Should I send my son to school with Croup when Dr said it's OK?

Treena - posted on 10/04/2010

Croup is not usually treated with antibiotics I suffered from croup and all my children have had it more than once. To send the child to school would be cruel and frankly irresponsible. I have always steamed my child as advised by our GP same thing as my mother was advised 30+ years ago.. If i can treat without any steroids or cortisone I feel that is better for my child.. Steam works wonders..

Chatty - posted on 10/04/2010

So, you're locking it then Loureen? Please?

C. - posted on 10/04/2010

Sure, if you want parents to come knocking on your door b/c your kid got their kid(s) sick.

I don't think it's a good idea, really. If a child isn't feeling well like that and there's the option to stay home, let them stay home where they can be comfortable and rest up so they can start feeling much better.

Charlie - posted on 10/04/2010

I will assume after a week this issue has been dealt with , thank you for responding .

Loureen.
Moderator.

Julie - posted on 10/04/2010

Its ok to have and express your own opinions, thats what this is for after all, but the fact is, the question at hand.... should I send my child to school or not?

My opinion also is an emphatic NO

I would personally feel very remiss if I sent my child to school being that ill he was on steroids! I would feel negligent in my duties as a mother basically, not that Im saying anyone who sends their child IS negligent, Im just saying that is how I would feel!



I would also like to say I have in no way read all comments, only some of those from this last page, and want to add a couple of things.

First a quote from someone else, and I agree completely with it....

The fact that your child is on steriods, tells me that your child has a serious case. Do not send your child to school, first off because the virus's that cause croup can still be in your children, second how do you expect your child to get better if he isnt getting rest? And third how do you expect other children to get their school work done while listening to your child bark all day?



I would also like to say that it sounds like the croup is a SYMPTOM of a nasty infection, not necessarily the CAUSE of it. Two totally different words worth remembering with sick little ones.



My eldest son had croup and asthma as a child, and he didnt get sent to school with either of them, whether they are contagious or not, they are uncomfortable and at the very worst, LIFE THREATENING.



One other thing, as Jodi said, here in australia croup is generally used to refer to any airway restriction not severe enough to be asthma.

I was under that belief too Jodi...

Maybe different countries call different illnesses croup? ;-)

Megan - posted on 10/03/2010

If my child was in school I would greatly appreciate you keeping him at home.

Tina - posted on 10/03/2010

U WOULD TAKE CARE HIM STAY HOME TILL HE GET BETTER THEN GO SCHOOL ..IF HE ARE SICK AND CAN GIVE OTHER KIDS GET SICK AT SCHOOL..

Lil - posted on 10/03/2010

No you should not send him to school with the croup I am nor\t sure if it is contagious and it really makes them ill when they start to cough i would get him to a doctor and give him something to ease it
did you know a few weeks ago a baby died from that
A friend of mine her little girl had that it was terrible to hear her cough Please dont send her
Lil

Shulamit Susan - posted on 10/03/2010

What a great comment Janelle.One of the fore most reasons for sticking to the rules and good common Mother sense. Not to sound repeatative, if your school or care situations does not have a sick policy, think of not only the child who has a weak immune system. Think also of the siblings and parents of all the children your child and of course, "the teachers of one's child." I cannot tell you the times I as a teacher I even with high resistance, became ill. The high stress of the profession and the exposure to so many germs, makes us a easy target. For your child, already ill, he or she is so much at a disadvantage to picking up something else if they are not really on the mend and a good bit stronger, certainly fever free, a clear nose drainage and normal body waste function.Trying to say this kindly. The less exposure to germs for your child, the faster he or she will be well and begin to boost a weakened immune system. Susan

Kerry - posted on 10/03/2010

I would keep him at home until he gets better!

Janelle - posted on 10/02/2010

No way, think of the other kids that could catch what he has and how sick they would get and the ones with weak lungs or asthmatics, that would be very cruel. Just keep him at home till he's much better, he won't miss much out at his age, school is not a baby sitting place for sick kids.

Charlie - posted on 10/02/2010

aside from the contagion aspect sick kiddies need their mummas .

Keep them home.

Jo Ann - posted on 10/02/2010

Croup is an infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract which affects the larynx and trachea. The para-influenza virus is the main culprit for causing croup. Some other viruses that can cause croup are influenza virus, adenovirus and other respiratory viruses. The inflammation of the larynx and trachea is often marked by persistent cough; the coughing increases mostly at night. Mostly, croup is caused by viruses and it is a viral infection but in few cases, however, croup is caused by bacteria. Croup is a contagious disease only when it is caused by an infection. I am pretty sure the next query that comes to your mind is, how long is croup contagious?

Is Croup Contagious and for How Long?
Croup is commonly seen in children having age range of 3 months to 5 years and it is very rare in adults. It is spread through infectious droplets of sneezing or coughing by an infected child. If the mucus or sputum of an affected child comes in contact with clothes, toys or any other objects of a healthy child, then the healthy child will show symptoms of croup. Croup usually lasts for a week and it becomes more severe during nights. The first and second night will be worst for the sufferer. Coming to your query 'how long is croup contagious'?, well, it is contagious as much as the symptoms like fever and illness persist. The symptoms are mostly seen during the first few days and the contagiousness will stay in the child until all the symptoms completely subsides. Read on is croup contagious.

