This is very hard to work with because some children have allergies and do have runny noses for long periods of time. I refer families to get their child checked out by a pediatrician. The runny nose can lead to swollen tonsils and adenoids and followed by a middle ear infection. Pediatrician's can also work with the families to find over the counter medications that can help dry the nose so they do not run as much.
During cold and flu season I send out messages about how important it is to keep their children home when they are showing symptoms like runny nose and coughs. That we all depend on each other to keep the children healthy . We recognize that work pressures are often a problem, so we also encourage families to create a backup plan for mild illness recovery.
As a courtesy, I will call the parents ahead of time and say we are watching their child carefully for further symptom development, so they may want to try and schedule a doctor visit to have their child checked out. That way they know ahead of time the child is not feeling well and we will be calling for a pick up if their symptoms do not improve or get worse.
Since the pandemic began, the pediatricians are regularly testing the children for COVID, strep throat and flu and send a note back with instructions on when the child the can return to group care on a certain date.
We also send children home if they do not feel well and are lethargic. They may not have any solid symptoms of an infection--diarrhea, runny nose, cough, rash or a fever but if they are so low energy that they do not want to get up and participate in the day's activities they need to go home to rest.
Chris Webster
May Children's Center at Brazosport College
Lake Jackson, TX
------------------------------
Christine Webster
Director
Brazosport College Children's Center
LAKE JACKSON TX
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 11-04-2021 02:23 AM
From: Shonna Clark
Subject: Excluding children with the common cold
hello all,
I am trying very hard to get on top of a classroom that has passed around the common cold virus, for over a month. Is it unreasonable for me to ask that parents bring their children with no symptoms? Dry nose and little to no cough? I'm worried my staff will go down and then what?
Thanks in advance.
------------------------------
Shonna Clark
Director
Altadena Children's Center
Altadena CA
------------------------------