Download sick children policy

SICK CHILDREN POLICY
Reference: CCB – Federal Funding Guidelines
Handbook on Child Care Licensing
QIAS Principle 6.6
Legislation: Child Care Act and Regulations 2003
Food Safety Legislation 2001
Workplace Health and Safety Act 1005
Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 1997
Royal Children’s Hospital
Rationale:
Maintaining a healthy community in child care is the responsibility of both parents and
staff. Our Centre is not a place for sick children, as we cannot provide the care
contagious or ill children need. Any child suffering from an infectious illness will be
excluded from the Centre until they are well or no longer infectious (as may be
determined by a clearance letter from a Medical Practitioner).
A child requiring 1:1 care reduces the staff/child ratio and reduces the safety of the
remaining children.
Aim:
To set guidelines for dealing with sick children for staff and parents, and maintain a safe
environment for children, staff and families.
Implementation:
 For children who become sick while at the centre staff will follow the exclusion
policy and the Director will exercise discretion in individual circumstances. This
discretionary note is put in place until confirmed by a Medical Practitioner or until a
clearance letter is given. This is to protect the children, staff and families from any
suspected outbreak of an illness or to protect the wellbeing of the child.
 Children suffering infectious skin disorders, conjunctivitis, head lice, and school
sores (impetigo) will be excluded until treated. This policy reduces the risk of
transmission.
 For children who are sick at home for contagious illnesses a doctor’s clearance will
be needed before the child can resume attendance at the centre.
 A doctor’s certificate may be required for return of care when a child has had an
illness or suspected illness, this will be at the request of the Director and also as per
Appendix 1 so as to keep up the centre duty of care to all children, staff and families.
 For children with a notifiable illness, the director will contact the Department of
Health as required. A notifiable illness is an illness that under the Government
Regulations, requires the centre to inform the State Health Department of the illness
being present at the centre. An example of such a case might be one or more cases of:

H1N1 Influenza,

Tuberculosis,

Shigella (intestinal infection),

Meningistis,

Measles,

Hepatitis A, B or C,
Brandon Park Children’s Centre September 2009 – version 2 – approved by Parent Committee 26th August

Haemophilus Influenzae Type B
More than 2 cases of:

Erythema Infectiosum (slapped cheek, parvovirus B19, fifth disease),
More than 3 cases in one group of:

