he should be there?

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Spagblog · 21/03/2006 14:14

NO!
Highly infectious and sometimes a real bugger to get rid of.

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mykidsmum · 21/03/2006 14:15

Bugger should I tell the mum, really don't want my kids catching it?

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desperateSCOUSEwife · 21/03/2006 14:15

No for reason spagblog gave

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mykidsmum · 21/03/2006 14:16

She is my mate btw

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sharklet · 21/03/2006 14:16

Definately its nasty and highly infectious.

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sharklet · 21/03/2006 14:16

definately not even...

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mykidsmum · 21/03/2006 14:17

Shje knows its infectious as both children have it

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mykidsmum · 21/03/2006 14:17

Oh what to do, don't want to stick my oar in, but if other kids catch it in the class she is going to be stoned

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mykidsmum · 21/03/2006 14:18

How is it passed on?

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juliab · 21/03/2006 14:19

If it's stopped being all crusty and oozy (ew, yuk, shudders at memory), then it's OK for the child to be in school.
Otherwise, really should be at home. For everyone's sake.

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stitch · 21/03/2006 14:20

i was told by the gp,its ok as long as he doesnt go swimming.
its not airborne

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Marina · 21/03/2006 14:20

Through any small cut or open wound on skin.
Just tell the teacher - schools generally have a policy on this.
I hope it is being treated as, if left to spread, it can be desperately uncomfortable and disfiguring for the child :(

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mykidsmum · 21/03/2006 14:22

Bright red sores at the mo, yes i think they have antibiotics

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mykidsmum · 21/03/2006 14:23

I know it sounds selfish but I really don't want mine to catch it Sad

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juliab · 21/03/2006 14:23

OK, it's a bacterial infection that spreads really easily - if you touch the pus-y liquid in the blisters (sorry if TMI) and then touch someone else. they could get it.
For that reason, you shouldn't be sharing towels etc
ALSO, if someone in the class has eczema, they are at much higher risk of getting it (skin's immune system already compromised).

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mykidsmum · 21/03/2006 14:24

cheers Juliab, think I may speak to my friend but I don't think she will take to kindly to it, my childrens birthday next week and I really, really, don't want it ruined

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juliab · 21/03/2006 14:25

when my kids got it, we kept them off school (and school would have told us to, anyway) until antiobiotics nearly finished and blisters were dried up.

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mykidsmum · 21/03/2006 14:26

hopefully school will say something and save me the job

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red37 · 21/03/2006 14:27

Gp should pescribe antibiotics and cream- highly infectious

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juliab · 21/03/2006 14:29

Mykidsmum,
completely understand your position - it's really horrid and quite hard to get rid of.
anyone in the class with eczema? could be a way to sell it - if that kid gets it, he/she will REALLY suffer (I know, my ds2 did)
BTW, how did your friend's mum know what it was? Not the sort of thing many parents – or many GPs - recognise. We had to be referred to specailist dermatology clinic before we could be diagnosed (V embarrassing - apparently we were 'classic' cases - all had to photographed for yukky academic skin journals!)

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mykidsmum · 21/03/2006 14:31

She took the younger sibling to gp, hence the antibiotics, yes one little girl in class with severe eczema. I just don't know what to do but I know if my kids catch it I will be furious

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juliab · 21/03/2006 14:38

Maybe you could find out what the school's policy is? My kids' school has a list of illnesses/conditions that require you to keep your child at home. If impetigo's on there (and it should be), you could tell your friend in a concerned but tactful way.
Where is the impetigo on the child? If it's on the leg/arm or something, then there's less risk of it spreading to others because the sores will be covered up. If it's on the face, I'd be more concerned.
BTW, because it's bacterial, the infection needs a 'point of entry' - a cut on the skin or something. So as long as your child's scratch-free, he should be OK. And that's why eczema is such bad news here.
Poor you - your friend's put you in a very awkward position.

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HappyMumof2 · 21/03/2006 14:57

I don't think so, it's very infectious. Could you have a quiet word with the teacher after school, to save you having to say anything to your friend yourself?

Or you could mention to her that you found out it's highly infectious and did she know?

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TinyGang · 21/03/2006 15:08

No..they need to be off a few days (4/5ish) to get the ab's working and for the skin to dry out and stop weeping.

Maybe your friend doesn't realise what it is? My dd got it and I thought for some weeks that it was just her eczema flaring up or that she was reacting to some sun cream we'd used. I felt really daft when the nurse told me what it was, but you live and learn with this parenting lark. Have read on here others have not always worked out what it was either when they first saw it, so felt better.

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MerlinsBeard · 21/03/2006 15:23

when ds1 had impetigo we weren't allowed to take him to any of his toddler groups to give the infection time to heal with the ab's. If ds1 had touched one of the scabs then touched a toy that was then touched by another child......etc etc u get the picture.

no they should definatly be off school

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