HFM is a virus. It is contagious before the rash even appears. You get a rash, but its not really uncomfortable. Myself, child I nanny for and a few other kids we play with got it few months ago. It's really not that big of a deal. I agree, working with children, its just how it goes. Sometimes you get sick from the kids. If you are at a desk job, and the person next to you has a cold, do you ask your boss if you can leave? Probably not. HMF, is really nothing. In this profession you are bound to get pink eye, and impetigo too. It sucks, but not debilitating.

Um. You are a nanny. You risk catching illnesses in your line of work. If you can't be around a contagious disease you need a new love of work honey.

I also got HFM from a toddler I was nannying for last summer. Unfortunately, you're exposed to it even before any symptoms appear and certainly before the rash appears. Just hope you don't get it. The toddler's parents and brother didn't get it, so you never know. I think I got it because I was already sick with a cold at the time and my immune system was down.

a rash on the stomach isn't HFMD. calm down.

She's napping

Op: yes napping

Are you still with the contagious child, OP?

HFMD wasn't always contagious for adults, but it is now. I caught it last summer from a toddler I barely interacted with and was devastatingly sick for a week. I would absolutely not work with a child I thought had it, now that I know how bad the infection was both for me and the child (who needed her mom and not a nanny)

That's what I thought aswell! Except its strange that she has never ever has a rash before! And now has one 3 days after being in contact with a highly contagious family....

I understand that you wouldn't want to be exposed but just so you know, if this rash is HFMD you've already been exposed. It's most contagious at the beginning. Although I have to say I really don't think it ever presents with a rash on the tummy.

Can you call your own doctor/nurse and ask if you might be at risk under these circumstances? Of course they will say you are at risk if the child has it, even if it's not yet been confirmed.

Look, if it was me, I would immediately tell the parents you need to leave, and can't come back until their doctor puts in writing that their child is not contagious.

Naturally, mb might find herself a new nanny on her way home.

I arrived at work after almost a month off. ( I work 2 days a week.. Family went on vacation)
MB was catching me up and mentioned they had been on a play date as she just heard the friends now have hand foot and mouth! Very contagious. She then showed me that the baby(17 months) was starting to get a rash on her tummy. It's a puffy splotchy rash so not the se as hand foot and mouth. I noticed it was spreading on to her back so I called Mb at work and asked if I could take her in. We went to te walk on clinic and the doctor said he thinks its just a virus. I kept mentioning that they had just been in contact with children with HFMD. He said because its not on DC's hands/feet/mouth it couldn't be. Except this afternoon now its starting to look more like dots then a puffy rash. Dr also said that its VERY likely the children will get HFMD as it is VERY contagious!

My gut is telling me this HFMD! Maybe just the very beginning. She's never had a rash before... So this is strange.
Anyways I expressed concern working due to possible HFMD. MBs saying.. Well adults for get it... Except that is t true! My roommates sister had it and caught it from her son! I work the other 3 days a week and I can't get sick/ plus I don't want to pass it on to my other charges who are about to go on vacation. I'm also provided respite care over the weekend to infant twins and I can't be sick. I feel like she doesn't think I can't get it but I really don't want to take chances!!!

Am I ring reasonable to ask not to care for the child?