About conjunctivitis

[Imeanlikeseriously]

My sister is meant to be coming over tomorrow and texted last night to say her DD has terrible conjunctivitis.

I've got a small baby and two toddler/preschoolers.

I really want to see my sister but I REALLY don't want my children to get conjunctivitis. Especially with Easter holidays coming up.

I don't know what to do as my options are to say ok fine or say I'm really sorry but don't come. Which would go down really badly. I'm already seen as incredibly uptight and I know this would be seen as me being really precious.

I really don't know what to do. I don't know much about conjunctivitis but am I right in thinking there's a pretty high likelihood of everyone getting it?

Yeah its pretty contagious but not in the way you're thinking.

Good hand hygiene and no sharing of towels and whatnot should be enough for a visit.

YANBU

I would phone and cancel tomorrow and say in the circumstances it would be best to leave until the conjunctivitis has cleared. Most normal people would be fine with that.

YANBU, conjunctivitis is contagious and I wouldn't want someone round with it.

But what about toys etc? He's two and a lot of stuff goes in his mouth so I can't very well not let him pile into the toys etc here. Does that not really matter?

If she is coming on her own all she needs is to wash hands before. If her DD is coming that's different.

The problem is she's said 'just to let you know', rather than 'is that ok?'

There are 2 types, one contagious , one not. Agree good hygiene should be enough.

Haha! No of course if she was coming on own I wouldn't give it a second thought!

Terrible conjunctivitis? I'd put her off.

If she's texted you warning you of it I'd take it that she's prepared for you to cancel.

Is there any worse hell than trying to get antibiotic eye drops into a screaming, defiant child?

With that in mind, cancel.

Cancel it, it's very contagious and really the whole clean hands thing isn't enough - you would have to police hand to eye movements the whole time - which would be crazy and unenjoyable. No, the idea of prizing your eyelids from the rest of your face in the mornings, eyes balls you want to gouge out, and acre revolting green snot sitting undetected around your eyes should be a deterrent.

Having caught conjunctivitis 7 times last year YANBU! Cancel :)

Oh god I just can't. The fall out will be so awful. Any suggestions on how to deal when she's here?

Her DD doesn't go to nursery/playgroups etc and doesn't spend a lot of time with other children so perhaps it is the other kind of conjunctivitis...???

Oh goodness cancel.

I had such "terrible conjunctivitis" a couple of years ago that I became photophobic, was crying in pain and there was concern that it might actually have been orbital cellulitis, which requires iv treatment (it wasn't fortunately).

So while crunchy sticky eyes are uncomfortable, conjunctivitis most certainly isn't funny.

Why on earth would there be a fall out? If she's too selfish to think that maybe you and your family don't want conjunctivitis then that's her problem, and about time she learned.

Just make up a lie unrelating to the conjunctivitis, OMG the big one just vomited and the other has tummy ache etc. Then she will cancel. Job done! You're welcome

is it being treated? There isnt an exclusion periods from school for conjunctivitis unless there are a lot of cases.

from nhs:

Public Health England advises that you do not need to stay away from work or school if you or your child has conjunctivitis, unless you are feeling particularly unwell.
If there are a number of cases of conjunctivitis at one school or nursery, you may be advised to keep your child away from the school until their infection has cleared up.

The fall out would be awful?

Why, because you're putting the health of 3 children and an enjoyable Easter holiday before your sister visiting. who'll get the massive arse if you stand up to her.

Come on, find your inner steel and say no if that's what you want to say.

She'll see right through that!

My family are all very gung ho and find it precious to worry about anything pertaining to ones children basically.

All the other children (she has olders) will be disappointed and it will be seen as me ruining everyone's day because I'm so uptight.

You are so right

We've had a class with 7 kids all with conjunctivitis for the last week. They don't have time off school any more, and only have treatment if the parent buys it OTC.

I wouldn't cancel. I'd buy some OTC stuff in preparation and use it at the first signs, that way if you do get it then it will most likely be short lived.

Funholy enough I've woken up with it. Have treated myself with GoldenEye and expect to be clear by Monday. It's horrible, it's irritating and it's annoying but you should be ok.

Conjunctivitis is easily passed on with children that age, they touch their eyes, holding a plastic toy which your pre schooler then picks up to play with, that's enought to pass it on.

She sounds like my ILS: we turned up for Sunday lunch once to be told cheerfully that my niece had been throwing up all morning. It turned out it wasn't a bug but even so.. I ended up not eating anything.

I'm letting them come. I know I'm an idiot.

But any tips would be greatly appreciated. Maybe I should put most toys away and then just wash whatever was left out and the end of the day?