MN wisdom please - should I take ds2 to school tomorrow?

[Greensleeves]

I need some lovely MN advice please

have tried NHS direct but there is an answering machine saying they are only dealing with urgent cases and to look up symptoms online

ds2 has a fine pinky red rash all over his torso and bits on his legs and face, mostly fine dots but a few patches too

he doesn't feel hot or ill although I think one of the glands in his neck is swollen

he was unusually tired yesterday and fell asleep on the grass at a play day we went to, which isn't like him

but doesn't seem ill as such

could it be rubella? he had the MMR but not the booster. he's 5.

should I take him to school, or not?

could you get a drs appt tomorrow?

DD had this . Dr described it as non specific viralo rash but assumed it was measles. DD had a week off school. Her temp went up on day two but otherwise she was annoyingly bouncy but safer at home

viral not viralo which sounds Italian

If his glands are swollen that suggests there is an infection of some kind. I would keep him off as a precaution. Rubella is a possibility but not definate. If he is well in himself just keep an eye on him, hope it clears up soon.

I could try and get a dr's appt tomorrow,(that's a whole other thread, grrr) but I need to decide now whether we are proceeding as normal in the morning - cos it's the first day back to school and I will need to let my boss know NOW if I can't be there (she will not be impressed)

If you think it might be rubella then absolutely not - and keep him away from women of childbearing age too.

Greenie

If it were me I would keep DD at home because a) she has not been vaccinated and b) there is a child getting chemo in her school. So I tend to the 'better safe than sorry' side of swollen glands/rash.

But tbh I think keeping at home or sending him in are equally valid. So flip a coin...

I know seeker, I want to be on the safe side really

lots of pregnant mums/immuno-compromised children will be coming and going from the school

but could it be rubella? he had the MMR but not the booster, I don't know whether he can catch it or not

and is it acceptable to keep a child off school when you're not sure whether they are actually ill or not?

The MMR only works on 90% of children so it could be rubella.

It is acceptable to keep children off if you are concerned.

DD sometimes vomitted because of her asthma but I always kept her at home those days rather than risk sending her in bug ridden. School have always approved.
I also took her in when she was obviouls fine , post lunch.

ok, thanks paggy et al

looks like I am stuck at home tomorrow then

poor you...

Post half term, with DD also off last Friday, I will be running down High Street with shirt over my head at about 9.15am...

(I love them really...)

grrr, dh is being wishywashy about keeping him home without KNOWING it's a bona fide illness

but I don't know how promptly we can get a gp appt until I ring up in the morning

and I have to tell my boss now if I am staying at home with him, so that she can arrange cover

AAAGGH! Shitehawks!

Go to a pharmacist tomorrow am and ask their advice. Did this with dd 2 months ago, they were very helpful. Hope little one feels better soon.

You're not keeping him off because he's ill - you're keeping him off because he might be carrying bugs which are potentially serious to other people.