Communicable Diseases

• If you think your child has Chickenpox:

  Tell your childcare provider or call the school.

  Does my student need to stay home from school?

  Yes, until all the blisters have dried into scabs. This is usually by day 6 after the rash began. This is true even if the child has been vaccinated.

  Symptoms

  Your child may experience a red, itchy rash, initially resembling insect bites, on the face, scalp, chest and back; Fever; loss of appetite or abdominal pain; Mild headache; dry cough

  If your child is infected, it may take 10-21 days for symptoms to begin.

  Spread

  - By touching the blister fluid or secretions from the nose or mouth.

  - By coughing or sneezing.

  Contagious Period

  From 1 to 2 days before the rash begins until all blisters have become scabs. 

  Scabs usually form within 6 days.

  Call your Healthcare Provider

  If someone in your home:

  ♦ develops a rash with fever. Your doctor will decide if treatment is needed. DO NOT go to a healthcare facility without calling first. You will be separated from others to prevent spread of illness.

  ♦ has been exposed to chickenpox and they have not had chickenpox disease or chickenpox (varicella) vaccine in the past or are pregnant.

If you think your child has Strep Throat:

Tell your childcare provider or call the school.

Does my student need to stay home from school?

Yes, until 24 hours after antibiotic treatment begins and the fever is gone.

Children who test positive for strep but do not show symptoms do not need to be excluded.

They are unlikely to spread the infection to other people.

Symptoms

Strep throat - Your child may have a fever that starts suddenly, red sore throat, and swollen glands.

Headache may occur. Children may have stomach pain and vomiting.

Scarlet fever - Rarely, a very fine raised rash appears at the same time as the throat soreness. The rash feels like sandpaper. The rash is most often on the neck, chest, elbow, and groin and in the inner thigh and folds of the armpit. Later on, the skin on the fingertips and toes may peel.

If your child is infected, it may take 2 to 5 days for symptoms to start.

Spread

- By coughing or sneezing.

Contagious Period

Until 24 hours after antibiotic treatment begins.

Call your Healthcare Provider

♦ If anyone in your home has symptoms. A doctor may do a lab test and give antibiotics.

If you think your child has Mono:

Tell your childcare provider or call the school.

Does my student need to stay home from school?

No, as long as the child is healthy enough for routine activities.

Sports:

Children with an enlarged spleen should avoid contact sports until cleared by their healthcare provider.

Symptoms

Your child may have a sore throat, swollen glands, headache, fever, and sometimes a rash.

Your child may be very tired.

Mono usually lasts from one week to several weeks. The time it takes to recover and regain energy varies from person to person.

Less common problems include jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) and/or enlarged spleen or liver.

If your child is infected, it may take about 4 to 6 weeks for symptoms to start.

Spread

- By kissing or sharing items contaminated with saliva.

Contagious Period

For several weeks or longer.

Call your Healthcare Provider

♦ If anyone in your home has symptoms of mononucleosis. Your child may need bed rest, to drink plenty of water, and to avoid some physical activities.

If you think your child has the Flu:

Tell your childcare provider or call the school.

Does my student need to stay home from school? Yes, until the fever is gone for at least 24 hours and the child is healthy enough for routine activities.

Symptoms

Your child may have chills, body aches, fever, and headache. Your child may also have a cough, runny or stuffy nose, and sore throat.

Illness may last up to 7 days.

If your child has been infected, it may take 1 to 4 days (usually 2 days) for symptoms to start.

Spread

- By coughing and sneezing.

- By touching contaminated hands, objects or surfaces.

Contagious Period

During the 24 hours before and up to 7 days after the illness begins.

Call your Healthcare Provider

 If anyone in your home has a high fever and/or coughs a lot. Your doctor may give medications.

Influenza Prevention & Vaccination Information

Stay informed and protect your health with up-to-date information on influenza from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Follow the link below to access the latest updates and guidance directly from the CDC.

CDC - Influenza Information (Flu)

If you think your child has Ringworm:

Tell your childcare provider or call the school.

Does my student need to stay home from school? Yes, until treatment has been started or if lesion cannot be completely covered. If on the scalp, until 24 hours after treatment has been started.

Activities: Limit gym, swimming, and other close contact activities if the lesions cannot be covered or until after treatment has begun.

Sports: Athletes follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations and the specific sports league rules.

Symptoms

Body - Flat, spreading, round shapes on the skin. If your child is infected, it may take 4 to 10 days for symptoms to start.

