WWYD - Playdate Shows up With Pinkeye

[Anonymous]

oops, meant to say NOT under age 2 above, sorry.

[Anonymous]

Does it have to be a plague for you to be a responsible parent and keep others away from anything catchy?

Its just like those lazy parents who keep sending their children with lice to school, only to repeatedly get lice again themselves. Figure it out. They think they are spiting others, but they are only spiting themselves.

Dumb asses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think tone will be very important in your response, not angry but regretful. When she says "it probably isn't even pinkeye," you say "yeah, you never know with these things, but I have a couple important events/meetings/responsibilities later this week and I just can't risk it. I'm so sorry you came all the way out here."

And if it's a condition that would definitely exclude a child from school or daycare (fever, vomiting, pinkeye), I would not feel bad about saying something. The other mom should have told you what was going on in advance and let you make the call.

+1

I have a weak immune system due to chronic illness and I would make it about myself and not my kid, that I can't afford to take the risk. On the one hand I get that some kids get sick all the time and it's nothing, but that doesn't mean every family is fine with that approach. I get really sick with antibiotics and am therefore not sanguine about bacterial infections, even when they're completely treatable.

[Anonymous]

A friend did this to me. She invited us over for a play date when her kid had active pink eye. She said absolutely nothing. I was naive and did not realize what it was. Both me and my two year old had pink eye a day or so later. Ugh.

Since getting it once (for the first time as an adult), I have become more prone to getting it.

[Anonymous]

My son and I had pink eye for 2-3 weeks last year. It was viral and did NOT respond to drops. Don't assume that the drops will cure all cases of pink eye or stop the spread. I actually had vision problems for months afterward. I do not take pink eye lightly and would decline any play date where the friend has pink eye. It's not worth it. Pink eye is too often minimized.

[Anonymous]

Pink eye isn't a big deal. You were put in an awkward situation all the way around and your friend should have told you on the phone. Just beware. I think it would have been worse if the kid was running a fever/hacking/puking.

Signed a mom who has had the stomach bug in her house for a week...now that IS a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's pink eye, not the bubonic plaque. Buy some eye drops and get over it.

Do you also not let your children play with other kids with runny noses? Is that too much of a risk? Kids are germy little creatures and oh well.

See, you are a parent I want to avoid. Total lack of consideration for others.

If you are so carefree about pink eye, simply own up to it by letting the other parent know the situation BEfORE the play date (or whatever); this allows the other parent to bow out more gracefully if that's the route they wish to choose. Can you at least do that?? Let the other parent know whatever **contagious** illness is present?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son frequently gets what most people think is pink eye, but it's really a result of allergies.

+1

Not every red eye is contagious pink eye. Could be something else.

OP, Well, it followed a long cold (I know this because we spent many days setting up and cancelling dates due to illness). Both eyes were very red and goopy. And the other mom complained about how hard it was to wake her baby up from the nap b/c her eyes were so crusted over, and she hates washcloths. I always try to give the benefit of the doubt. However, there is really no doubt here!

Thank you for your suggestions. It sounds like about 1/3 of you don't even think pinkeye is a big deal. Interesting as daycare definitely advises kids with pinkeye stay home.

Believe me, I know how much of a big deal it is and I'm happy to keep my kid home if he actually had pink eye; but it's infuriating when I have to keep him home from school because of an allergy.

Not too long ago, I had what I thought was pink eye. It was flaming red and there was some discharge - classic, right? But the drops didn't work. Eventually a nurse practitioner gave me allergy drops, and the eye cleared up within an hour.

[Anonymous]

The other mom should have given OP a heads up before coming over. It's common courtesy and takes very little effort.

PP with the fractured-ribs husband: that's terrible!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she is on the eye drops, pink eye is not contagious after 24 hours. This is what our ped told us. Although if the child still has active eye goup, then that is NOT good.

