It’s just allergies- question for daycares

[Anonymous]

How are you dealing with colds/allergies in the times of corona? Cold and allergies have the same symptoms as corona. Runny nose, sneezing, coughing. How are you choosing to exclude kids? Are you simply excluding based on the symptoms? Do you have to have a doctor note to return? Are you requiring a Covid test? I know a lot of this is decided by the state but are you using any judgment or simply going by the regulations that they set?

[Anonymous]

Well, temperature check for one thing. You seldom don't get fevers (even low grade ones) with allergies.

Snotty noses that are clear are usually just allergies.

Start your kid now with Claritan, Zyrtek, or your choice of OTC b/c they usually take about 2 weeks to kick-in and alleviate/eliminate the symptoms.

As for a common cold: you have a fever STAY HOME if it's not covid. That should be a given (even before this pandemic).

You can get a rapid covid test to prove your kid is covid-free and it's just a cold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, temperature check for one thing. You seldom don't get fevers (even low grade ones) with allergies.

Snotty noses that are clear are usually just allergies.

Start your kid now with Claritan, Zyrtek, or your choice of OTC b/c they usually take about 2 weeks to kick-in and alleviate/eliminate the symptoms.

As for a common cold: you have a fever STAY HOME if it's not covid. That should be a given (even before this pandemic).

You can get a rapid covid test to prove your kid is covid-free and it's just a cold.

I thought the new guidance said two symptoms which did not have to include a fever.

[Anonymous]

Colds are tricky, since some are also caused by coronaviruses, same as COVID-19.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are you dealing with colds/allergies in the times of corona? Cold and allergies have the same symptoms as corona. Runny nose, sneezing, coughing. How are you choosing to exclude kids? Are you simply excluding based on the symptoms? Do you have to have a doctor note to return? Are you requiring a Covid test? I know a lot of this is decided by the state but are you using any judgment or simply going by the regulations that they set?

My son has a runny nose starting last Friday. It started after he woke up from nap so I emailed his school letting them know and asking how we should proceed for the following week. They said if no fever, he isnt acting off, sleeping and eating well he is fine to come back. I sent him Monday but then I started to feel off so I went to get a COVID test. Received a negative result a day later. Neither of us have fevers, I have horrible allergies so he probably inherited that from me as well, we only cough at night when laying down or upon waking (typical of PND). We both sneeze 100x worse outside or when we have the windows open.

They wear masks while indoors except at snack time. My kid wears a mask 100% compliance, we dont have any issues with him taking it off and neither does his school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Colds are tricky, since some are also caused by coronaviruses, same as COVID-19.

Exactly. That’s why I’m asking because some are so similar that parents might not keep their kids at home. Sometimes it really is just allergies.

[Anonymous]

IN DC the rule is still one symptom to exclude, but "runny nose" has been taken OFF the health check list. Congestion is still there, but runny nose isn't.

ALSO, from DC OSSE licensing for childcare centers, most updated guidance:
*****
Note: Children or staff with pre-existing health conditions that present with specific COVID-19 – like
symptoms should not be excluded from entering the building on the basis of those specific symptoms if
a health care provider has provided written or verbal documentation that those specific symptoms are
not due to COVID-19.
*****

ANYONE can find this guidance here
https://osse.dc.gov/page/guidance-and-resources-covid-19-related-closures-and-recovery#childcare

[Anonymous]

So children with just a clear runny nose - no other symptoms can come to childcare in Maryland?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So children with just a clear runny nose - no other symptoms can come to childcare in Maryland?

That is my understanding. They must have two symptoms to be excluded. So clear runny nose and sneezing gets you excluded but just a clear runny nose does not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So children with just a clear runny nose - no other symptoms can come to childcare in Maryland?

That is my understanding. They must have two symptoms to be excluded. So clear runny nose and sneezing gets you excluded but just a clear runny nose does not.

I would hope that's not a real-world example. I would hope daycare providers would not count a runny nose and sneezing as two separate symptoms for these purposes. Use some common sense people.

[Anonymous]

Our daycare is sending anyone with symptoms of anything home and requiring kids not return until they are symptom free. It sucks but I'm glad.
If it's allergies, then you should be able to get a doctor's note. Easy peasy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So children with just a clear runny nose - no other symptoms can come to childcare in Maryland?

That is my understanding. They must have two symptoms to be excluded. So clear runny nose and sneezing gets you excluded but just a clear runny nose does not.

I would hope that's not a real-world example. I would hope daycare providers would not count a runny nose and sneezing as two separate symptoms for these purposes. Use some common sense people.

Right? When you sneeze, snot often comes out of the nose. They go hand in hand.

Allergies are terrible right now- need to ask my ped about allergy meds for 5yo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our daycare is sending anyone with symptoms of anything home and requiring kids not return until they are symptom free. It sucks but I'm glad.
If it's allergies, then you should be able to get a doctor's note. Easy peasy.

I feel like by these standards, my snotty toddler will be excluded more often than not. At that point, why bother? More trouble than it’s worth.

[Anonymous]

My daughter had her first bout of allergy flare up for the season. I took her to the doctor. I told them any other year I wouldn’t have even thought to bring her in. They wrote a note saying she presented with allergies and I gave that to daycare to cover myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our daycare is sending anyone with symptoms of anything home and requiring kids not return until they are symptom free. It sucks but I'm glad.
If it's allergies, then you should be able to get a doctor's note. Easy peasy.

I feel like by these standards, my snotty toddler will be excluded more often than not. At that point, why bother? More trouble than it’s worth.

I'd raise bloody hell if they were going beyond what the "sick" criteria was as laid out in the enrollment agreement.