DS gets a taxi to school with other pupils. Last week he had a slight runny nose in the morning but seemed otherwise ok so I sent him in.
When he came home he was noticeably worse, runny nose and coughing. He was tired so I kept him home for two days - half way through the second day all his energy came back. He still had a slight cough and he is frequently reminded to cover his mouth. Given the speed of his recovery I assumed it was just a cold. I sent him into school. He came back a little tired but in good spirits.
Additionally the whole household caught it but not been ill for more than 2 days with cold symptoms. I’ve finally succumbed and it’s lasted for more like 4 days - I’ll probably be fine tomorrow. I have some body aches which is making me wonder if it is flu. I’ve had the flu jab too.
DSis says I shouldn’t have sent him back in, that he could still be spreading germs. She said it may not be a cold, it could have been flu but as he’s had the flu jab he might have had it relatively mild. She says I could have jeopardised other family Christmases.
Is DSis right? I’m generally of the view that if DS is over the worst of illness, has minimal symptoms and has energy then he can go to school. I looked up how long someone can be contagious after a cold/flu and it can be for 1-2 weeks after the symptoms have stopped, longer for kids, so it’s obviously not encouraged to keep him home that whole time. And coughs can linger for weeks after. But given how close it is to Christmas and the worry of flu at the moment, I was wondering if I had been wrong to send him, especially with a taxi full of other kids.
Obviously too late now, so I’m thinking ahead to next time.