Immunosurpressed child in ds class.

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Wwyd? Keep your child off for every snotty nose or send him in knowing this is potentially exposing the child to bugs?

The whole class has had sniffles and coughs and all sorts since about mid September and I've kept ds where it has made him (imo) too ill to be at school - raised temp, unable to sleep or seeming tired and achey. But I've not kept him off for snots/coughs when he has been otherwise well.

The child is in a whole school full of people. Not everyone will keep their child off for a cough. I would only keep my child off, if they were too ill for school.

I'd ask the school for advice. Many illnesses are contagious before the symptoms appear so you'd send your dc in with even knowing.

A colleague of mine has lost a relative (child) who was immumosurpressed and had apparently picked something up from school which, ultimately, led to her death.

He is incredibly scathing of parents who send their kids into school with coughs and colds.

I'm trying to show understanding of his grief whilst also trying to justify to myself that I am doing the right thing taking ds to school.

What have school advised? As above, I would never keep my children off unless they were very ill or the usual 24 hours after d&v. It's a difficult one though, you wouldn't want to send in your child with a cold knowing they could make another seriously ill, but you can't have time off work or the child's education each time your child has a cold.

I've had a child on immune suppressing drugs. If I'd sent her to school during this time I would be expecting her to catch illnesses and infections and I certainly wouldn't expect other children to be kept off school for every sniffle. Let's face it they'd never be in school!. In fact her consultant expressly told us it was dangerous for her to be around so many other children and so she was home schooled during this time

School haven't provided any advice (helpful!) But we did get the obligatory letter sent out to everyone regarding the terms attendance level which is around 85% and not great. It's been a real season for illness so far.

I would follow the school's lead on this one and go with whatever they advise.

I would make sure that the 48 hour rule for sickness etc is followed and if there is a temperature as well or if he wasnt feeling well at all.

It sound s like you are being considerate and sensitive. Your colleague is understandably upset but the attendance levels if you did that would be so low

Just seen your recent post - if they haven't given any solid guidelines then they need to!

My son is immunosuppressed. Just follow the 48 hour rule and keep the school informed if your child is ill. The school will lead on this. If they haven’t asked you to do anything differently, then just follow the usual rules in place.
You don’t have to take time off for colds and coughs.

I've had a child on immune suppressing medication - we kept her out of nursery for 6 months because it's not reasonable to ask other parents not to send their children for every sniffle, and because the things that would have been really serious for her (chickenpox etc) are infectious before the child develops symptoms.

The instant you see the first chickenpox blister, call the school. Or if you see one on somebody else's kid and don't trust them to report it. Or shingles with adults.

You can get antivirals for people who are takimg immunosuppressive medication. But time is of the essence.

I think this is difficult TBH! Most children will have at least one cough or cold during winter ,its just to be expected really.You cant keep taking them out of School .

When DS was at nursery with an immunosuppressed child their policy was that we should let nursery know if he had a cold but was well enough to go and they would let the child’s parents know so they could decide whether to send the child in. Obviously for vomiting, temps etc the usual 48hr rule applied.

My child has been on immunosuppressants for 5 years. He goes to school as normal and nobody adjusts their attendance around him. I imagine it all depends on the dose of immumosuppressant being taken but I think if the docs think the child is fit for school, then your child should be ok to attend if you judge them well enough. Gastro bugs should be the 48hr rule, chicken pox when blisters are healed as most schools stipulate.

When my DD was in the same class as a sibling of a child undergoing chemo I kept her off for an extra day after fever/d&v. For coughs and sniffles I kept her home if she was miserable, and if she was going in, told her to try to keep away from the child in question for a day or two.