Health Department Calling!!

[Guest guest]

Hello! I post every once in a while, but read almost every post.

A friend of mine with totally unvaxed kids (who currently have chicken pox)

emailed me to say that someone from the kids school called the county health

department (Pittsburgh, Pa).

They wanted to know who her kids doctor was, how many lesions the kids had, when

they started showing symptoms, ect.

I told her NOT TO ANSWER ANY of their questions!!!!

Does she legally have to talk to them????

Thanks,

Kate

[Guest guest]

My experience with the health department is that they are just collecting information so they have their facts straight if there is an outbreak.

When my youngest had salmonella poisoning right after we moved here, they were all kinds of nosy about: what we ate for the last 2 weeks, where we had been, etc. After I explained to the nurse that she wasn't even 2 yet and still mostly nursing and that the only thing she could've eaten that the rest of us didn't was whatever was on the ground because this was our first time having a yard and she still put her hands in her mouth, the nurse finally told me that it is also carried in animal fecal matter so most likely she got it because of people walking their dogs in our shared yard. Ever since then, her dad goes crazy at people who walk their dogs where the kids play.

Anyway, back to the point, I don't think there is a legal obligation (don't quote me on it though) but there isn't really need not to answer.

Tory

http://www.youravon.com/teastep

http://www.youtube.com/user/mothertory

From: mommykate78 <kkgpsu01@...>Subject: Health department calling!!Vaccinations Date: Tuesday, January 11, 2011, 11:57 AM

A friend (who's kids are unvaxed and currently have chicken pox) is getting phone calls from the county health department wanting to know their doctor's name, how many lesions the kids have, how long they have had symptoms, ect.I told her not to answer any questions until I posted here!Does she legally have to answer them?

[Guest guest]

I don't know but here is the state info on reportable conditions, of which CP is one:

(http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol32/32-4/161d.html). Here is info from there on exclusion from school:

"

"§ 27.71. Exclusion of children, and staff having contact with children, for specified diseases and infectious conditions.

A person in charge of a public, private, parochial, Sunday or other school or college shall exclude from school a child, or a staff person, including a volunteer, who has contact with children, who is suspected by a physician or the school nurse of having any of the communicable diseases, infections or conditions. Readmission shall be contingent upon the school nurse or, in the absence of the school nurse, a physician, verifying that the criteria for readmission have been satisfied. The diseases, the periods of exclusion and the criteria for readmission are as follows:

....Chickenpox. Five days from the appearance of the first crop of vesicles, or when all the lesions have dried and crusted, whichever is sooner."

So, the child can't be excluded from school for more than five days. I would tell the health department the lesions started a week ago. Then there is no disease to worry about. How were the cases confirmed?

Winnie

Health Department Calling!!Vaccinations > Hello! I post every once in a while, but read almost every post.> > A friend of mine with totally unvaxed kids (who currently have > chicken pox) emailed me to say that someone from the kids school > called the county health department (Pittsburgh, Pa).> They wanted to know who her kids doctor was, how many lesions > the kids had, when they started showing symptoms, ect.> I told her NOT TO ANSWER ANY of their questions!!!!> Does she legally have to talk to them????> > Thanks,> Kate> >

[Guest guest]

Can she get a lawyer? Just in case.

>

> Hello! I post every once in a while, but read almost every post.

>

> A friend of mine with totally unvaxed kids (who currently have chicken pox)

emailed me to say that someone from the kids school called the county health

department (Pittsburgh, Pa).

> They wanted to know who her kids doctor was, how many lesions the kids had,

when they started showing symptoms, ect.

> I told her NOT TO ANSWER ANY of their questions!!!!

> Does she legally have to talk to them????

>

> Thanks,

> Kate

>

[Guest guest]

I haven't had any experience with the Health Dept myself, but I have heard cases

where they skew the information to fit their agenda. Example, I was at a

hearing for raw milk, and a young lady testified that when two of her siblings

got camphobacteria(sp?) sickness, the Health Dept called. They went down the

list of all the things which could cause them to get the bacteria. The boys had

done most of them on the list (played in a river, exposed to animal poo, etc).

But the HD rep said she was going to put down the cause as raw milk, even though

the other family members had drunk it, but weren't sick. But it fit their

agenda, so that's what she reported.

Probably they are just going to ask you some questions, and that's the last

you'll hear of it. You haven't done anything illegal, they are just collecting

data.

Amy

[Guest guest]

This is just insane! Childhood disease like chickenpox which were once not a big deal are treated like they are the plague. I would kindly tell them that this is none of their business.

Re: Health Department Calling!!

Can she get a lawyer? Just in case.

>

> Hello! I post every once in a while, but read almost every post.

>

> A friend of mine with totally unvaxed kids (who currently have chicken pox) emailed me to say that someone from the kids school called the county health department (Pittsburgh, Pa).

> They wanted to know who her kids doctor was, how many lesions the kids had, when they started showing symptoms, ect.

> I told her NOT TO ANSWER ANY of their questions!!!!

