Question about daycare and communicable diseases

[Deleted]

Short version.

DS had a fever last week. I kept him home Thurs & Fri. Thursday he had a fever of 104, we went to the hospital. The Dr looked and said it was strep throat. Wrote a prescription and we left.

Friday daycare tells me that 2 daycare kids have Hand Foot and Mouth Disease. and she`s not sure whether to close or not. I thought maybe he had HFM since it's similar to strep throat in the beginning stages. He's been at home all week (DC decided to close since the daughter had a really bad case of HFM) DS hasn't showed any signs of HFM. The antibiotics are definetely working, which wouldn't be the case if it were HFM. I'm kinda worried he'll catch it next week once he returns to DC, since it can be contagious for 45 days (in the stool).

At what point does your daycare allow the kids with HFM return?
After the blisters pop and dry out? Any preventative measures other than cleaning/disinfecting?

Please tell me about your experience with HFM.

TIA

[birdmom]

Our daycare lets them come back after the blisters are scabbed over. If it makes you feel any better, there were two cases of HFM that went around in a month's time and DS didn't catch it either time. In that time, he had colds and ear infections and everything else under the sun, but never HFM. Which from what I understand, is far worse than the ear infections, etc. Hope your DS feels better!

[Redpoppy]

DS hadn't caught HFM yet the times it has gone around. His most common thing to get is weeklong fevers of unknown virus. He also hasn't caught lice and that has been through a couple times.

[atouchofklasse]

Did they do a strep culture?

How do you know the antibiotics are working? HFM fever doesn't last long.

Our pediatrician said he could go back after his fever was gone but that was a Friday so we kept him home until Monday.