Page 6 | Strep A in school

EUwannabe · 2022-12-08T15:30:14+00:00

So- I’m not on either side of the fence on this at all but would love to know what others would do. AIBU to keep my primary child off school now a Step A case has been confirmed in the school? X

nothingleftttt · 10/12/2022 09:18

@DontMakeMeShushYou
Your child and many others survive due to intensive medical care and medicine. The current issue is that the NHS is overwhelmed and if children are having to wait to long for treatment or the medicines they need are in short supply then a higher percentage will not survive.
That is the concern here. No one knows how an illness can impact an individual. child a and child b can present the same in the initial stage of the infection. but one could bounce back over 24 hrs while the other could become seriously unwell.
if 2 children are ill then the GP can decide on a wait and see approach or treat both children. when the infection is rampant they isnt enough meds or medical professionals to treat everyone. so some children will not get the meds/care they need. Imagine the outcome if your child had be turned away from hospital and not had the care they needed to get better.

MilkyWaytoday · 10/12/2022 09:28

More kids dying if this than Covid but they lock down for Covid? I don’t agree with lockdowns but maybe quarantine for kids who have been near the affected child? I wouldn’t send my children to school in your situation.

Teder · 10/12/2022 15:24

MilkyWaytoday · 10/12/2022 09:28

More kids dying if this than Covid but they lock down for Covid? I don’t agree with lockdowns but maybe quarantine for kids who have been near the affected child? I wouldn’t send my children to school in your situation.

It’s not comparable. Covid was a novel virus and therefore, we didn’t know much about it. It was mutating also. We had no treatments. We know about Strep A, which is bacterial, and it can be very successfully treated in the mild stages. The medical profession has enough knowledge to know how the infection works, the symptoms and the progression.
Fortunately, Strep A is not going to wipe out so many health professionals that we won’t have a functioning health service for all other illnesses and accidents - this was a huge issue during covid. Unfortunately, this is affecting children and it’s very sad and very scary. However, we don’t have an issue that a child who had a serious accident might not get an paediatric ICU bed because they’re full with Strep A patients, like Covid. Well, any more than the usual horrific winter bed pressures but that’s another issue. Parents must be vigilant and sensible but scaremongering won’t help.

EasterIssland · 10/12/2022 15:39

MilkyWaytoday · 10/12/2022 09:28

More kids dying if this than Covid but they lock down for Covid? I don’t agree with lockdowns but maybe quarantine for kids who have been near the affected child? I wouldn’t send my children to school in your situation.

As their education and mental health hasn’t been damaged enough after lockdown and self isolation lets damage it all for another illness we’ve got treatment for

Maybebabyno2 · 10/12/2022 15:47

From what I overheard I the pharmacy today, its getting hold of the antibiotics which is going to be the issue. The bloke infront of me was picking up a prescription for his child who had it and they turned him away. They said they only knew one pharmacy in the area that had stock but their last update was mid day yesturday so may no longer have it. I wasn't that worried before and hearing this has really freaked me out!

DontMakeMeShushYou · 10/12/2022 16:30

nothingleftttt · 10/12/2022 09:18

@DontMakeMeShushYou
Your child and many others survive due to intensive medical care and medicine. The current issue is that the NHS is overwhelmed and if children are having to wait to long for treatment or the medicines they need are in short supply then a higher percentage will not survive.
That is the concern here. No one knows how an illness can impact an individual. child a and child b can present the same in the initial stage of the infection. but one could bounce back over 24 hrs while the other could become seriously unwell.
if 2 children are ill then the GP can decide on a wait and see approach or treat both children. when the infection is rampant they isnt enough meds or medical professionals to treat everyone. so some children will not get the meds/care they need. Imagine the outcome if your child had be turned away from hospital and not had the care they needed to get better.

