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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Nursery should have tried to contain chickenpox better?!

160 replies

Pengyquin · 10/02/2015 14:17

No notice up in nursery that it was even doing the rounds. Found out on social media.

One member of staffs little girl was affected badly, and said member of staff came back to work 3 days later into a different room (my son's) Children from initial 'outbreak' room were taken to a new room (my son's) to save on staffing costs (I presume) at the end of one of the days.

Nursery have pretty much shrugged and seemingly are of the attitude, it's just chickenpox.

Well, it isn't 'just' chickenpox if you're pregnant and not immune or if you (or someone in your family) has a compromised immune system. Plus, a family friend of ours, her little girl died (aged 4) of chickenpox, so it's a matter close to the heart.

Just been informed that it is now in my son's room.

Or should I just accept it's one of those things and highly likely that we will get it.

I just think they should have tried to contain it in the one room. Not mix kids from room to room. The worker is probably irrelevent - I don't think you can pass on cp just because you've been caring for someone who has it?

I'm probably just really annoyed because we have a holiday booked next week that I can see being cancelled now!

OP posts:
Madamecastafiore · 10/02/2015 14:18

Yabu

Original poster
Pengyquin · 10/02/2015 14:20

So it's ok that there is no sign up saying 'x2 confirmed cases of CP in this room' (for eg) ?

OP posts:
WeirdCatLady · 10/02/2015 14:21

It IS only chicken pox. 99% of kids will get it. YABU.

PatriciaHolm · 10/02/2015 14:21

Unless the children are 100% segregated at all times, then I'm afraid YABU. Presumably they play together in the garden, have lunch together etc? CP is extremely contagious - it can be passed on objects, via air droplets; it would be practically impossible to stop spreading in a nursery setting i'm afraid. I do think you should have been told it was going round though.

reikizen · 10/02/2015 14:22

This, I think is a good example of people being completely risk averse and wanting to control every variable possible. Stop being so mard, people get ill, get over it.

mabelbabel · 10/02/2015 14:23

YABU. But they probably should have put a sign up, so that you could be aware if you were particularly vulnerable.

MagratsHair · 10/02/2015 14:23

So would you have taken DS out of nursery had you known chickenpox was doing the rounds? If yes then complain to the nursery.

I went on holiday with chickenpox when I was 4, life doesn't stop. There are photos :)

If your son doesn't get it from nursery then he will catch it from school as you can't take them out then in case they get poorly then.

I think you are overreacting but I can see why.

Original poster
Pengyquin · 10/02/2015 14:24

The children are segregated - 3 separate rooms. They go outdoors at different times of the day.

OP posts:
OhYouBadBadKitten · 10/02/2015 14:24

They should make parents aware so that you can make your own choice.

capsium · 10/02/2015 14:24

Short of quarantine there is no way of 'containing' chicken pox. I'm afraid.

There is a symptom-less incubation period of approx 2 weeks so children could be carriers without anyone even knowing.

The nursery informed you which is about the most they can do really. People in the circumstances you described, where chickenpox is a risk, might decide to find alternative childcare for their children.

capsium · 10/02/2015 14:25

^ sorry reread and realised they didn't inform you. Perhaps they could have done this.

DrDre · 10/02/2015 14:25

You should have been told. However, I understand it is far better to have it when you are young, so if your son does get it it is the best time of life for him to have it.

ProudAS · 10/02/2015 14:26

DH and BIL both got it as adults and were very ill with BIL suffering complications.

CP can be dangerous to some children but far more dangerous for them to get it as adults.

Original poster
Pengyquin · 10/02/2015 14:26

I just think..it's possible there may be another mum who is in the early stages of pregnancy and not immune, with a child at that nursery.

If there's no sign up, and she's not on social media, how the hell would she know it was doing the rounds? Surely people should be given the option?

Don't nurseries have to take 'reasonable' measures to ensure that illness isn't spread?

OP posts:
coppertop · 10/02/2015 14:27

I'm not sure they would have been able to prevent your ds from catching it but I would have expected them to let parents know that there had been a case of chicken pox.

Those with immunity issues or who were pregnant would then have known that there was potentially a risk. Parents would also know to be on the lookout for any symptoms in their own child.

PatriciaHolm · 10/02/2015 14:28

But they are occasionally going to pass in corridors, in the toilet, at dropoff and hometime.

Sorry, but essentially CP is one of those childhood contagious diseases that go through childcare settings. They should have told you, but there isn't anything they could practically have done to stop the spread.

helensburgh · 10/02/2015 14:28

Unfortunately it's one of those things that is almost impossible to,contain, it's infectious prior to any symptoms

YANBU in being worried about it, particularly s a child in your family pAssed away, it can be v dangerous.

The dangerous complications are rare.

X

MissYamabuki · 10/02/2015 14:28

YANBU

I'm not sure they could have contained it but they should have notified the parents.

There was an outbreak at DD's preschool last year. Staff shrugged it off, parents weren't informed (not even the 4 pregnant mums), we only found out from each other.

All the kids got chickenpox. All were fine. But they took chickenpox in to their homes and other family members got it. The result was:

  • one baby admitted to hospital twice (out-of-control temp and infected scabs)
  • one adult off work for 6 weeks
  • one pregnant, non-inmune mum got it. Pregnancy being monitored.

No joke IMO and at least some of it could be avoided.

capsium · 10/02/2015 14:29

Sounds to me like the nursery have been slack regarding informing parents. Although the pregnant mother, who is not immune, probably would have asked them to personally inform her in the case of chicken pox going round the nursery. I would have mentioned it personally..

kewtogetin · 10/02/2015 14:30

YABU, the children will have been infected with CP for up to 2 weeks before any spots came up so I don't understand how you think the nursery could have known? By the time the earliest cases were confirmed most of the children would have been exposed anyway so a sign stuck on the door would make no difference anyway.
CP is airborn, seperating children makes no difference, especially in a nursery where everyone uses the same door to get in/hallway to hang coats/plays with the same outdoor toys etc. it's just tough luck really, most children who get it are fine, my son contracted it when I was 4 months pregnant, I was fine as was my baby.

MrsBennington · 10/02/2015 14:32

given that kids will be infectious for about 2 weeks before any spots even show YABU.

reni1 · 10/02/2015 14:32

The nursery hasn't done anything wrong. CP spreads like wildfire, impossible to contain it in one room. I think the vaccine cost around £60, can you get ds immunised if you are really worried?

Groovee · 10/02/2015 14:32

We normally have to alert the parents as soon as we can to chicken pox or slapped cheek. Both can be pretty bad for pregnant women or people with cancer.

A note or spoken word from a staff member wouldn't have gone astray.

But I think trying to contain it, is too hard as you don't know until the spots come and they are infectious before that.

DisappointedOne · 10/02/2015 14:34

DD's school didn't even inform parents when there was an outbreak of scarlet fever, which can have dreadful complications.

wigglesrock · 10/02/2015 14:34

My youngests nursery school sent a note home when there's 2 or more cases, as previous poster has said the same with slapped cheek and scarlet fever. We actually got a note home yesterday re threadworms.