Am I overreacting to Strep A ?

[glugluggg]

I have a three year old in nursery and 7 month old baby at home.

Both have been off nursery / crèche for going onto the third week now, as they both came down with illness around three weeks ago.

Now with the strep A thing, I'm considering staying home with both of them and avoiding crèche, nursery, softplay, play groups, play dates until the new year.

I'm on Mat leave, so I can do this. It's tough on me and I'm already exhausted, having them home all the time already for two weeks. But I am really worried about them getting really sick.

Is this OTT ?

I am a hypochondriac with health anxiety, but I would send my three year old to nursery in your position, if they are well enough to go. Just be vigilant to any high temp etc. GPs never mind an anxious mum checking everything is OK.

I think it is. Complications from Strep A are still very rare. One of the possible reasons for more strep A this year is that children haven’t been exposed to infection as they normally are due to Covid. That said, I do completely understand your reaction and I’m not sure what I’d do in your situation! I would absolutely keep them off while they’re still poorly.

We have just got over a nasty cough with smallest dc having croup. It has taken nearly 1 month to get rid of it. I think main reason is because we have been mainly inside the house for the past couple of winters. I think everyone's immune system is just rubbish at the moment and everything is taking ages to recover from.
No harm in limiting outside activities but wouldn't think it would help the immune system staying completely away.
Just make sure you wash dcs hands after play

I would (and will) send my child in while they are healthy but yes I am on very high alert for any illness. I struggle with anxiety so this is a difficult one for me, I get it. I also don't want to pass my anxiety onto my child so I fight hard to make sure she does have a normal life

Of course it’s OTT

it might be a better option to speak to your GP as this isn’t normal levels of anxiety.

With kindness, yes I think you are overreacting.
Strep A is common and always around, it’s horrific that the children have died, but we can’t avoid all interactions and bugs. There will always be viruses and bacteria around.

What would you do with them all day?

I think you’ll feel better for having a break with them at nursery and probably less anxious for being less tired. Unless there have been cases in their specific settings then the risk is currently very very low.

If you've got anything big planned I'd think about keeping them off 2 days before but apart from that I'd send them in. Unfortunately as soon as they go to nursery they are exposed to all sorts of bugs. Get it out the way before school.

The numbers concerned are tiny. IMO this would be a huge overreaction

It's funny you all say that because my Husband was telling me to keep them off before Christmas even before the strep A thing came to light.

Not because he think they'll die if they catch it or anything, but having sick kids is exhausting. They're up all night, the worry etc.

Lots of people i know did last year. Just tell the nursery so they don't draft in more staff than needed as some might want the holiday.

It's been well over 18 months since schools fully reopened - I just don't see how the 'not exposed' idea stacks up. Strep A is ever-present. If it was down to lockdown, surely it would have happened last winter, not this one?

OP: because Strep A is ever-present, the idea of isolating your DC is unrealistic, unless you want them to have a lonely childhood. Because it's going to be around every winter (well, all the time but more prevalent in winter) and your DC could catch it at any point. For the vast majority, it is a mild illness - yes even this year that is the case.

Honestly yes you are. Make yourself aware of the symptoms and be vigilant. Are you going to avoid mixing with large groups of people at Christmas or are you going to avoid Christmas events? The risk is not just at baby groups!

Honestly, this notion of normal life becoming something you can retreat from in case kids get an entirely normal illness is a recent and odd way of thinking. Just get on with your life!

Oh I know lots of people who keep kids off nursery or before a big event to avoid dealing with sickness. Obviously you can't do that when they're at school.

I was going to keep them off from the 15th of December anyway, because I didn't want them to be sick for Christmas.

I didn't realise that was strange in itself because I know others who do this too.

It's becoming quite normal since covid times

When are you going back to work?

In a few months.. what does that have to do with it ?

It's a weird thing to do, and very unhealthy for kids to suddenly have their friends and routines stripped away. It's like pulling a rug out from under them at any given moment, and mentally very destabilising for them. It's no coincidence that mental health problems in children have rocketed since Covid.

I imagine because when you go back it gets more inconvenient and stressful with the nursery sickness. So generally I'd say send them in and accept you are building their immune system but if its all got a bit much I don't see the harm in a one off break

My DD is always in and out of nursery because she's sick anyway.. it's quite normal in the first year of nursery to miss a lot of time there. Also, people go on holidays too etc. what terrible parents we are!

Is there anything exciting and Xmassy that your 3 year old would be sad to miss?.

I'd deal with your health anxiety if you think it's a bit out of control but if it's just a general 'can't be arsed dealing with sick kids over Xmas' thing, then sure, keep them at home and do nice stuff together. It's a really cute time of year to be at home, baking gingerbread, decorating the house, visiting grottos etc. I always enjoyed it. Why put them in nursery when you can be at home doing that kind of stuff together. Plus ... less bugs. It's the puking ones I hate.

So will you not go on holiday anymore just in case they pick up an illness?

Yes I've had three kids at nursery so I know how it is with missing things due to illness. You're making them miss out on things for nothing though.

@IAmTi yeah I am aware because she was already at nursery while I was working and I had to keep her home a lot, because she was unwell. She's caught so many bugs this year- she's been in nursery for over a year. I'm not new to this and what it's like when I'm at work. Obviously I'll have two when I go back, that will be different.