Dear Community, On Friday afternoon, our one-year-old developed a bad virus. He had rashes all over his skin, was lethargic, and had a fever.
We brought our son into the doctor’s office right before shabbos and he said it looked viral but nothing serious, yet we should come again after shabbos if it doesn’t go away.
Friday night kept us 3 up most of the night, as even with tylenol and motrin he was in pain.
After a long shabbos with the rash not going away, lots of crying, and him barely sleeping, we went back to the doctor. The doctor again said its a virus and will go away in 3-5 days.
Only after my wife asked did he inform us that it is contagious. We called our babysitter that informed us that another girl had similar symptoms but on a much lower level. When the sitter called the mom she said her doctor did not say anything about it being contagious.
I am writing this letter to remind both parents and physicians alike.
Parents- please please do not send your child to daycare/babysitting etc if he/she shows any symptoms of a virus. Although it’s inconvenient to take off of work, please do not expose other children to any viruses. Even a small chance is really not right to the other children and parents in the group!
I am not writing about kids that show real signs, as then obviously you’re not sending. Rather I am writing when there are very mild signs of a virus.
And a note to the neighborhood’s esteemed physicians and their assistants. Number one- thanks for keeping your office open so close to shabbos and opening late motzai shabbos! Second- please remember to tell all your patients not to send their children out when they have any type of virus.
Both the parent of the child and my wife were not informed that the virus was highly contagious. (Only after my wife asked was she told).
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy week free of any viruses and sickness!
Gut Voch.
Signed,
A tired parent
That’s some doctor! He eventually told you it was contagious once asked but still didn’t offer a diagnosis. And with the Measles outbreak not going away anytime soon.
What kind of Virus? Measles has fever & rash.
My child broke out with a rash too. May have had a bit elevated temp, nothing quite noticeable. I did research and it seems it may have been 5th disease. The child is contagious for 2 weeks b4 but once the rash comes out, is no longer contagious. The doc made nothing of it in Nov when the baby above him had it. I kept them both home till 24 hours of no fever, which is the standard. Pointvis, its not always noticeable a virus is present till after.
I’ve had situations like this countless times , where my child caught something from a child at the babysitter because that child was sent so that mom could go to work. Then my child brought it home and spread it to the rest of the family. There were times when there were serious repercussions.
Then, the parents of same child who was sent to babysitter knowingly not well, demand that perfectly healthy unvaccinated children be kicked out.
To Busy mom – Your kid might have had 5th disease, but the case above is nowhere near 5th disease.
The lady from Williamsburg who a few weeks ago said “My spiritual
advisor told me not to vaccinate” should be hiding hiding her face
in shame ! Where is she ? Why doesn’t she repeat her comment
here, even though it’s only indirectly related to this topic. The world
would be much better off without her !
Josh Darabaner
A measles-like rash and fever is a common side effect after the MMR vaccine. To the letter-writer: Did your child get the vaccine shortly before the symptoms you described?