Jodi - posted on 10/02/2010

Personally, I think that if the doctor has suggested he can go back to school, just the fact that the OP is even asking here tells me that she isn't comfortable sending him to school.....so I think she should go with how she feels about it. I wouldn't send a kid to school if they weren't feeling well. Sometimes a few days at home resting can make a HUGE difference.

Chatty - posted on 10/02/2010

Kate, don't wanna argue because I do think she should keep her son home but....

" http://www.circleofmoms.com/track_link.p... "...Yes. Unless your toddler's croup is the result of allergies or irritants, the virus that's causing it is contagious, so keep him home until he's free of symptoms..."

Is it possible that the doctor recommended sending her son to school because the croup is a result of allergies? While I agree that he should probably be kept home because he's probably not feeling well and the cough might be disruptive, it IS possible that it's NOT contagious in this instance??

Terri - posted on 10/02/2010

Hh didn't have antibiotics, a dose of steroids. He was contagious before, probably exposed others before he went to the doctor.

Trudy - posted on 10/02/2010

yes i would agree but you could ask you gp

Julie - posted on 10/02/2010

All of my boys have croup at some stage! its not contagious! No antibiotic helps to cure it! if it is severe enough where they cant breath i have to go to the hospital for steroids! I dont send them to school cause they are not well enough to go! I would suggest to keep him home incase it does get worse!

Trudy - posted on 10/02/2010

ask the school thats you best bet or try nhs direct they will give you the advice you need

Jeannette - posted on 10/02/2010

regardless of whether he is contageous or not when a child is sick they need emotional support from a parent it is the best medicine for them they need to spend time with mum it aids them to get well and makes them feel secure :)

Debbie - posted on 10/01/2010

Kids should stay home from school even if it is just a cold, if they did I or the 3 year old i do daycare for would not have gotten sick from her preschool. It makes me so mad that there were 3 kids coughing and sniffling at preschool just last week.

Rebecca - posted on 10/01/2010

wow... still fighting over this... omg!! This is why i hate forums and single parents groups...lol

Kate CP - posted on 10/01/2010

Go to google.com and type in "is croup contagious?" And every answer is...YES.

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/t084200... "...Is Croup contagious? Yes, it is about as contagious as the common cold. Good hand washing is important to prevent spread..."

http://www.medicinenet.com/croup/article... "...Croup is contagious, and it is usually spread by airborne infectious droplets sneezed or coughed into the air by infected children..."

http://www.babycenter.com/0_croup_11421.... "...Yes. Unless your toddler's croup is the result of allergies or irritants, the virus that's causing it is contagious, so keep him home until he's free of symptoms..."

DUH.

Iridescent - posted on 10/01/2010

"Common viral causes include parainfluenza, influenza, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and rhinovirus. Prior to the vaccine era, diphtheria caused most cases of croup and was referred to as membranous croup, but today, fortunately, this is exceedingly rare."

A huge consideration to think about right now, before sending your kids to school while ill with croup, are the epidemic levels of whooping cough outbreaks RIGHT NOW. Yea...keep the kid home when ill.

Dok - posted on 10/01/2010

It is, because it is caused by cold or flu viruses, but I'm guessing most moms on here don't keep their kids home for a cold!

Iridescent - posted on 10/01/2010

I also wonder why so many medical texts specifically state how very contagious croup is, if it isn't contagious...

Dok - posted on 10/01/2010

Many times the original cold-like illness can become RSV which is contagious (in fact, most kids have had it more than once by the time they are 5 and never missed a day of school!) requiring isolation for the sake of other compromised patients. As well, the nebulizer medication they sometimes use is harmful to those who may be pregnant including the health care workers!

Or your child may have been one of the very few that had a bacterial infection that got out of hand requiring additional supportive care.

Debbie - posted on 10/01/2010

Ifcroup isn't contagious than why was my son in the hospital in isolation for 2 weeks with no other illness except croup.

Jessica - posted on 10/01/2010

Was it the croup that the doctor said he had? Croup is a baby illness typically, but even if it was, the next question is, did the doc specifically say that you could send your child to school? Not that I believe everything every doc has ever told me, but coming from a medical background myself, if the doc said it was croup, then it is okay to go to school because croup isn't contagious. My oldest (now 4) had the croup in his first year, and our daycare was vey picky about when he could and couldn't come to daycare, depending on the illness. With the croup, though, they allowed him to come.

All in all, it's a personal decision if you have been given the okay from your MD to send him to school.

June - posted on 10/01/2010

if its not contaigious fine..also i do believe as long as he has had meds in him for at least 24 to 48 hrs.its good

Jenny - posted on 10/01/2010

thats not true...the only contagious with a fever...I as well have been in a hospital with a sick child and know why they isolate along with a few years of nursing...whoever told u that was mistaken

Kate CP - posted on 10/01/2010

"He's only contagious if he has a fever. If no fever, you should be fine."