Haven't read the thread through so hopefully someone has already corrected you. This is not accurate. only if the child has bacterial pinkeye is this true, and in most cases, the pediatrician does not swab to ascertain which type of conjunctivitis the child is suffering from. (Also, other things can give conjunctivitis, such as allergies, and this type is never contagious regardless of treatment). Viral pinkeye is contagious for as long as you are showing symptoms.

It does not sound like the mom in this instance had a diagnosis.

OP, I would have said "I wish you would have told me about the pinkeye. I'm sorry, we'll have to reschedule." I'm constantly perplexed as to how these parents think it's okay to bring a really contagious kid out for a playdate / school etc. Fine if you have a cold and no fever, that's life. But something that's known, as is conjunctivitis, to be extremely contagious? I'd be pissed. Becuase now OP's kid will have to miss school for the duration of HER symptoms. Uncool.

[Anonymous]

OP, it's not just kids. MY BOSS showed up with pinkeye. Two of his colleagues, including his direct report who asked him several times to go home and at the least to stop touching things on her desk, got it. One had to miss a family wedding because of it. I kept my distance from him and worked from home on day two so I didn't get it nor did my family. But I was still pissed. Newsflash: if you have pinkeye or your kids have pinkeye, stay home! And, if you have allergic conjunctivitis, tell people that a doctor has told you this.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/285325.page

[Anonymous]

the mom was beyond wrong to do that. however, i also think that you didn't do wrong by letting your daughter go, since she was already in the car and removing her might have caused a bit of a scene, not just with her but also between you and the mom who clearly has no respect for your child's health. i also think you would have been perfectly within your rights to risk that scene. just depends on you and what your tolerance is for scenes, i suppose.

however, i would definitely get some distance between yourself and this mom, immediately. she sounds like a nutjob. who the F allows their kid with pink eye to play with other kids?!? wrong. and if she was on the drops, she wouldn't have the goop anymore. trust me, we are pink eye veterans in our house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If she is on the eye drops, pink eye is not contagious after 24 hours. This is what our ped told us. Although if the child still has active eye goup, then that is NOT good.

Haven't read the thread through so hopefully someone has already corrected you. This is not accurate. only if the child has bacterial pinkeye is this true, and in most cases, the pediatrician does not swab to ascertain which type of conjunctivitis the child is suffering from. (Also, other things can give conjunctivitis, such as allergies, and this type is never contagious regardless of treatment). Viral pinkeye is contagious for as long as you are showing symptoms.

It does not sound like the mom in this instance had a diagnosis.

OP, I would have said "I wish you would have told me about the pinkeye. I'm sorry, we'll have to reschedule." I'm constantly perplexed as to how these parents think it's okay to bring a really contagious kid out for a playdate / school etc. Fine if you have a cold and no fever, that's life. But something that's known, as is conjunctivitis, to be extremely contagious? I'd be pissed. Becuase now OP's kid will have to miss school for the duration of HER symptoms. Uncool.

Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis have different symptoms. A swab by a ped isn't needed.
Viral = very red eye(s), usually affects both eyes, little to no drainage (which is watery, NOT goopy)
Bacterial = usually affects 1 or both eyes, yellow/green goopy drainage that results in the eye being "glued" shut in the morning.

[Anonymous]

Are you sure it was actually pink eye?

My DS has bad allergies with dogs and cats. He often has allergic reactions when other kids have a pet even if the pet is not present at school or at our house.

Our preschool called us saying that DS had pink eye. Was annoyed at the misdiagnosis. I'm sure they would have insisted that we take him home but DH is a doctor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pink eye isn't a big deal. You were put in an awkward situation all the way around and your friend should have told you on the phone. Just beware. I think it would have been worse if the kid was running a fever/hacking/puking.

Signed a mom who has had the stomach bug in her house for a week...now that IS a big deal.

Can you read? Do you not understand that it's a big deal for most working people who might have to cancel trips, pay extra for child care, take days off, etc?
How selfish!