Kid has flu; tell new-mom friend we just visited?

[Anonymous]

It may not make a difference, but err on the side of telling. Better to have info that you don’t need than lack info that you do.

[Anonymous]

YES! Tell the mother with a newborn! And party mom.

[Anonymous]

I would mention it but it is not a big deal. The mom made the choice to bring a newborn to the party. Baby could have also been exposed at the pediatricians or at the grocery store. You had no way of knowing your kid was about to get sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you actually not understand how high-risk flu is for an infant? A 2-month old?! What is wrong with you? CALL.

Is it necessary to be this rude? You know how people learn about things they weren't previously aware of? By asking!

At some point in your life you didn't know this info either.

Um, before I started babysitting at 16? Sure.

[Anonymous]

I’m an anxious person, and I’d rather not know, personally. I’d literally worry about it and WebMD it to death. If my kid was exposed and gets it, she gets it. But I don’t see how worrying about a maybe will help.

[Anonymous]

OP - how you would feel if the situation were reversed? Would you want to know? I'd definitely say something.

I got very sick with strep after my daughter's birthday party - I happened to be talking to one of the mom's whose kid was at the party and I told her how sick I was and she was like "oh, yeah my son had strep - I didn't think he was still contagious". Um thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would mention it but I think the overreaction here is a little over the top.

I mean, this time of year, anywhere I take my kid I assume he's been exposed to the flu and I keep my eye on him. I'm assuming that this mom is careful enough to consider the same if she has her baby around all these kids..

my point is, I would do it because it feels like the right thing to do but I don't think there's actually any benefit

There is definitely benefit. Tamiflu/Oseltamivir can be given as young as 2 weeks older, and the sooner, the better. If the baby develops a fever or other symptoms, he or she should be evaluated right away. Knowing the infant was exposed to flu makes the parent more likely to take in immediately and helps the clinician guide treatment effectively.

https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20121221/fda-approves-tamiflu-infants

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, tell her so she knows what to do if her baby gets sick. It's good of you to ask.

She's going to know what to do anyway. I advocate for telling, but any illness in a young baby is going to treated seriously. if the baby starts showing symptoms, the plan of action treatment isn't going to change if she knows or doesn't know that the baby may have been exposed. At this time of year, doesn't everybody assume, especially people with older kids, that exposure is always on the table? And certainly the doctor would assume it.

the only reason I bring this up is that I think it is crazy town that anybody would do anything differently for a sick baby whether or not they knew the baby was exposed. If my 2 month is ill or showing signs of illness, she's going in and getting tested regardless of what I know. I think that should be the de facto for everyone

The rapid tests for influenza are not 100% reliable. A known exposure is at a different point on the CDC decision tree than a possible exposure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m an anxious person, and I’d rather not know, personally. I’d literally worry about it and WebMD it to death. If my kid was exposed and gets it, she gets it. But I don’t see how worrying about a maybe will help.

You don't see how taking a NEWBORN BABY to a doctor at the first sign of a fever, suspecting flu with good cause, vs. spending 24 to 48 hours in wait-and-see mode?

OK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m an anxious person, and I’d rather not know, personally. I’d literally worry about it and WebMD it to death. If my kid was exposed and gets it, she gets it. But I don’t see how worrying about a maybe will help.

You don't see how taking a NEWBORN BABY to a doctor at the first sign of a fever, suspecting flu with good cause, vs. spending 24 to 48 hours in wait-and-see mode?

OK.

What mother is ignoring ANY fever in a newborn? What does the flu have to do with it?

[Anonymous]

I always appreciate a heads up. Not your fault, but good for other parents to keep an eye out for something they may otherwise dismiss