I've been with my family for a while now and this predicament hasn't come up until now so I'm not sure how to handle it.I nanny two children. The oldest had these blister looking bumps on her legs and stomach and mom took her to the doctor and that's the last I heard of it, I asked mom and she said the doctor said it was nothing but not to scratch it. This went on for about 4 months and the blisters got worse, burst and left horrible looking scabs that itched, bled and stung if you touched them.
Recently mom took the youngest in for a routine check up and she made an appointment for the oldest as well because she had cold that wasn't clearing up.
Mom brought the kids to me and told me the height and weight of the baby as well as mentioning that the doctor thinks both kids have allergies. She also mentioned what the doctor said we should do to wean the baby from a bottle, pacifiers and formula.
The next day I came in and there is a bunch of creams on the counter one had the oldest kid's name on it and the other had the youngest kids name as well as a small bottle of medicine for the oldest. I'd never heard of one of the creams or the liquid medicine so I picked up the papers that came with the medicine that lists what its prescribed for as well as precautions and such.
The liquid medicine as well as the cream is for impetigo. I researched it and found out it's a highly contagious skin infection. The other cream is for ringworm.
2 weeks later the oldest's blisters have almost completely cleared and spots on the baby's arm that I thought was part of his eczema has cleared up almost completely.
The mother still has not mentioned anything to me. I'm in close contact with the kids and because this is summer and I put sunscreen on the kids I feel that's something she should have mentioned to me. I wouldn't have recoiled in horror but to me its common courtesy to mention a highly contagious skin infection so that I could be cautious and try to avoid infecting myself.
Should I say anything to her and if so what? Do I have a right to be upset that she didn't tell me? I guess I should also mention she never told the mother's day out program the oldest attends either.
BTW I think I now have ringworm, I'm self treating at home but if it doesn't look like it's clearing up in a week I will go to the doctor.
23 comments:
Honestly I would be pissed. I would politely tell her to inform you about any illness the children have in the future, for your safety and the safety of other children that come into contact with them. Remind her that other parents would be extremely upset if she allowed her children to get other children sick.
I just had a disagreement with a church nursery worker about this topic, she wanted to accept children who were sick to stay and play during mass. I had to remind her that their were infants around these toddlers and a common cold is very serious for a newborn. I was extremely upset that she would allow other children to get sick because "they are going to get sick at some point".
I must add that I'm not uptight... I'm a laid-back eat dirt if u want person but I would never expose a sick child to other children. You never know how a virus will affect someone else.
I am angry and appalled that the mother did not inform you of her children's contagious skin conditions once she found out! The fact that you have such close contact w/them would make me think that she would have notified you ASAP! Such nerve!!
Anyway, I think you should tell her that what you found out since you saw the medicine and that you would have appreciated being told since you DO have such close contact w/the children. It would be interesting what defense she will use as to why she never told you. Let her know that you would like the "courtesy" of being notified in the future if and when they ever have any other type of contagious disease. Keep your tone cordial (even though I would be pissed.) I would not quit after this, but I would be on guard as to what type of people I am working for. It's not just you they are being inconsiderate of, it seems she is this way w/other people too by the fact that she did not notify the other children her children were exposed to. Perhaps she does not see this as a "big deal".
I am sorry for your ringworm and it is very unfortunate that this had to happen to you. I hope it clears up soon.
Best of luck to you OP. You surely did not deserve this. :(
I would be very upset if that happened to me, especially because it could have been prevented. This mother is either an oblivious idiot who didn't realize that you would be at risk, or else she simply doesn't care. I would certainly tell her that you need to be informed if the children have ANYTHING wrong with them, especially if it is contagious!!! You didn't mention if you had children or not, but I would be furious if my children caught something due to her negligence!
re-post:
Anonymous said...
i am so sorry you were kept out of the loop about this and now to think you have ringworm too because you weren't told? Both ringworm and impetigo are contagious skin issues. I've had kids in my life that have had both of these. The impetigo was passed when the kids shared a bath and another child had ringworm and passed it to me! Luckily their mom was a pediatrician, looked me over and got me on medication. Go to your doctor ASAP, tell him that you have been exposed to both of these and have a FULL body check done. Then go have a serious talk with your boss. I am honestly appalled that you were not told and I think it would be reason enough to quit. Just appalling. I hope you are okay.
I bet she thought the kids got it from you.
Oh my gosh. This happens a lot at my job, and with 4 kids, they seem to get all kinds of stuff. I now treat any skin ailment as potentially contagious and take precautions.
The worst for me, though, was head lice...they did tell me, but about halfway through my day. Ewwww.
I would be pissed. And, honestly if you have ringworm I would call in sick and simply say " I caught ringworm from the kids and I cant come in since I don't want them to get it again". She will get the hint.
I would look for another job.
