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Daughter with pneumonia, how long to return to school?

4 replies

CelesteM · 27/02/2023 09:12

Hi everyone! My 11yr old unfortunately caught “cruise cough” on our recent summer holiday early January touring New Zealand. We all had it for a week or two, a strange virus we picked up on the ship, nausea, low fever and that horrible cough that doesn’t seem to stop! We all recovered after a week or so, however my daughter is still coughing after 6 weeks, and just over a week ago our doctor diagnosed her with pneumonia (an earlier visit another GP advised it was just a viral cough and it will get better after 4-6 weeks!). It seems mild, as her fever only lasted a day or too after starting antibiotics. A week later the cough still continues as before and our doctor gave her a second course of antibiotics Saturday and said she will need a chest X-ray this Friday if it doesn’t seem better. She seems much happier, her face has lost that grey pallor, eating ok after losing her appetite last week. I’m now concerned about when she can return to school. The doctor said no sport or dancing this week, but to send her to school if she seems well enough. She went in a few days ago and was sent home at midday as she felt tired. I sent her today after 3 days at home resting and again she came home at lunch. I would prefer her to stay home and rest, however she does seem quite well and to be honest very bored being at home now 11 days. Does anyone have any experience with this? I welcome any advice as this is our first experience of pneumonia at home. Thank you!

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RudsyFarmer · 27/02/2023 09:15

My child had pneumonia but I don’t remember it dragging on for longer than a few weeks. It was pre covid so it’s a bit of a blur. See what the results of the scan are and go from there. It sounds pretty worrying and I’d be concerned she could pick up another bug from school. Any chance of home study while she recovers?

SummerHouse · 27/02/2023 09:18

The thing is, everyone will have a varying experience. I would send her to school and if she is tired by lunchtime, she comes home. This seems to hit the balance between not keeping her off unnecessarily and not pushing it too far when she is still recovering. How does she feel about it? Although I know mine would be voting for staying at home indefinitely so their opinion would be taken with a pinch of salt.

CelesteM · 27/02/2023 09:20

Thanks@RudsyFarmer ! I will keep her home tomorrow and email her teacher for some work to do at home. I think the school prefers her at home as she does cough throughout the day and also she feels a bit embarrassed. She has a school camp coming up in 3 weeks travelling on the plane interstate and I would hate for her to miss out!!

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CelesteM · 27/02/2023 09:23

Thanks@SummerHouse LOL yes she does enjoy staying at home! They got use to it (and spoilt) during covid lockdowns! I think I will try again this Wednesday for the morning classes as they have sport all afternoon and she can’t join in anyway. I’m just wondering if anyone knew how long pneumonia normally lasts?

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