This is NOT true. A person is MOST contagious BEFORE any symptoms are noticed.

Susan - posted on 10/01/2010

Absolutely not! Just because he has had a dose of antibiotics doesn't mean he isn't contagious. I for one am tired of people sending sick kids to school, playground, wherever and not worried about getting someone else sick. Keep him home until he is well. If someone had done the same, your boy probably wouldn't be sick!

Debbie - posted on 10/01/2010

My son had croup when he was 3. it is contagious, he was in isolation in the hospital for 2 weeks and was on iv antibiotics and no he did not have any other illness just croup.

Molissa - posted on 10/01/2010

He's only contagious if he has a fever. If no fever, you should be fine. My son has gone to daycare after the same thing. He was in good hands since the owner of the facility used to be a pediatric nurse and could tell if he needed his doc whose number she had. He has had this twice and like someone else said it's almost like an asthma attack, but if the barking cough is gone, you should be just fine. It's when it gets really going that can be really scary. Hope he feels better.

Shannin - posted on 10/01/2010

Croup is so bad, gotta feel aweful for them when they are coughing like that.

Dok - posted on 10/01/2010

I am a pediatric nurse and an educator of nursing students at the baccalaureate level. Your child was contagious for a few days prior to developing the croupy cough. These start with a cold usually, then develop the cough. Keep your child at home for a few days when it is worse and the child doesn't feel well or might be running a bit of fever, then send him or her back to school. The cough is a symptom, not the illness, and usually occurs more at night. The child may even appear quite well and have no other symptoms except the nightly cough session. The corticosteroids are to prevent complications and increased severity of the restricted airway. The illness is usually caused by a cold or flu-type virus which kids are exposed to every day, whether we like it or not. Many times, folks are contagious long before they have symptoms worthy of staying home and they have already passed it on by then. The same is true with this. (And I do have reliable sources for this including the American Academy of Pediatricians as well as 33 years of experience.)

BRENDA - posted on 10/01/2010

how does he feel ?? if he feels ok, yeah i would. but if he doesnt feel good, he needs to stay at home. or maybe keep him at home a couple of days...so he doesnt get any worse.

Jenny - posted on 10/01/2010

um...thats not really fair to other parents and children...your doctor sounds like he wants more business...is this in the statees? or canada? i wouldnt send ur child...theyd probably send them home. would u want a sick child barkin all over ur kid if urs was healthy....no...be courteous....

Rynzelle - posted on 10/01/2010

No. Do you like going out being around others when you're sick. You want to be home w/ the comforts of home. I'm sure your baby feels like that too. Plus, he's probably contagious.

Fern - posted on 10/01/2010

Okay ladies, I am a nurse and I can assure you that Croup IS CONTAGIOUS!!! Do NOT send your child to school with croup as it is easily passed from one child to another due to droplets that are spread everywhere when the child coughs! Croup also causes the child to have difficulty breathing and may need a humidifier running to relieve this. And lastly, he probably doesn't feel up to being at school and if so would learn nothing while feeling poorly. His doctor is an idiot if he thinks its okay to send a child to school who is actively contagious.

Beth - posted on 10/01/2010

No, Keep him home until he feels better. As a former teacher, it was always harder to teach when I had kids who didn't feel well at school. Kids should be kept home if they are not feeling well.

Louisa - posted on 10/01/2010

Wow Jodi A. ... you need to chill!! ...know-it-alls are so annoying.

Terri - posted on 10/01/2010

The Doctor said it was ok to send him to school. I would have to think that he made certain that he wasn't contagious before he said it. She said he was not hacking coughing, but was still coughing. I would take my Doctor's advice.

Terri - posted on 10/01/2010

Yes, if the Doctor says it is ok and he feels ok then send him. Just teach him to cover his mouth with his sleeve when he coughs.

Andrea - posted on 10/01/2010

the croup is brought on by a bacterial infection or virus, it is infectious. my son gets the croup every year around november and it is always brought on by a cold or virus. it's scary sometimes!

Mirrhya - posted on 10/01/2010

@ Jamiely Ong Steroids are prescribed because the their airways are being constricted. Steroids open up these passages. They are not trying to make these kids look like Arnold, LOL. Croup is not a normal cough, it is very scary listening to your child gasp for breath. It isn't really something you can treat with vinegar and honey. My son has chronic croup and we have spent at least 3 nights in the ER because of it.

Kaye - posted on 10/01/2010

First of all croup does not require antibiotics its a viral infection. If the doctor trys to give you antibiotics for it you may want to find a new doctor. As far as schools go they usually require that a child be fever free for 24 hours. But use your judgement if the fever is gone but the cough is still bad keep him home. He will only be miserable at school

Grandma Lu Ann - posted on 10/01/2010

You want to second guess your doc? Ask a pedia or respiratory nurse if you have a 800 help line. Breathing problems sometimes cure themselves after a matter of time. Lungs need moisture to gravitate. If your child is not lethargic, your doc might say the child needs no excuse unless on a nebulizer.

Christy - posted on 10/01/2010

No it is contagious and prob doesnt feel good coughing like that. It would interfer with the other kids learning, too.