> Does she legally have to talk to them????

>

> Thanks,

> Kate

>

[Guest guest]

I agree!

I would kindly tell them that this is none of their business.

Re: Health Department Calling!!

Can she get a lawyer? Just in case.>> Hello! I post every once in a while, but read almost every post.> > A friend of mine with totally unvaxed kids (who currently have chicken pox) emailed me to say that someone from the kids school called the county health department (Pittsburgh, Pa).> They wanted to know who her kids doctor was, how many lesions the kids had, when they started showing symptoms, ect.> I told her NOT TO ANSWER ANY of their questions!!!!> Does she legally have to talk to them????> > Thanks,> Kate>

[Guest guest]

I have to respectfully disagree with the tactic here.

My three children have had both chicken pox and 2 out of 3 had Pertusis this

past fall. My experience has been simple cooperation while knowing your rights

is very important. They need to know that your kids aren't being neglected and

that you are caring for them AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DIE FROM THE CHICKEN POX.

Yes WC is scary but find a Dr. that can explain what to expect so you can be

confident about what you're doing.

When one of my children was going to a new school without the CP shot after

having CP (it was documented with his Dr. along with a nice little pock mark on

his head), they said he wouldn't be able to go to school without his shot if

there was an outbreak. I ignored it for then but next time I'll politely and

sincerely ask them about teachers who probably had it when they were kids and

never " needed " the shot, do they have to stay home?

Again with WC, I think it's best they acutally have a record of someone who got

it and that's it. I think acting too defensive sends a bad message. As I felt

like we were in a bubble for a short while, it was cool when my aunt told my mom

that she remembered her having it. My mom came right over to visit and help with

the kids so I could go to the store. I'm happy to share with people that my kids

will be great grandparents some day because they won't be afraid of their

grandchildrens sniffles.

I learned a lot about how our attitude effect others.

Just my opinion based on my experience.

Stay strong,

>

> Hello! I post every once in a while, but read almost every post.

>

> A friend of mine with totally unvaxed kids (who currently have chicken pox)

emailed me to say that someone from the kids school called the county health

department (Pittsburgh, Pa).

> They wanted to know who her kids doctor was, how many lesions the kids had,

when they started showing symptoms, ect.

> I told her NOT TO ANSWER ANY of their questions!!!!

> Does she legally have to talk to them????

>

> Thanks,

> Kate

>

[Guest guest]

I like that about not being afraid of the sniffles. It's so true. I mean, none of us like seeing our kids sick, especially babies but there is such a fear of disease nowadays that I don't remember growing up. Then my mom would just make us stay in bed, bring out the crossword puzzle books (back in the day when you only had one black and white TV in the house--never in a bedroom!), and give aspirin crushed in applesauce. When your temp was normal, you were allowed out 24 hours later. The end. Same for all diseases. We got well quickly because it was boring being sick.

About the CP and school, I don't know if it's true for all states, but many state laws allow for you to have documented records of having CP in lieu of being vaccinated. Used to be the docs even just took your word for it that your kids had it but you didn't bother bringing them in for something so benign. Now in some places the doctor has to diagnose it. But still, I believe the school is wrong to tell you the kids have to be vaccinated even if they had the disease. Of course, they are generally clueless about the law anyway.

Winnie

Re: Health Department Calling!!Vaccinations > I have to respectfully disagree with the tactic here.> My three children have had both chicken pox and 2 out of 3 had > Pertusis this past fall. My experience has been simple > cooperation while knowing your rights is very important. They > need to know that your kids aren't being neglected and that you > are caring for them AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DIE FROM THE > CHICKEN POX. Yes WC is scary but find a Dr. that can explain > what to expect so you can be confident about what you're doing.> > When one of my children was going to a new school without the CP > shot after having CP (it was documented with his Dr. along with > a nice little pock mark on his head), they said he wouldn't be > able to go to school without his shot if there was an outbreak. > I ignored it for then but next time I'll politely and sincerely > ask them about teachers who probably had it when they were kids > and never "needed" the shot, do they have to stay home?> > Again with WC, I think it's best they acutally have a record of > someone who got it and that's it. I think acting too defensive > sends a bad message. As I felt like we were in a bubble for a > short while, it was cool when my aunt told my mom that she > remembered her having it. My mom came right over to visit and > help with the kids so I could go to the store. I'm happy to > share with people that my kids will be great grandparents some > day because they won't be afraid of their grandchildrens sniffles.> > I learned a lot about how our attitude effect others.> > Just my opinion based on my experience.> Stay strong,> > > > >> > Hello! I post every once in a while, but read almost every post.> > > > A friend of mine with totally unvaxed kids (who currently have > chicken pox) emailed me to say that someone from the kids school > called the county health department (Pittsburgh, Pa).> > They wanted to know who her kids doctor was, how many lesions > the kids had, when they started showing symptoms, ect.> > I told her NOT TO ANSWER ANY of their questions!!!!> > Does she legally have to talk to them????> > > > Thanks,> > Kate> >> > >