Strep A Santa

[Quinniebellie]

I’ve just seen on Facebook someone post that their children have confirmed Strep A. The next post was them visiting Santa, which they ‘left early because the children started to go downhill’

I’m not being funny but why on earth would you take your kids to see Santa if they have Strep A?! Considering the news lately that now 7 children have died from this and the NHS is stretched already and concerned about the rise in cases, I think this is completely selfish for two reasons.

1. the children shouldn’t have been dragged out to see Santa if they’re unwell, they should be encouraged to rest and recover. They could visit him when they’re better or just sack it off this year
2. That Santa will now see hundreds of children over the coming weeks and could now be carrying and pass on this illness to said children?!

I was with a friend when I saw the post and asked her opinion, she said she would have still taken her kids too but not let them sit on his lap. It just seems ludicrous to me! If your kids are ill, especially with something like Strep A, I think you should keep them away!

YABU - calm down it’s fine
YABNU - I agree, keep them away

YANBU in my opinion at all x

People are idiots, though.

I had a series of Strep throat infections a few years ago, with a few rounds of AB. I had more as a kid. Every time it started really suddenly and until I got the penicilin I felt SO ILL that I could not believe it. As in, unable to get out of bed, and having these weird hallucinations/dreams. My fever wasn’t even that bad - 38.5 or so. It dragged on for months, with me getting a new bout every few weeks. The AB were a huge help but would upset my stomach every time - diarrhoea for a week. My family members didn’t get it in the respiratory system but DH and DD both got nasty skin infections from it. DD needed an AB cream, and DH needed steroids and was very uncomfortable or months.

I would never drag myself or a child out with it.

And I would never risk infecting someone else with it.

Fucks sake, people are stupid.

A sick child shouldn’t be out and about in a busy place regardless of what they are sick with.

Ill children shouldn't be dragged out. But are they on antibiotics? The NHS says you aren't contagious once you've been on them for 24 hours. So maybe they won't have been spreading anything?

But still, I wouldn't take an ill child out anyway, for their sake as much as anything.

Does anyone know if school would let you know if there were cases? I know my anxiety is getting the better of me, but I do feel quite worried about this

If they’re on antibiotics for more than 24 hours they’re no longer contagious.

It isn't good to take children out anywhere when they're ill for their own sake. But regarding strep a, it's always been very common, the reason it's more of a problem currently is because GPs have been refusing to see patients and so many of them are becoming more ill than they usually would be. Children are making the news because it scares people more but it's barely the surface of the problem.

@EatYourVegetables god that sounds awful! Definitely not something you want passed around

@Oodlesofdoodlescockapoodles I would hope so. My DC’s school is quite good at doing that but I’m also keeping an eye on the WhatsApp groups to see if anyone’s off with it!

They certainly should do as Scarlet Fever is a notifiable disease.

@Pjsandhotchoc even if that’s the case I still don’t think I’d drag them out to see Santa

I have no idea if her kids are on antibiotics but from her Facebook stories it looks like they’d been to the doctors that morning so I doubt it had been 24 hours.

the whole thing is worrying me to be honest since I have little ones who seem to have rubbish immune systems with this kind of things so maybe I’m more sensitive to it being this particular illness

People aren’t just idiots. They’re selfish idiots but we have seen this highlighted time and time again over the last 3 years.

No I wouldn’t take a child with a Strep A or a fever to be Santa.

There's a case in our school and the school haven't informed parents. I only know because a friend of mine works there.

My dd also had strep and school have not said anything, I guess they dont want to start a panic over a handful of cases?!

I don't think they have to unless it progresses to scarlet fever

No, of course you wouldn’t do this. It’s incredibly selfish

My kid has Scarlet Fever currently. In Ireland so slightly different. I would take her to see Santa today as shes been 48hrs on antibiotics (8 days left to go) and is perky. But no way would i take her sick, or before the 24hrs.
I told school. Said if they want to notify parents in her class i have no issue. They havent yet. Tossing up whether to put it in class whatsapp myself.

We have had an "outbreak" of Scarlet Fever at school and the school sent out notification via the UKHSA (new public health name). As an outbreak can be classed as 2 or more confirmed cases we have no idea if it was 2 or 25 cases in the school. This was about 4 weeks ago now before the recent press.

Strep A is not a notifiable disease. Scarlet Fever is. That will be the difference in some schools not telling parents about cases.

Just checked and interestingly Scarlet Fever isnt notifiable in Ireland.

I’d guess so.

DDs school was v quiet this morning. Lots of parents have decided to keep children off (there were only 16 in from dds class of 30
yesterday, the ones who were there didn’t know what was going on).

I only know a few parents but they said they are keeping children off just in case. But that happens here - it’s odd, people here keep their children home for any reason, I’ve never known anything like it since living here. It’s in the (shitty) ofsted report about very high absences.

School are sending out emails saying there have been no reported cases in school, please send your children in.

(Sorry to derail a bit).

That is absolutely ridiculous. Do they not understand that Strep A and Scarlet Fever have been around for centuries? This is not a new illness! That poor school. When will the parents send them back? After winter is over? After Christmas? Never as strep A isn't going anywhere!

I meant children were off on Friday, sorry. Toddler didn’t let me sleep last night!

God knows. But it seems to be a thing here with every thing. My sister in law teaches at another local school, same there.

I got an email this morning saying there's been a confirmed case of scarlet fever at school. My child is completely well but I'm planning on calling the gp if he develops any symptoms, whereas usually I would just wait and see for a few days with a sore throat or fever. It is worrying but I think most children should be fine as long as they have antibiotics soon enough.