http://health.nytimes.com/pages/health/index.html
When kids are feeling woozy or abnormal, the first instinct of a parent is to keep them home from school, says professor of pediatrics in a study recently released. Doctors, as a group, are strong believers in sending children to school. Doctor’s are more concerned about children unnecessarily missing school than about their posing an infection risk to their classmates says Dr. Caroline Breese Hall, a professor of pediatrics and medicine at the University of Rochester.
In a study by Dr. Hall, hospitalized babies were examined on how they did or did not transmit the virus to “sitters, touchers and cuddlers.” ‘The sitters’ were adults who sat in the room, more than three feet away from the infected baby. ‘The touchers’ came into the room when the baby wasn’t there and touched the area around the crib. And you can guess what the ‘cuddlers’ did. Results were as followed: The sitters didn’t catch the virus at all; the cuddlers did, and so did the touchers.
So then the question arises, how do you reduce infections? “The only thing we can really show well in infection control is hand washing,” Dr. Hall said. “Even for those viruses that are spread by aerosol”
The final message is keep your child home from school if there’s fever, or if the child does not feel well enough to participate.
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The first line of this blog made me smile and think that the quoted professor of pediatrics has no idea what runs through the minds of desperate working women. My kids had to share daycare/school with other sick kids who had been given the last minute ibuprofen dose to hide the fever. The best memory is the parent who sent her kid to school knowing that she had lice--that was fun! Did I mention that the teachers were often sick as well? Who wants to miss a day of pay? I wish this country had a different attitude concerning working parents; maybe allowing parents to work from home on those days their kids were sick would help. Obviously, teachers can't go around wiping off germ-infested surfaces all day, and asking little kids to wash their hands constantly? Hah! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI feel that kids should only stay home from school if they need a break (like an off day from work) or if they are running a fever. I feel this way because i missed a ton of days from school from faking sick. I was still able to stay on AB honor roll even though I missed like 15 days per quarter. I just hated school that much and still hate it that much. Keeping kids in classrooms will prevent them from dangerous activities at house alone or in the real world. Kids are more likely to hurt their selves at home when unattended by adult.
ReplyDeleteBoth of you guys make a very good point. Parents need to stay home with their kids when they are sick. But unfortunately that can't happen all the time. Because we as a society do this a lot, companies are starting to crack down a lot on sick leave. In regards to the children getting hurt at home, I agree with that as well. Not only do they get hurt, but when they go outside to play, there is the chance they could be abducted just like that kid out of Putnam County was. Great post.
ReplyDeleteThis article raises many good points and questions. Of course the doctors aren't worried about the children spreading viruses amound other children, more money for them right? it's parents like in Wendy's example, who send their kids to school/daycare knowing that they are contagious and puts the children and their families at risk as well. I believe it is sort of a catch 22. You want your child to understand that they cannot stay home whenever they don't feel like participating in social activities but, you also want to protect their health, and the health of others. I remember when i first moved to Florida. I went from a private catholic school, to a public school at the age of nine. I came up with every excuse in the book to go home because i was scared and didn't have any friends. My mother, (being the caring, nurturing sole that she is) always gave in to me. It took me a long time to realize i couldn't always weazel myself out of an uncomfortable situation. So as you see i have mixed feelings on this issue. Bottom line is, if your child is recognizably sick, call a sitter or call into work.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very good article and all parents should read it. I know when my daughter was younger, when she got sick she always wanted to go to school, and then I would get that call to come get her. The question is should I have stayed home with her in the first place?. Many times when they go to school sick they are spreading their germs around and most likely the other kids will catch it. It really isn't a safer way to keep the other kids from getting sick. There are so many children in one class and they are not always going to wash their hands. It is really hard for the parents, because they have to go to work and can't stay home with the child. But, if the child is running a high fever they should stay home with the child. It is hard and I know from experience you have to make that choice either to stay home, call a sitter or family member to come and sit with the child. Great post.
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