Scalp - Begins as a small scaly patch on the scalp and may cover more of the head. Mild redness, swelling, itching, and pustules (pus-filled bumps) may occur.

Infected hairs become brittle and break off easily. If your child is infected, it may take 10 to 14 days for symptoms to start.

Feet (athlete’s foot) - Scaling or cracking of the skin or blisters. Itching is common.

Spread

- By touching the infected skin of a person or pet (usually, dogs and cats).

- By sharing or touching contaminated objects. 

Contagious Period

As long as you can see the ringworm on your child’s skin. Once treatment has begun your child is less contagious.

Call your Healthcare Provider If anyone in your home has symptoms. Your doctor will decide if treatment is needed. It is important to follow your doctor’s treatment directions exactly.

If you think your child has Pink Eye: 

Tell your childcare provider or call the school.

Does my student need to stay home from school? 

Yes, if there is thick white or yellow drainage and eye pain, the child should be  excluded until appropriate treatment has been initiated or the discharge from the eyes has stopped unless the doctor has diagnosed a non-infectious conjunctivitis.

No, if eye drainage is clear and watery and the child has no eye pain.

Symptoms

Your child may have redness, itching, pain, and drainage from the eyes. Your child may have a fever.

If your child is infected, it usually takes 1 to 3 days for symptoms to start.

Spread

- By touching secretions from the eyes, nose, or mouth.

- By touching contaminated hands, objects, or surfaces.

Contagious Period

While symptoms are present.

Call your Healthcare Provider

♦ If your child has thick drainage from the eye. Your doctor will decide if treatment is needed.

♦ Antibiotic treatment may be prescribed. If the infection is caused by a virus, antiviral treatment may be needed.

If you think your child has Fifth Disease:

Tell your childcare provider or call the school.

Does my student need to stay home from school? No, if other rash-causing illnesses are ruled out by a healthcare provider.

Symptoms

Your child may have a sore throat or a low-grade fever.

A rash that causes very red cheeks (a "slapped cheek" look) in children. The rash often begins on the cheeks and moves to the arms, upper body, buttocks, and legs. The rash looks very fine, lacy, and pink. It usually fades in 3 to

7 days. However, the rash may come and go for weeks, when your child is in the sunlight or heat.

If your child is infected, it may take 4 to 21 days for symptoms to start.

Spread

- By coughing or sneezing.

- By touching contaminated hands, surfaces, and objects.

Contagious Period

Until the rash appears.

Call your Healthcare Provider

♦ If your child has a weakened immune system, sickle cell anemia, or other blood disorders and has been exposed to someone with fifth disease.

♦ If you are a pregnant woman who is exposed to fifth disease. Your doctor will decide if a blood test is needed.

Source:

1. Center for Disease Control and Prevention
2. Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

If you think your child has Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease:

Tell your childcare provider or call the school.

Does my student need to stay home from school? Yes, until the fever is gone and the child is healthy enough for routine activities. Sores or a rash may still be present.

Symptoms

Your child may have a runny nose, low-grade fever, and sometimes a sore throat.

A blister-like rash occurs in the mouth. It may be on the sides of the tongue, inside the cheeks, and on the gums.

These sores may last 7 to 10 days. This rash may occur on the palms and fingers of the hands and on the bottom of the feet.

If your child is infected, it may take 3 to 6 days for symptoms to start.

Spread

- By coughing and sneezing.

- By touching contaminated hands, surfaces, and objects.

Contagious Period

During the first week of illness. The virus may be in the

feces for several weeks.

Call your Healthcare Provider

♦ If anyone in your home has symptoms.

If you think your child has Norovirus:

Tell your childcare provider or call the school.

Does my student need to stay home from school? Yes, until the child has been free of diarrhea and vomiting for at least 24 hours.

Symptoms

Your child may have watery diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. Other symptoms may include headache, stomach cramps, and tiredness. Illness usually lasts for 24 to 48 hours. If your child is infected, it may take 1 to 2 days for symptoms to start.

Spread

- By eating or drinking contaminated food or beverages.

- By touching contaminated hands, surfaces, or objects.

- Also when someone vomits and bacteria gets in the air.

Norovirus is easily spread in the household.

Contagious Period

The illness can spread as long as the virus is in the feces.

Call your Healthcare Provider

♦ No specific treatment is available.

♦ Ask how to prevent dehydration. Your child may become dehydrated due to vomiting or diarrhea.

For vaccinations and other health-related questions, your family physician and the Webster County Health Unit are excellent resources. They can provide valuable information about influenza vaccinations and other required immunizations.

Source:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services