Okay - I'm quite freaked out now... don't know if its unnecessary though. Yesterday was the 1st day of school for my students, and also 2 days after I found out I was pregnant!

A student came in with her mother and the mom said she couldn't stay, but that she wanted to come in and meet me! Apparently, the little girl has skin herpes, and was having an outbreak (on her face - cheek area). She can't come back until it clears up.

So - for now, she is home, but she is going to be back probably next week. I'm really freaked out. This child is going to be with me 6 hours a day, 5 days a week!

I would be slightly paranoid if I weren't pregnant, but I'm even MORE so because I AM pregnant. Do I have REASON to be freaked out?

Do I have a right to request she NOT be in my class or is that like discrimination or something?

SKIN herpes just sounds REALLY contagious to me! I mean - GOD - what if she touches a sore, then touches me or the other kids???

How contagious is it? I'm really freaked out right now!!!

How old is she? Is she old enough to control her touching of others and to remember to wash her hands??

I would be a bit concerned too...but before you make a fuss you should ask your doc about it. Are you a teacher?? So am I....I teach 6th grade in the USA

Poor littlel girl...she must of got it from her mama....

I would be VERY concerned and creeped out.

all i can say pass around the sanitizer

She is 7 or 8. (In 2nd grade). Yes, I'm a teacher. And yes, I FEEL badly for her.... but not so badly that I want to risk my health or that of my unborn baby. (not to mention the other kids!).

Oh the poor thing. To think of how she feels to have it, and for the rest of her life. I wouldn't request she be put in another class, she shouldn't be ostracized for a disease she can't help but have to no fault of her own.

I would start doing your research on her specific type of Herpes as soon as possible & ask the mom lots of questions. I'm sure she isn't contagious all the time, just during these outbreaks, which is why she is home & not in class. At least her mom is proactive in keeping her out until she is cleared up.

Chubby - I agree. I really do - but STILL. I feel bad. I feel bad that she has this, and its NOT her fault. And obviously, the mom is aware, and seems to be proactive in keeping her home when needed. However - from the 5 min of research I just did online (not enough to act like I know anything), it CAN be contagious without being visible, or even knowing they are having an outbreak. It can also be contagious WITHOUT skin to skin contact - I think. UGH. I'm so worried now! I really really don't want herpes!

I guess I'm gonna have to talk to MY doctor about it... find out if its okay to have her in class with me, and how to keep myself in the clear!

I'm gonna call tomorrow first thing!

Yeah, call the doctoe. Don't worry too much now, talk to the doctor then go from there. In the end you must do what is best to protect you and your baby.

It's not the bubonic plague.

It requires skin contact. Herpes is not airborne. It can be sometimes contained in bodily fluids near the site of infection but it cannot be contracted without contact with either skin or fluids.

Herpes is actually very common. 25% or more of adults are estimated to have it. Most people are asymptomatic. Regular Cold sores are herpes.

She could have got it lots of ways, including at a gym. A friend of mine's local school had to have all the mats replaced when it was found they were infected with herpes from the wrestling team. Gross.

Most herpes infections are of mucous tissue , IE lips,nose, genitals, etc. Skin infections are relatively rare. It probably got in through a cut. Unbroken skin is pretty resistant to it.

Limit touching of the girl. If her outbreaks are on her face that should be simple enough. Follow good hand washing procedures. If you must touch her for some reason, wear latex gloves.

Truthfully she's probably not the only student in your class carrying the virus, just the only one you know about. It's nasty to think about and definitely talk to your doctor but it's not something to freak out about yet.

I'm sure it's just a cold sore. Many MANY people have this virus, it's very common. If you were to catch the virus, you would end up with cold sores on your lips, and that's that. The virus that's bad for pregnancy is genital herpes which is a different virus than the facial cold sore ones. And even with that, they give you three weeks of medications to take in your third trimester to stop an outbreak.