Hand foot and mouth in nursery

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I am after opinions from multiple groups / sides please

• if you work at a nursery - does your setting allow children to attend with hand foot and mouth ?

• parents - if your child has hand foot and mouth - are you inclined to want to care for them in the comfort of their home or send them to nursery ?

Those of you that work in a nursery that allows children with hand foot and mouth to attend - how do you feel about this - does it bother you ?

What are your thoughts on staff wellbeing - staff immunity / staff exposure etc ?

If you work at a nursery or own a nursery and dont allow children to attend with hand foot and mouth - what are the reasons for this please

Many thanks all

my LO has had hand foot and mouth and it was brutal. Mouth ulcers and throat sores are horrible! Not eating and screaming in pain all the time. Our nursery doesn’t allow kids in with hand foot and mouth but I wouldn’t have sent mine in anyway, not like that, much prefer to comfort at home! And would not want to risk passing it on to other kids. I didn’t know any nurseries did allow it?!

I’m a childminder so very different from a nursery however I don’t let children with HFM attend. Some kids, and adults, become extremely poorly due to it. There is no official exclusion period however I have it clearly in my policies which I explain to parents fully. I would rather not risk the other children becoming ill and if I get HFM and become ill I will have to close which isn’t helpful for my earnings nor the families who have to source alternate care.

I wouldn’t send my kids to school if they had HFM as they would be better staying home and being cared for.

Im really surprised that they still haven’t given an official exclusion as it’s stupidly contagious and, as mentioned, causes some people to become really poorly.

I know that some childminders still accept kids with it as do some nurseries, preschools and schools. This is mainly due to the lack of official exclusion.

Once diagnosed as HFM children can go to nursery.

Sent both of mine in, they felt fine so no reason not to go in, they were already contagious before we knew it was HFM

Our nursery follows the NHS guidance so doesn't exclude for HF&M.

parents - if your child has hand foot and mouth - are you inclined to want to care for them in the comfort of their home

Depends how unwell they are. Mine have never had it to my knowledge, but I know a friend's son was pretty miserable. I don't send mine in if they're clearly feeling rubbish, whatever the cause. But if they're feeling fine (which I assume is perfectly possible?) then I'd be fine sending them in.

I didn’t know any nurseries did allow it?!

It's because the gov and NHS guidance on exclusions for illnesses says there is no need.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-protection-in-schools-and-other-childcare-facilities/children-and-young-people-settings-tools-and-resources#exclusion-table

DD1 had almost no symptoms, just a couple of tiny blisters on her hands.

DD2 was super unwell, ulcers in her mouth, temperature, couldn't eat, etc.

So I would have sent one in and not the other.

DD had it when she was 19 month old, she was in hospital for 48 hours. Mouth and throat ulcers meaning she couldn't eat or drink. She caught it from the childminders and the child she caught it off was fine, no symptoms at all. I didn't send her until she was fully better.

When my toddler had it, we kept her home while she was actually unwell, temperature, off her food etc. Once she got over that and was running about as normal, we sent her back. In an ideal world, she'd stay off longer to avoid spreading it, but neither of us have the kind of jobs that you can easily take time off from and we'd just had chicken pox which she had to stay off for so the goodwill was well and truly used up! Nursery don't exclude and were happy to accept her. They seemed surprised we'd kept her off as long as we did tbh

Our nursery was "Children with hand, foot and mouth disease can be admitted to a nursey or school if the child is otherwise healthy, fever-free, and the general condition is unaffected, and it can participate in activities as usual.".

We allow children with hand, foot and mouth disease to attend as long as they are well enough to join in. We've had two outbreaks in two years. DS used to attend the nursery and I was always worried he would catch it (never did).
I would have preferred for there to be an exclusion period but I was told there's no need. Parents were always aware of the various illnesses going round the nursery as we put a sign on the doors (eg there have been x number of causes of HFM in the nursery).

NHS guidelines were written primarily with older children in mind not preschool that mouth toys don't have any hygiene rules and are not sat at desks letting them in means bugs will spread more.

I think there should be guidelines for a period of not coming in given how awful it was for my LO and other children I know that had it 😢
also why would nurseries be ok with having kids in crying all day with mouth ulcers and throat sores 😭

Ours allow them in, in line with the NHS guidelines.

We've had it a few times across two DC. Sometimes it's been mild and they've gone in once we're sure it's not chickenpox, other times they've felt miserable and been home. Same as most viral illnesses really.

I doubt they'd would have an upset child in, it's just that it's not an automatic exclusion.

Like a cold, they don't automatically have to stay home with a cold but our nursery won't take them if they've got a temp, or are obviously unwell/unhappy etc.

I think it's because once they're symptomatic the contagious period has largely passed so there's no advantage in keeping symptomatic but well children off. Unlike, say, chickenpox or noro where an exclusion does help slow the spread.

It's because it's so contagious by the time symptoms show there's little point excluding children and it can take weeks to clear. Most as long as the child is well enough to join in with normal activities can go in.

Thanks all , i appreciate your replies

Not sure if you have a child with HFM but be prepared for your to be unwell.

I was laid up for 3 days with it, felt like walking in glass and I was completely exhausted.

Baby was fine but we were asked to keep her off until we were all back to normal