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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nanny gave DD a cold sore - furious. AIBU?

436 replies

firstimer30s · 04/12/2016 17:31

As the title said, nanny came to work with a cold sore. She said she is careful so like an idiot I didn't question it. DD (3 yrs old) developed a fever, sore throat and now a huge cold sore. I am so angry and I'm kicking myself. DD will now have this for life.
Nanny says she is sorry.
What would you do?

OP posts:
shinynewusername · 04/12/2016 21:21

I kind of hope the OP does sack the nanny - no one should have to work for such a raging idiot.

londonrach · 04/12/2016 21:22

Just a query. Sounds from mn that cold sores are common but i dont know anyone who's ever had one so just thought they were rare. Can people have them and not know. Is it always on the lip. Sorry if a silly question.

ghostyslovesheets · 04/12/2016 21:24

interesting that the OP has vanished Grin

tomorrow in the Daily mail ...

peardropz · 04/12/2016 21:24

I feel really sorry for the nanny Sad

Footinmouthasusual · 04/12/2016 21:25

exit Grin

ExitPursuedBySantaSpartacus · 04/12/2016 21:28

Everyone with a cold sore stays at home with a bag over their head.

That's why you don't see them.

The population of the UK is really twice the size but at any one time half are in hiding due to herpes.

surferjet · 04/12/2016 21:30

I would be fuming too.
Cold sores are extremely painful & unsightly ( I've suffered with them from age 16 )
The virus never leaves you & I've suffered with very painful outbreaks, sometimes three times a year. I've always been extremely careful with dh & dc, & after almosr 25 years I've never passed them on.
Op; YANBU.

almondpudding · 04/12/2016 21:33

London, herpes simplex is the virus and cold sores are a symptom.

Many people are carriers of the virus.

Some of them never get any symptoms so do not know.

Some of them get cold sores but only very rarely.

Usually people only become ill from herpes simplex when they first contract the virus. After that, it is usually just cold sores occasionally.

ExitPursuedBySantaSpartacus · 04/12/2016 21:34

Hands out bells.

shinynewusername · 04/12/2016 21:36

surferjet RTFT. You will have passed the virus on but lots of people with the virus don't get cold sores.

Amazing that some people manage to have cold sores for decades and still trot out misinformed prejudice against cold sore sufferers.

Manumission · 04/12/2016 21:37

What are posters imagining the nanny did exactly? Confused Deliberately kissed her charge repeatedly?

Adsss · 04/12/2016 21:37

To make a distinction between being infected with the virus HSV1 and having it present as a cold sore. The majority carry the virus ( i.e. are infected) however a smaller number are symptomatic.
www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs400/en/.
As I mentioned earlier my baby aquired HSV1 and had no cold sores and neither did any one who came in contact with him. Unfortunately for him the his presented as disseminated HSV1 and attacked his organs. Fortunately a sprinkle of amazing luck and some fantastic medical care has pulled him through.

PacificDogwod · 04/12/2016 21:39

surferjet, it's pure luck that your DH and DS don't coldsores.

The OP's child could have been exposed to the virus from anybody - I doubt that she was snogging her charge!

Exit Grin

londonrach · 04/12/2016 21:44

Exit 😏 Almond thanks.

ghostyslovesheets · 04/12/2016 21:44

I think she was licking her and forcing her to share spoons - the evil witch

Manumission · 04/12/2016 21:46

Ah! There has been an outbreak of licking nannies TBF. Sack her.

Justaboy · 04/12/2016 21:48

Anyone know of any descendants of Matthew Hopkins around who could deal with this evil wicked nanny;?

ghostyslovesheets · 04/12/2016 21:49

Mary Poppins would never lick a charge - what is wrong with the world

ExitPursuedBySantaSpartacus · 04/12/2016 21:52

She shared spoons though. With sugar.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 04/12/2016 21:54

Some of them get cold sores but only very rarely

I've only ever had one, it was after I had ds and was really run down. Can't remember anyone getting histrionic about passing it on to him.

Blondeshavemorefun · 04/12/2016 21:56

And never gave any child I looked after a Cold sore either

Someone asked if only on lips. No. can also be up nose which is bloody painful

Sometimes across the face (never had ) tho think this is more impetigo

Devilishpyjamas · 04/12/2016 21:58

Londonrach - I get cold sores, but they are tiny. I can feel them & sometimes there's a tiny pinprick spot but it's rare I get anything large enough to be spotted by others. I've been getting them for about ten years but I suspect I picked up the virus early in childhood as my mum has always suffered from them.

corythatwas · 04/12/2016 21:58

The child is 3 years old: how on earth can you know that the nanny wasn't being meticulous about hygiene and the child jumped up and kissed her? Or grabbed her hand just as she was on the way to wash?

Only way to avoid this would have been to offer nanny sick pay every time her cold sore flares up, for as long as it lasts.

The question you need to ask yourself is, if your dd ever catches anything off you, how angry do you think your husband (or your dd, once she is old enough to understand) should be with you?

SusanneLinder · 04/12/2016 22:03

As a person who has never been able to afford a nanny, I thought this thread was about an OAP...😂.
I swear half the threads on MN are made up for entertainment purposes.

PacificDogwod · 04/12/2016 22:03

Sugar? She gave the child sugar??

Off with her head! ShockAngryHmm
What's the world coming to!