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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think you don't take your child to a xmas party with conjunctivitis?

15 replies

Weegle · 08/12/2007 10:29

I have no problem with little ones turning up with colds, tis life, but conjunctivitis? It's so contagious. My other guests (who don't know her) were astounded and visibly annoyed. And she stood there and said "oh sorry, X has conjuctivitis but I didin't want him to miss out". Now I'm worried that DS is going to get it (he ran up and gave the little boy a hug before we realised) and miss out of lots of Christmassy things we've got planned, and worse pass it on to the family just in time for Christmas. He's had it once before, DH ended up with it, his grandfather and cousins too and it took two weeks to get rid of per person. So, am I just being precious or would you say it was unreasonable to take your child out to a party with conjunctivitis?

OP posts:

shreddies · 08/12/2007 10:32

Of course it's not on. Did you say anything to the mum?

callmeoverchristmas · 08/12/2007 10:32

Yes. But thats because I am about to go to one and we all have it But then they all know and no one has a problem with it. They all go to Nursery etc and give each other bugs all the time. I would rather deal with an eye infection than a Cold tbh.

IsawKIMIkissingSantaClaus · 08/12/2007 10:33

Personally I would not take a sick child to a party if I knew they were sick (took DS1 to a party and he broke out with chicken pox the next day )

Eliza2 · 08/12/2007 10:34

If you're worried try giving precautionary salt water eye baths? Very dilute salt in boiled water? Just in case any bacteria have lodged in there.

foxythesnowman · 08/12/2007 10:35

Our nursery won't allow children with conjunctivitus, so I'd apply the same rule to the Christmas party. At the very least, I'd speak to the parent hosting the party beforehand.

Original poster

Weegle · 08/12/2007 10:39

No, my nursery don't allow kids with conjunctivitis - so that's another thing I'm worried about, that if DS gets it he won't be able to go to nursery which is a major headache.

Eliza2 - I shall do that, thank you.

OP posts:

alicet · 08/12/2007 13:30

The only reason I would be narked is that ds wouldn't be allowed at nursery if he got it. Other than that mostly conjunctivitis in kiddies is caused by the same virus that causes the cold which is why they get it so often. I don't know why nurserys won't let them in with it as it doesn't make them ill. Its rare for them to get bacterial conjunctivitis that adults get.

Prunie · 08/12/2007 13:33

Can I just ask - what is conjunctivitis? Because ds has mildly gooby eyes and a cold and I assume they are related - he is not itchy and neither are we.

Acinonyx · 08/12/2007 13:58

My nursery does allow kids with conjuntivitis. Dd has had it twice. None of us in our visiting moms group have ever bothered about it - but I suppose it's because we all have kids at nursery who allow it. It's not actually as contagious as a common cold.

jinglebells2shoessmells · 08/12/2007 14:49

YANBU

ivykaty44 · 08/12/2007 15:04

I took my dd to the gp with this - didn't realise what it was and my gp was very insistent that the school could in no way make her stay at home and in fact if the school had a problem then I was welcome to get her (my gp ) involved, as it is apparently not on to exclude due to this and in fact illegal - I by this time am bemused by gp, and politly say "OK"

I left a bit puzzeled but it became clear as I was later told by a neighbour that schools dont like children to attend with conjunctivitis and will even telephone to get you to collect them.

So I guess there is a lot of misunderstanding about conjunctivitis.....

shrinkingsagpuss · 08/12/2007 15:08

Oh for heavens sakes.
Its sticky eyes not chiken pox 9one handed typing).
its hardly the end of the world.
I understand the nursery issue, but its hardly a reason not to go to a party. Mine develop it without being contact with other children. all on their own.

LIZS · 08/12/2007 15:10

Doesn't it depend whether viral (most common) or bacterial in origin, bacterial being the contagious one.

lljkk · 08/12/2007 15:23

I thought viral was the contagious one (red eyes but only watery discharge if that), whereas bacterial is the one only caused by wiping snot into their own eyes (the excessive snot they get from having a virus that caused a bad cold), that looks like snot oozing from the eye.

Either way, I just don't believe it is that contagious because various DC have had both types and no one else in our family has ever caught it from another child -- AND I don't even clean it away or treat it with antibiotics, any more.

But I wouldn't personally take a child to a party with it, either. Because it looks awful, they are usually grumpy with it, and it's a set of theoretical risks that shouldn't be imposed on other people.

callmeoverchristmas · 08/12/2007 20:06

Well we got there and another one had it already with no contact from DD so it obviously just that time of year. GP told me it was Viral and part of her Cold. He also said it was likely to clear up without antibiotics but gave me some incase it got worse over the weekend.

I think the issue is your Nursery not allowing them in with it. Ours is great on one hand as they are not too fussy about these types of things. On the other hand it does mean DD always has something or other!

I hope your LO has not developed anything!

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