I would be extremely angry and confront the mother. If you want to keep this job, make it clear to her that you are to be informed immediately if you have been exposed to any contagious diseases of the family.
ive had it from my kids at my job and impetigo is NASTY and painfulm, dick thing for your employer not to tell you, and poor kid to have to suffer with it for so long.
Thanks guys. I wanted to know if I had a right to be pissed, and what to say.
What makes it all the more stranger is the kids get sick often step throat, colds, stomach virus you name it they get it and mom has never once had a problem telling me when they have something contagious and is she also informs the mdo program AND she will keep the oldest out of class for as long as the doctor says so she can't infect someone else. This is totally out of character of her. My best guess is for some reason it's embarrassing to her (even though I will bet money the impetigo came from the MDO program to begin with)
I'm not going to quit. I work for a wonderful family and this truly has puzzled me because she's never acted like this before. Also with this economy it's hard to find a job and although I live in the shadows a huge metroplex that has pretty much walked away unscathed from this recession I'm still not going to risk it. Sure I can find another job pretty darn quick but that doesn't mean that same job will still be there for me a week from now or a month from now. I'm not going to risk working for a psycho who fires me because her husband looked at me or the baby ate some dirt. I have bills to pay just like everyone else and I can't afford to not have a job.
OP, regarding the ringworm, any over the counter vaginal yeast infection cream will help, its an anti-fungal, which is what ringworm is. Of course you probably know this ,but I thought I'd offfer the info!
The 2-year-old I work with was kind enough to share a particularly annoying form of bronchitis a month and a half ago. I learned what she had simply by asking what the doctor said. When it spread to me, I had questions and she called the doctor for answers. So I have to ask, did you ask? Note: I'm not saying she shouldn't have told you.
Oh and by the way, coughing for three weeks is no fun!
Go the doctor. And give her the bill!
If you are uninsured, she should pay it. It wasn't nice that she didn't warn you of their illness.
I agree with Ericsmom. Especially if you don't have insurance, your mom-boss should be held liable for your medical bills. It was more or less her negligence that got you infected. You said she told you about past infections so I'm wondering if she was embarrassed about the ringworm? Maybe she thinks people will judge her and think that she doesn't keep her house or her kids clean enough. Whatever it is, she appears to be pretty dumb.
I agree with Ericsmom too. She exposed to a contagious diesease without telling you. She needs to pay the bill.
I agree with the above posters that that the least she could do is offer to pay your medical bill...after all, you had to take your own personal time to see a DR. plus why should you have to pay for it too?
I'm betting on embarrassment. I have known parents whos kids have had lice and I'm sure they knew when they sent them to my house for a sleepover thereby infecting ALL my kids AND myself! What a horrible pest those things are and extremely difficult to get rid of, especially with kids who have long, thick, nappy hair! What a nightmare that was, good lord! Now every little flare up of dandruff sends me into hyper-drive! BTW, completely off subject, but what is the MDO program? Just curious, if you have the time to respond.... have a good night all ;)
Cause she knew you were the source, duh.
The spots not getting better it's actually getting worse so I'll make an appointment with the doctor. Since I'm not 100% sure it is ringworm I'm not going to ask her to pay for my visit at least until I get a diagnosis. I do have insurance so it's just a co-pay.
I mentioned to her today that the spots on the kids were looking good and she just half smiled and said yeah. I then asked if the doctor ever told her what it was and she said no he just gave her some steroid cream to put on it and it's helping. I'm shocked she flat out lied to me, the doctor did indeed give her a steroid cream but it's for the baby's eczema and it's a cream shes been using for 6 months it is not the cream to treat the impetigo or the ringworm.
Again I'm not going to quit over this but like someone suggested I'm going to treat all skin ailments like they are contagious from here on out. My thoughts are if this is the biggest problem I have with them then I'm doing good. I don't have to pay for daycare when I have an emergency. I get paid on time every time, I get tons and tons of time off with pay and so many other perks that although I am thoroughly pissed that she not only withheld important information from me but also lied to me I'm going to let this slide.
MDO stands for Mother's Day Out. It's usually about 5 hours a day 2-3 times a week in a church.
One last thing to the person posting above me. Ok we are staring at you. You've got our attention. That is what you wanted right? You're the kid in school screaming LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME!! Right? When does school start for you? Next week? I'm bet you're just itching to go back, and when you're there it might do you some good to brush up on your insulting techniques because this one is beyond lame. What grade are you in now? 5th? 6th? Come on you can do better than that. Hell my 4yr old can do better than that.
I honestly cannot believe that she flat out lied to you!! That is just insane!!
Oh honey, this doesn't sound good. Don't start letting too many things slide--this almost sounds like a red flag to me! If your boss will flat-out lie to your face about a contagious disease you have been infected with, who the hell knows what else she's been lying about? You're a better woman than I am because I would have called her on her bullcrap by now.
Personally I would have called her out on it. That's just gross. I get that it's probably embarassing to admit, but come on, it's contagious. Shame on her for not telling you and then lying when you asked her.
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