Hi, this is going to be <b><i><b>long </b></i></b>but I want to give as much of the details as possible so you can help me figure this out!
<b>Background:</b>
My daughter Sydney (3wcf) has been pretty healthy so far in her 3 years. She has gotten sick 2-3 times per cold/flu season but seems to get well pretty quickly (same time frame or less time than her friends without CF).
<b>Current Situation:</b>
Sydney has had a sinus cold this past week. Last Monday she had a fever that lasted for about 6 hours, followed by a stuffy nose the next morning, which turned into a junky souding, shallow cough and sore throat. I called the Dr on Tuesday and the nurse said it sounded viral bc the fever was so short and this sort of thing is really going around right now. Sydney, my husband and me have all been having sinus troubles off and on during the whole month of September and all of us are dealing with the worst of it right now. Sydney & I get sinus congestion every year at this time (seasonal allergies?) So, the nurse says that the cough may last a few weeks. Sydney is feeling fine now, plays all day etc, but she is still coughing and I think it may last a while bc she doesn't blow her nose or cough up the mucus so it is lingering in her throat. Her lungs sound clear. So, here is my question:
<b>Do we keep her home until her cough is completely gone?</b>
In the past, we have pretty much kept her home until all of her symptoms are gone thinking that it would help prevent her from picking up a secondary infection while her immune system is low. Also, we didn't really think it was a good idea to possibly expose others to her sickness (although that doesn't stop most other people from sending their kids out with a cough or runny nose, kwim?) Now that Sydney is older, she is involved in more activities and they are important to her.
This week in particular is full of events for Sydney:
<b>Tuesday: </b> Toddler class for 2 hours with 10 other 3 year olds. Kids are in a little classroom, do educational activities, play games, etc.
<b>Wednesday:</b> Toddler time at the library starts. There are usually about 10 other kids
ages 2-4 in here and the class lasts 45 minutes. Kids sit with moms during stories, then do a craft with mom.
<b>Wednesday Night: </b>Fall Fun Fest at our church. This is completely outdoors, which I am thinking makes it less risky(?) but there are usually about 900 people so who knows how many of them will have colds, etc. There are games, climb-ons, hay ride, food etc.
<b>Friday:</b> CF Clinic - this one isn't a question, just wanted to mention that we are going this week.
<b>Sunday: </b>Sunday school 2 hours, random kids each week (bc of visitors, new people, etc) 10-20 kids, etc.
We haven't told Sydney what is coming up this week so she won't even know if she misses any of this stuff but I hate for her to miss it bc without this stuff she is stuck at home most of the time with her baby brother and me (boring!) We opted not to send her to preschool this year but thought these activities (and one other that I didn't mention bc it starts in 2 weeks) would be a good compromise. She is VERY social and LOVES to go places and be with other people. I am just torn between keeping her home where I know she will be more likely "safe" from illness or letting her take the risks that sometimes go with having fun, fun, fun. Both good health and good fun are important!
Now that I have typed all of this, I wonder if I am making a bigger deal out of it than necessary! Anyway, I would love to hear what parents of kids wcf might do in this situation and also what people wcf think of this situation!
Thanks!
Kelli - mom of Sydney 3wcf and Andrew 5 months nocf
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://members.tripod.com/sydneymyers-ivil/
">http://members.tripod.com/sydneymyers-ivil/
</a>
<b>Background:</b>
My daughter Sydney (3wcf) has been pretty healthy so far in her 3 years. She has gotten sick 2-3 times per cold/flu season but seems to get well pretty quickly (same time frame or less time than her friends without CF).
<b>Current Situation:</b>
Sydney has had a sinus cold this past week. Last Monday she had a fever that lasted for about 6 hours, followed by a stuffy nose the next morning, which turned into a junky souding, shallow cough and sore throat. I called the Dr on Tuesday and the nurse said it sounded viral bc the fever was so short and this sort of thing is really going around right now. Sydney, my husband and me have all been having sinus troubles off and on during the whole month of September and all of us are dealing with the worst of it right now. Sydney & I get sinus congestion every year at this time (seasonal allergies?) So, the nurse says that the cough may last a few weeks. Sydney is feeling fine now, plays all day etc, but she is still coughing and I think it may last a while bc she doesn't blow her nose or cough up the mucus so it is lingering in her throat. Her lungs sound clear. So, here is my question:
<b>Do we keep her home until her cough is completely gone?</b>
In the past, we have pretty much kept her home until all of her symptoms are gone thinking that it would help prevent her from picking up a secondary infection while her immune system is low. Also, we didn't really think it was a good idea to possibly expose others to her sickness (although that doesn't stop most other people from sending their kids out with a cough or runny nose, kwim?) Now that Sydney is older, she is involved in more activities and they are important to her.
This week in particular is full of events for Sydney:
<b>Tuesday: </b> Toddler class for 2 hours with 10 other 3 year olds. Kids are in a little classroom, do educational activities, play games, etc.
<b>Wednesday:</b> Toddler time at the library starts. There are usually about 10 other kids
ages 2-4 in here and the class lasts 45 minutes. Kids sit with moms during stories, then do a craft with mom.
<b>Wednesday Night: </b>Fall Fun Fest at our church. This is completely outdoors, which I am thinking makes it less risky(?) but there are usually about 900 people so who knows how many of them will have colds, etc. There are games, climb-ons, hay ride, food etc.
<b>Friday:</b> CF Clinic - this one isn't a question, just wanted to mention that we are going this week.
<b>Sunday: </b>Sunday school 2 hours, random kids each week (bc of visitors, new people, etc) 10-20 kids, etc.
We haven't told Sydney what is coming up this week so she won't even know if she misses any of this stuff but I hate for her to miss it bc without this stuff she is stuck at home most of the time with her baby brother and me (boring!) We opted not to send her to preschool this year but thought these activities (and one other that I didn't mention bc it starts in 2 weeks) would be a good compromise. She is VERY social and LOVES to go places and be with other people. I am just torn between keeping her home where I know she will be more likely "safe" from illness or letting her take the risks that sometimes go with having fun, fun, fun. Both good health and good fun are important!
Now that I have typed all of this, I wonder if I am making a bigger deal out of it than necessary! Anyway, I would love to hear what parents of kids wcf might do in this situation and also what people wcf think of this situation!
Thanks!
Kelli - mom of Sydney 3wcf and Andrew 5 months nocf
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://members.tripod.com/sydneymyers-ivil/
">http://members.tripod.com/sydneymyers-ivil/
</a>