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Comment by hattmall | Hacker News Reader

That's crazy. I have small kids and the doctors never give antibiotics. They just say it's something viral and to give Tylenol / Ibuprofen to treat discomfort. The daycare doesn't have any rule like that either they just check for fevers and they have to stay out until no fever for 24 hours. When one was really sick with croup they gave him some steroids but that's it. We have even switched doctors 3x and always been the case.

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Yeah, my kids have had what feels like every illness under the sun, and I can count on one hand (maybe one finger?) the number of times we’ve been given antibiotics. They’re in public school, which may have something to do with it, but the rule has always been 24 hours sans fever with no antipyretics and you’re good to return. Sorry to hear that the parent poster has encountered such bizarre rules, that’s pretty lame.

Wow, I’m shocked (and heartened) to hear that your experience has been so different. Maybe it’s just the area I’m in or my healthcare provider. I always expect to be told “it’s a common cold, get the kid some rest and leave urgent care to the real illnesses” but I’ve literally never had that happen.

Definitely varies by country. In Czechia, they give antibiotics only after three days of fever or symptoms that strongly hint at bacterial infection. And they usually do at least a CRP test, often a cultivation.

The daycare rules here vary place by place, though. Some of them just check for fever, some don't like running noses.

I am on the west coast in the US, and my kids’ pediatric group almost never gives antibiotics. They typically tell me over the phone not to bother coming unless it has been a very high fever or multiple days of worsening symptoms.

Only antibiotics we have had were after they looked in ear and said the redness and pus indicated bacterial as well as the color and consistency of conjunctivitis discharge.

And around here, daycares do not require any doctors’ note. They just tell you not to bring your kid in if they have fever or vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours.

Same for my family here in a midwestern state. I'm curious where OP is living...

I go to Palo Alto Medical Foundation in the Bay Area, literally down the street from Stanford. If there were any region I would expect to follow evidence-based practices I would expect it to be them.

I'm guessing they are more into doing the feel good thing to avoid angry parents.

My experience with doctors and daycare is similar to Hattmall. Keep them home for 24hrs if fever. No doctors note. I’m in Minnesota.

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