Conjunctivitis - do you keep off school / nursery?

[HairyMaclary]

Both DS's have come down with conjunctivitis - DS2 had it on Friday and while not 'ill' was under the weather - I kept him off his nursery session as he had a sponsored mile walk that day and it was just too much. It's nearly cleared up but not quite, DS1 has now come down with it. I know it's very contagious but is it something to keep them off school for? Both are still 'coldy' but not enough to keep them off school and nursery tomorrow by itself. What is the MN wisdom on this???
Thanks!

Yes you should always keep them off school with conjunctivitis.

I would because it is SO contagious

Although it doesn't generally make them 'ill' it's not pleasant and is a right bugger getting eye-drops in

Poor things. I would keep them off school. It's very contagious, and unpleasant for the sufferer. Let them recover in peace, and protect their classmates.

you have to keep them off as it is so contagious, i imagine they wouold be sent home from school /nursery anyway

school/nursery will definitely not want them there with it. they'd more than likely get sent back home anyway.

Thanks all - that was my first thought too but looking on line at NHS direct it says that children should not be kept off for 'mild contagious diseases' like colds and conjunctivitis. I think I'll err on the side of caution though - DS1 has had 5 days off school ill already this term!!!

'ohhh it is sooooooo infectious'.
No more than your common cold.

You need not keep the child at home and the nursery has no grounds to exclude a child with mild/viral conjuctivitis. GPs in the UK will prescribe drops if it does not go away after a couple days (drops are for over 2y old but they still prescribe even to younger babies for some reason).

You can provide nursery with a beaker of homemade chamomile and they can clean baby's eye(s) throughout the day using cotton wool.

We pay dear money to nursery, I wont put up with their 'send child home first thing' solution. Do it once and they'll start calling you with every little thing that happens.

My DDs nursery will not accept children with conjunctivitis. It is extremely contagious and can be a bugger to clear. I had to take time off last year after a particulalry nasty bout that my DD shared with me which inflamed my eyes no end.

It's worth speaking to your pharmacist about medication - you can get a cream as well as drops, so might not have to go to your GP for it.

You should NOT keep them off school - see below

www.cks.nhs.uk/conjunctivitis_infective/management/detailed_answers/acute_infective_conjunctivitis/advice_about_children_in_school

well i think you SHOULD keep them off!! just because it is so contagious and can turn really nasty.. my ds had a really awful case when he was 9 months it took ages to clear up he looked like he had been in some kind of fight, his eyes swelled, they constantly poured out green discharge and all his blood vessels burst in both eyes, it was very uncomfortable for him..

and despite what peple say some schools and nurserys do have the policy that children are not to attend with conjunctivitis, so really checking with them is your first port of call if you decide you want to send them in

Well interestingly I only posted my link because I had looked it up this morning when DD woke up with a pink and sticky eye. I took her to school and was an hour and a half later was called and asked to collect her by the nurse and told she needed to be given antibiotic drops before coming back.

I am actually rather pissed off as this contradicts all current medical advice both in terms of excluding her and using antibiotics for straightforward cases.

I called my GP who said, and I quote "That's outrageous, that's ridiculous, point them to the Health Protection Agency"

So I guess schools and nurseries aren't up to date with current policy - which they really should be. Yes, it's contagious and unpleasant but so is a cold. They are both minor, self limiting illnesses that rarely have complications.

Oh and I will be taking her back to school tomorrow and not using antibiotics drops.

I know this is an old thread but I came across it and thought I'd throw my two cents in. I find medical advice fickle and would go with the rules of your nursery/school that you've decided to put your child in. In my country, we absolutely do not send our kids in with pinkeye and I happen to agree with that. It's very contagious, especially with children who will rub their eyes without realizing and won't think to wash their hands after. Yes, it's not a major ailment but it doesn't feel good, it rarely is just pinkeye (usually there's an upper respiratory element) and it's a pain to get rid of as it tends to go through the entire family (and sometimes back again). I know the NHS and the HPA say don't bother keeping them home but I'm a bit tired of living in a world where we don't give a hoot about the community, just our little family. Keep your kids home because I don't want my family to get their bugs and I'll kindly do the same. I'm a full time working mum by the way, paying outrageous childcare fees per month and I still manage to do this. The other thing to remember is that school sickness policies are there to protect the children AND the staff. You don't want your children's teachers off poorly too often else their education will be adversely affected. www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/eyes/Pages/Conjunctivitis-Pink-Eye.aspx