Rotavirus (intestinal infection),

Roseola (sixth disease),

Cryptosporidiosis (vomiting and diarrhoea),

Diarrhoea and Vomiting (gastroenteritis),

Campylobacter (intestinal infection).
In this case the family details will be given to the Department for reporting.
 For a list of infectious/communicable illnesses please refer to Appendix 1.
 Children who are hospitalised must wait 24 hours before returning to the centre.
 Children with temperatures above 37 degrees under the arm and 38 degrees in the ear
will be required to be picked up as soon as practicable (temperatures per Paediatric
guidelines on temperatures) (staff usually take temperatures in the ear at the centre).
 Children who are deemed too sick or unfit to participate in the daily program will be
required to be picked up
 All cases of vomiting and diarrhoea will be excluded for 24 hours (parents are to
advise the centre if children have been unwell overnight)
 Children who start a course of antibiotics will be excluded for 24 hours.
A list of infectious diseases and exclusion periods is available at the office and are listed
in the foyer.
EVALUATION AND REVIEW:
This policy will be reviewed at least annually.
Family and staff feedback will be considered in the review process. Changes in
legislation, regulations, QIAS and standards will be considered.
Any changes to this policy will be communicated to families and staff verbally and in
writing (Notice Boards and Newsletters)
ASSOCIATED FORMS AND DOCUMENTATION:
Exclusion Table
Infectious Diseases Log
Appendix 1:
Communicable Diseases
Published by the Communicable Diseases Section, Victorian Government Department of Human Services — February
2004
Minimum Period of Exclusion from Schools and Children's
Services Centres for Infectious Diseases Cases and Contacts
The following table indicates the minimum period of exclusion from schools and children’s service
centres required for infectious diseases cases and contacts as prescribed under Regulations 13 and
14 of the Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 2001 — Schedule 6. In this Schedule 'medical
certificate' means a certificate of a registered medical practitioner.
Brandon Park Children’s Centre September 2009 – version 2 – approved by Parent Committee 26th August
Conditions
Amoebiasis
(Entamoeba
histolytica)
Campylobacter
Chicken pox
Conjunctivitis
Diarrhoea
Diphtheria
Haemophilus type b
(Hib)
Hand, Foot and
Mouth disease
Hepatitis A
Herpes ('cold sores')
Human immunodeficiency virus
infection
(HIV/AIDS)
Impetigo (school
sores)
Influenza and
influenza like
illnesses
Leprosy
Measles
Meningitis (bacteria)
Meningococcal
infection
Mumps
Exclusion of cases
Exclude until diarrhoea has ceased
Exclusion of contacts
Not excluded
Exclude until diarrhoea has ceased
Exclude until fully recovered or for at
least 5 days after the eruption first
appears. Note that some remaining
scabs are not a reason for continued
exclusion
Exclude until discharge from eyes has
ceased
Exclude until diarrhoea has ceased or
until medical certificate of recovery is
produced
Exclude until medical certificate of
recovery is received following at least
two negative throat swabs, the first not
less than 24 hours after finishing a
course of antibiotics and the other 48
hours later
Exclude until medical certificate of
recovery is received
Until all blisters have dried
Not excluded
Any child with an immune deficiency (for example,
leukaemia) or receiving chemotherapy should be
excluded for their own protection. Otherwise not
excluded
Exclude until a medical certificate of
recovery is received, but not before 7
days after the onset of jaundice or
illness
Young children unable to comply with
good hygiene practices should be
excluded while the lesion is weeping.
Lesions to be covered by dressing,
where possible
Exclusion is not necessary unless the
child has a secondary infection
Not excluded
Exclude until appropriate treatment
has commenced. Sores on exposed
surfaces must be covered with a
watertight dressing
Not excluded
Exclude until well
Not excluded
Exclude until approval to return has
been given by the Secretary
Exclude for at least 4 days after onset
of rash
Not excluded
Exclude until well
Exclude until adequate carrier
eradication therapy has been
completed
Exclude for 9 days or until swelling
Not excluded
Not excluded
Exclude family/household contacts until cleared to
return by the Secretary
Not excluded
Not excluded
Not excluded
Not excluded
Immunised contacts not excluded. Unimmunised
contacts should be excluded until 14 days after the
first day of appearance of rash in the last case. If
unimmunised contacts are vaccinated within 72
hours of their first contact with the first case they
may return to school
Not excluded
Not excluded if receiving carrier eradication therapy
Not excluded
Brandon Park Children’s Centre September 2009 – version 2 – approved by Parent Committee 26th August
Poliomyelitis
Ringworm, scabies,
pediculosis (head
lice)
Rubella (german
measles)
Salmonella, Shigella
Severe Acute
Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS)
Streptococcal
infection (including
scarlet fever)
Trachoma
Tuberculosis (TB)
Typhoid fever
(including
paratyphoid fever)
Verotoxin producing
Escherichia coli
(VTEC)
Whooping cough
Worms (Intestinal)
goes down (whichever is sooner)
Exclude for at least 14 days from
onset. Re-admit after receiving medical
certificate of recovery
Re-admit the day after appropriate
treatment has commenced
Not excluded
Not excluded
Exclude until fully recovered or for at
least four days after the onset of rash
Exclude until diarrhoea ceases
Exclude until medical certificate of
recovery is produced
Not excluded
Exclude until the child has received
antibiotic treatment for at least 24
hours and the child feels well
Re-admit the day after appropriate
treatment has commenced
Exclude until receipt of a medical
certificate from the treating physician
stating that the child is not considered
to be infectious
Exclude until approval to return has
been given by the Secretary
Not excluded
Exclude if required by the Secretary
and only for the period specified by the
Secretary
Exclude the child for 5 days after
starting antibiotic treatment
Not excluded
Exclude if diarrhoea present
Not excluded
Not excluded unless considered necessary by the
Secretary
Not excluded
Not excluded
Not excluded unless considered necessary by the
Secretary
Exclude unimmunised household contacts aged less
than 7 years and close child care contacts for 14
days after the last exposure to infection or until they
have taken 5 days of a 10 day course of antibiotics
Not excluded
Exclusion of cases and contacts is NOT required for Cytomegalovirus Infection, Glandular fever
(mononucleosis), Hepatitis B or C, Hookworm, Molluscum contagiosum, or, Parvovirus (erythema
infectiosum fifth disease
Brandon Park Children’s Centre September 2009 – version 2 – approved by Parent Committee 26th August
Brandon Park Children’s Centre September 2009 – version 2 – approved by Parent Committee 26th August