The Runny Nose Standard

Are all runny noses equal?

I know that it's frowned upon to take a child suffering from a cold or some other runny-nose-inducing contagious illness to places where they might exchange germs with other little children, but what if the runny nose has nothing to do with a cold? What if it's seasonal allergies? What if it's teething?

I ask because Madeline's getting her bottom 24-month molars in, and her teething symptoms regularly include fever and a runny nose. Teething certainly isn't a contagious condition, but I am very apprehensive to take her anywhere that she might encounter other young children. It's not readily apparent that she's teething - I imagine that everyone would think that Madeline has a terrible cold and I'm an ignorant mom bringing my poor child to places where their own children will pick up her germs and catch her terrible so-called cold. Argh! So we lay low while her nose is running. No playground. No swimming pool. No playing with the other kids at the YMCA.

Sometimes I wonder if I'm thinking too much and no one else on this planet becomes a hermit when their child's nose is merely running out of sympathy for his or her tender gums.

Comments

[Mary P]

My rule of thumb: If it's thick and yellow, stay home. If it's clear and you're sure it's not contagious? I'd be out there, saying loudly at frequent intervals, "Aren't these allergies just the most ANNOYING things?"

(So it's not allergies. Who's to know? Not everyone agrees that teething causes runny noses, but an allergy? An allergy is a widely acceptable non-contagious reason for a snotty nose.)

It's about mommy survival...

[laura]

Hee hee! That's what I do when I go out and actually have a cold :)

[nonlineargirl]

I'd go out with the teething snot in tow. As Mary suggested, people with allergies are not confined to their homes, why should teethers be?

[Jaime]

I agree with the colour of it, runny and clear, you are good to go. Even our early years say it's ok to come around when it is clear, because it isn't a viral thing. Go out! Everyone else does.

[Debra Hooker]

Clear mucus running out of the nose could be signs of an allergy, but it is also a sign of viral infection which IS contagious. Mucus that is thick and yellow has bacteria and white blood cells in it. This is an indication of bacterial infection, sometimes requiring antibiotics.

[Debra Hooker]

Clear mucus running out of the nose could be signs of an allergy, but it is also a sign of viral infection which IS contagious. Mucus that is thick and yellow has bacteria and white blood cells in it. This is an indication of bacterial infection, sometimes requiring antibiotics.