chest infection - keep at home?

[migola]

DD has a chest infection following from a bad cold & cough for which she is now on anti-biotics. Should I keep away from playgroups?

thanks Pixie. she's actually fine though! playing and running around as normal . What I meant to ask was is it better to keep away to stop her from spreading germs or is it no worse than the other snotty nosed kids that are always there?

having said that pixie might just take her for a bit of fresh air instead, to stop her from overdoing it

Depends on the group. I kept DS (currently has a chest infection, antibiotics & steroids) away today as one of the organisers of our playgroup has a three-week-old baby that she brings with her. DS always wants to go and look at him and I thought it would be unfair if one of those lovely open-mouthed sneezes made the baby ill. But it depends on the lurgy really. If I kept him at home every time he had a cold we would never leave the house over the winter!

I wouldn't consider going to play groups, but at the same time wouldn't keep her locked up inside. A bit of fresh air is probably a sensible inbetween.

Hope she is better soon.

I had Dd at gp for this 2wks ago, he said no problem to go to nursery, not contagious. She was full of beans too despite a horrific cough, antib's etc, just had slightly quieter mornings (pm nursery)

As far as I'm aware it's just a cold that's developed into an infection. Her big sister had the same thing last week but hers was just a bog standard cold.
Fresh air it is then

hi there,

sorry not really an answer to your question - but can you or anyone else advise how you tell if there is a chest infection which needs antibiotics? I've always assumed that the child would act ill, but apparently not..

I'd stay away from the groups though, in case there are more vulnerable children there.

I think it needs someone to listen into their chest tholeon, we weren't sure and took DD to the GP just in case, he said her chest was "crackly"

I think if the child has a high temperature then there's a likelihood of their being an infection, and I think the only way to check is to listen to their chest as Caz said. Our GP said DD's chest was crackly too.

My other DD is coughing more than the one with the chest infection though, but it's not a hacking cough, and she (touch wood) has no temperature. Am I right in assuming it's 'just a cough'?

Will stay away from groups in case there are young babies or vulnerable children there

I wouldn't assume. DS very rarely gets a temp, he has been in hospital with a serious chest infection but no temp.

oh god another trip to the doctors tomorrow then. she's otherwise well though and not off her food at all, but has had this cough for a week now..

If she is otherwise well I wouldn't worry to much. The staff are always shocked at the lack of a temp with DS so I don't think its 'normal' to not have a temp.