It takes a special kind of narcissist to post this sort of response to someone who has direct experience of the infection. Do you think I didn't notice the intensive care, the endless medications, the plethora of wires and tubes? What on earth made you think Imagine the outcome if your child had be turned away from hospital and not had the care they needed to get better. would be an appropriate thing to say? To someone who has genuinely been in the position of being told their child might not make it through, or might be left with physical or mental disabilities? Give your head a wobble.

Yes, obviously I am well aware that there is currently a supply problem with some antibiotics. I'm well aware of the potential consequences of that. Feel free to explain how hand-wringing, hyperbole and exaggeration will help that situation.

Anyway, I've had enough of being patronised and talked down to by people who have substantially less experience of this illness than I do. You carry on. I'm bowing out.

Retsina24 · 10/12/2022 16:33

One of my good friends works in a pharmacy here and has said there's definitely a shortage of antibiotics around us. We are in an area with no serious cases and low confirmed cases.
This definitely worries me.
I was happy for my kids to be in school during lockdown (keyworker) and didn't overly worry but I'd keep them out now for a few weeks if I could til the antibiotics situation hopefully settles down.

Teder · 10/12/2022 16:59

@DontMakeMeShushYou I’m sorry you’ve been patronised and ignored when what you’ve said has been very measured and sensible.
It seems some people thrive on drama and don’t realise now utterly traumatic it is for parents, like you, who’ve watched their child go through such a serious illness. I was the child in this situation and my mum had PTSD from it. It was such a painful time for everyone.

nothingleftttt · 10/12/2022 17:38

@DontMakeMeShushYou
Excuse me you also have no idea of our experience - my child has also been in Intensive care and this is why I personally would prefer others don't have to go through what we have. give your own head a wobble. if parents are worried they absolutely should seek medical advice.

Beebz · 10/12/2022 18:24

Retsina24 · 10/12/2022 16:33

One of my good friends works in a pharmacy here and has said there's definitely a shortage of antibiotics around us. We are in an area with no serious cases and low confirmed cases.
This definitely worries me.
I was happy for my kids to be in school during lockdown (keyworker) and didn't overly worry but I'd keep them out now for a few weeks if I could til the antibiotics situation hopefully settles down.

This is exactly how I feel too. I'm sending them in for a couple more days and then I am pulling them out. I'm desperately hoping that the antibiotic situation improves over the Christmas break.

containsnuts · 11/12/2022 08:22

My DCs have had constant illness since September. DC7 is just recovering from the worst yet - a full week of 40°c fever, night in A&E and week of antibiotics (tonsillitis don't know what bacteria). Now I've got my first fever in adult life and feel dreadful. I hear loads of kids in school are off with something but I don't know what. Flu, covid, strep A, or other, I'm tempted to keep DCs home next week - can't cope with another illness just now. We need a break!

Lougle · 11/12/2022 09:39

We need a balance. Parents need to be sensible and assess their children, but also reassured that if they do call for help, help will be there.

DDs 2&3 both have fever, cough, sore throat and lethargy. Right now, I'm happy that they are having a relatively mild illness (although they both say they feel worse than when they had COVID and they felt terrible then). I'll manage them with comfort measures and paracetamol.

We can't all go to the doctor. It will overwhelm the system. The challenge is making sure that the right people do go to the doctor, are seen, are diagnosed, and are treated.

Teder · 11/12/2022 12:31

nothingleftttt · 10/12/2022 17:38

@DontMakeMeShushYou
Excuse me you also have no idea of our experience - my child has also been in Intensive care and this is why I personally would prefer others don't have to go through what we have. give your own head a wobble. if parents are worried they absolutely should seek medical advice.

There’s a huge difference between a parent with an unwell child wanting to seek reassurance from a doctor (usual and understandable - most parents would do this!) and removing an otherwise healthy child from school because they ‘might’ contract an infection.

Reindeersnooker · 11/12/2022 14:57

Lougle · 11/12/2022 09:39

We need a balance. Parents need to be sensible and assess their children, but also reassured that if they do call for help, help will be there.

