PreSchool Teacher with - Bronchitis!!!

[Wishing on a star]

Dropped DS off at PreK this morning, and as I was leaving heard his teacher coughing and coughing! I turned and said, Ohhh Nooo, sounds like your 'getting-it'... and she admitted that she has had Bronchitis for days, and 'finally' went and got some antibiotics!

Ohhhh, I was SOOOO close to going back in there, collecting up my son and bringing him home with me! I actually did that once when I saw a really sick being dropped off in his class last year.... His mom was claiming allergies, but he looked pretty bad!

Preschools, including ours, have a policy against having a sick child, with coughing, fever, etc... in class! They would probably be calling me to come pick up DS in a heartbeat if they thought he was spreading Bronchitis! But, hey, I guess it is supposed to be okay for a teacher to get to the point where she is really sick, and to come in to work and infect a dozen precious little children?

Should I have said anything! I hate to rock the boat... (Said something once about a legitimate concern at DS's first preshcool, and was then personally attacked for it - Had to pull DS out!) But, hey I feel that this is just plain wrong!

What would you do.

Right now I am sitting here thinking how LIVID I will be if DS catches this, gives it to me, and we are really sick for the Holidays!!!

 

[Wagamama]

do you mean your DS?

 

[aahmom1]

If I was worried that he was going to get it, I would have kept him with me.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Boy if I were in your shoes I would probably be tempted to keep him home too. I don't know. Good Luck

 

[wvjules]

I always thought bronchitis was viral, therefore anti-biotics wno't work?

 

[Wishing on a star]

Yes, of course I mean my DS!!! Been kicking this darned computer trying to get the edit to go thru! Don't know how I got started with the DH stuff!


Okay, Bronchitis is usually bacterial... It is VERY contagious... simply being in the same room with someone who is coughing a lot... I am sure that there are similar viral illnesses too.

I am sure that the teacher being an adult will TRY to keep from spreading the germs... Kids, of course, do nothing BUT spread germs!!!! But it is hightly contagious!

I am thinking if I didn't say anything this morning, then I really have no right to bring it up later, even if my son gets it!!

 

[janette]

Bronchitis is usually a symptom/complication of another problem like a cold or the flu. That part is contagious but the bronchitis usually isn't.

The antibotics are usually to prevent pneumonia, the coughing can last for months with bad bronchitis. It's the inflamation of that continues to be a problem not the orginal cause. Most people probably aren't contagious long after initial onset and sometimes not even then depending on the cause.

Everyone that gets the cold or flu from that person won't catch the bronchitis only those that develop the same complication.

Here are some links with information.

Bronchitis

Children's Healthcare

My 8yo DD has asthma and a cough is her main symptom when it's acting up. No one can catch it from her but she sounds awful, I certainly wouldn't keep her out of school because of it.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Janette,

Sorry, just read one of those links, and it does say that Bronchitis can be cause by either a bacterial or viral infection....

Bronchitis, in the very most GENERAL form of the word, does mean Inflammation of the Brochial tubes. However, DS teacher does not suffer from Allergies, Athsma, neither does she smoke, etc... etc... as the cause of any inflammation.

This is definately, plain and simple, what I call the croup!! This teacher did admit to having been diagnosed with this, and prescribed Antibiotics. I have had Bronchitis ie: bronchial infection or URI , enough times to know what it is! I catch it just by HEARING it! And, with me, it sometimes develops as a sinus infection ( URI ) as it spreads downward.

I do NOT want to start any debate here about bronchitis... Or to get into semantics... As nobody else has offered suggestions about my original question - "How to best handle this situation...." then perhaps this thread has run it's course?

PS: I HOPE WE DON'T GET IT!!!!! (knocking on wood here.... knock-knock-knock!!!!)

 

[disykat]

I'm not sure you want any more replies, but since the question "what would you do?" was asked, I can't resist answering.

I would try to realize that preschool teachers get sick a lot because they work with young children and trust that since she is under medical care that her Doctor okayed her working.

Janette, thank you for your informative post. Even if it wasn't what the origional poster wanted to hear I felt it was helpful!

 

[Wonderlandmom]

I was a preschool teacher before we had kids(LONG time ago ) and got bronchitis a lot. Dr. always assured me it was a secondary infection(from allergies, a cold or a sinus infection) and not to worry. I never would have been at school if I was out for the entire infection each and every time. No one ever got anything from me that I know of. Just keep stressing to your DS to wash hands and not touch his face, to prevent getting a cold and all the other "mess" out there! Good Luck!

 

[cinlee3]

If you don't feel comfortable leaving your child and felt the teacher was too ill, you should by all means keep your child at home.

Having said that, the teacher most likely contracted the germs that caused her bronchitits from the children she is taking care of and your son has already been exposed. I get bronchitis with almost every winter cold. I am proned to getting bronchitis and I work with children, therefore I am constantly getting colds. I do wash my hands frequently and we are meticulous about keeping the place clean - probably more so than in your own home. As someone who takes care of children I don't want to infect children any more than I want them to infect me. If I see an ill child they are not allowed to stay - no question!!!

 

[Deb in IA]

Originally posted by Wishing on a star


This is definately, plain and simple, what I call the croup!!

from Nelson's Textbook of Pediatrics:

"Croup is caused primarily by viruses. The parainfluenza viruses account for approximately 75% of cases; adenoviruses, respiratory syncytial, influenza, and measles viruses cause the remaining viral cases. Larygotracheobronchitis (croup) does not respond well to antibiotics, and antibiotics are not indicated to prevent suprainfection."


How to best handle the situation?
1. Remind teacher to wash her hands frequently, preferably after every time she covers her mouth to cough or wipes her nose.
2. Buy her a big bottle of anti-viral hand sanitizer.
3. Strongly encourage her (and ALL teachers) to get the FLU SHOT (it's not too late!)