Help- a 4 year old with possible STD!

[LoriAlabamaRN]

Hey everyone,

I hope you can help me (and possibly help reassure my CNA!)

One of my CNAs, "Jane", has a four year old daughter "Mary" who is just the light of her life. She's a single mom, and she works extra shifts each week just to be able to provide for her child. Anyway, she had taken Mary to a local park yesterday to play on the playground and walk through the nature trail. Jane was sitting on a bench watching the children when she noticed that Mary was standing by herself out at the edge of where the playground sand meets the grass and facing away from her. She went over to see what Mary was doing, and to her horror when Mary faced her she saw that Mary had a used condom in her mouth, blowing it up thinking it was a balloon someone had left on the ground!!! She grabbed it away from her and made her rinse her little mouth out with bottled water, and she has made an appointment with a local pediatrician but they can't see her until Monday. She is understandably distraught and sickened, and has asked me through tears what her baby girl could have gotten. What would your opinions be? What should I tell her? She just left my office.

Can you believe that some creep would do such a thing- leave that filthy trash laying around a PLAYGROUND?!?!?!?! :angryfire

[workingforskies]

I would have taken her to an ER. A one time shot of rocephin would provide good, broad spectrum coverage and certainly won't hurt her. Is there a chance that she could be infected with something? Yes. But I don't think it is likely. If I had to bet, I'd say she will be just fine.

An aside. As upset as mommy is about this, (and I don't blame her a bit), a child that age does not have the tools or the capacity to make the same conclusions that we adults can. As important as it is to teach her never to do that again, it's equally important that the child know while mommy is upset, she is not upset at her.

Children at that age are so very beautiful for the innocence we perceive in them as they explore the world around them. But it's a double edged sword. That blithe innocence can also get them into trouble. All any responsible parent can do is keep a good eye on them, relish in the beauty of their wonderment and bloody well hope and pray for the best.

As far as the creep that left the dead condom there, I hope he knocked her up anyway and has to pay child support for the next 20 years!

[LoriAlabamaRN]

Just wanted to update... the first round of tests were all negative, thanks be to God. Thank you everyone for your reassurances- I did pass them along. "Jane" is still very shaken up, but she seems to be doing better. I was seriously getting extremely worried about her. Her little girl has another appointment next week and then in 6 weeks, not sure what from there. I just think it's a sad world when something like that can happen to an innocent baby in a playground.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Thanks for the update.