DDs 2&3 both have fever, cough, sore throat and lethargy. Right now, I'm happy that they are having a relatively mild illness (although they both say they feel worse than when they had COVID and they felt terrible then). I'll manage them with comfort measures and paracetamol.

We can't all go to the doctor. It will overwhelm the system. The challenge is making sure that the right people do go to the doctor, are seen, are diagnosed, and are treated.

At what point will you not be happy? Unless you're a medic, it's subjective and we can't all copy you. If it's a fever that doesn't come down with medicine or particularly severe lethargy, they should be seen. Don't be complacent if you're not a medic.

Lougle · 11/12/2022 15:46

Reindeersnooker · 11/12/2022 14:57

At what point will you not be happy? Unless you're a medic, it's subjective and we can't all copy you. If it's a fever that doesn't come down with medicine or particularly severe lethargy, they should be seen. Don't be complacent if you're not a medic.

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I won't be happy if they can't do essential activities with some effort. If they're still able to eat, drink, use the loo, move about, they're ok. I do have a background in healthcare, though, so I'm pretty confident in well Vs unwell.

nothingleftttt · 11/12/2022 18:41

@Teder
I agree. But if parents want to and can remove their children from school and possibly reduce the risk of child catching the infection right now... they should be able to do this. This also has the potential of possibly reducing demand on meds needed if it breaks/slows the spread, which maybe will allow supply chains to catch up with demand
Those who don't want to that's fine too. During covid one child was shielded and so we did remove the children from school during high spread times. This was right in our situation. as things stand we are not doing this now 1 reasons no reported shortages in our area, and the child who was shielded condition is more stable.
But yes I have concerns and I understand both those who will want to remove the children from school and those who dont want to.

Beebz · 11/12/2022 21:35

nothingleftttt · 11/12/2022 18:41

@Teder
I agree. But if parents want to and can remove their children from school and possibly reduce the risk of child catching the infection right now... they should be able to do this. This also has the potential of possibly reducing demand on meds needed if it breaks/slows the spread, which maybe will allow supply chains to catch up with demand
Those who don't want to that's fine too. During covid one child was shielded and so we did remove the children from school during high spread times. This was right in our situation. as things stand we are not doing this now 1 reasons no reported shortages in our area, and the child who was shielded condition is more stable.
But yes I have concerns and I understand both those who will want to remove the children from school and those who dont want to.

Exactly and I massively resent the fact I'm not able to make this decision without facing fines and legal repercussions. Its obscene to fine parents for wanting to keep their children out of school under these circumstances.

Teder · 11/12/2022 21:54

I think it’s obscene to fine parents of medically vulnerable children/families. Healthy children are at low risk if there’s an outbreak of Strep A but ditto chicken pox and norovirus. Where do we draw the line?
If there’s a good reason for them needing to be protected, of course the parent shouldn’t be fined.

Teder · 11/12/2022 21:55

nothingleftttt · 11/12/2022 18:41

@Teder
I agree. But if parents want to and can remove their children from school and possibly reduce the risk of child catching the infection right now... they should be able to do this. This also has the potential of possibly reducing demand on meds needed if it breaks/slows the spread, which maybe will allow supply chains to catch up with demand
Those who don't want to that's fine too. During covid one child was shielded and so we did remove the children from school during high spread times. This was right in our situation. as things stand we are not doing this now 1 reasons no reported shortages in our area, and the child who was shielded condition is more stable.
But yes I have concerns and I understand both those who will want to remove the children from school and those who dont want to.

It sounds like you have a child with serious medical vulnerabilities. I completely understand why you’d want to protect them. 💐

isitginoclock · 11/12/2022 22:22

May not be a popular choice but I am keeping DC off tomorrow. 3 cases of strep a in one class, and they're all quite poorly, 1 in the other but with loads more off "sick" (so not sure what it is but a pretty horrid bug by sounds of it)
I just don't want to risk it, especially as last week of term and they'll probably just be watching Xmas films.