Download manual for infectious diseases` prevention at school

MANUAL FOR INFECTIOUS
DISEASES’ PREVENTION
AT SCHOOL
Manual for infectious diseases’ prevention at school
1
REMOVAL
The infectious diseases can spread rapidly and differently according to the infectious agent; the
child’s removal from the school can restrict both the direct and indirect transmission of the agent.
Parents must not bring the child at school when he/she shows the first emergence of symptoms of
diseases such as high temperature – more than 38°C - vomiting, diarrhea, skin diseases,
conjunctivitis, parasitosis. When the child shows symptoms of diseases or is ill at school the
coordinator or the teachers call his/her parents in order to fetch him/her from school. If the child
gets worse or the parents are not found the Emergency Service 118 could be called.
The coordinator of the school can decide the child’s removal in case of particular symptoms (D.P.R.
22.12.1967, n. 1518, art. 40). The removal can be decided for the teachers or other operators, too if
they show symptoms of infectious diseases during their scholastic activities.
It is useful to confirm the child’s removal through a document (Enclosure n.2 – Specimen removal).
In the following table (Table 2) the reasons for which the school’s coordinator can decide the
removal are specified. The table’s content is indicative; both the child’s health and the community’s
health must be taken into consideration in order to decide the proper child’s removal.
Table 2. Conditions determining the removal from school
AGE
TEMPERATURE
DIARRHEA
3 months5 years
(nursery
school)
Yes, if it is 38°C
or higher
6-10 years
(primary
school)
No, if there is no
other symptom
11-13
years
(secondary
school)
14-19
years
(high
school)
No, if there is no
other symptom
Yes, if there
are 3 bowel
movements
or more
within 3
hours
Yes, if the
child does
not control
sphincters
No
No, if there is no
other symptom
No
EXANTHEMA
OR SKIN
DISEASES
Yes if it is
shown all of a
sudden and not
caused by other
diseases
PURULENT
CONJUNCTIVITIS
VOMITING
MOUTH
VESICLES
PEDICULOSIS
Yes in case of
reddened eyes and
purulent secretion
Yes in case
of frequent
vomiting
Yes if there
are 2 or
more
vesicles
Yes in case of
louses or nits
Yes if it is not
caused by other
diseases
No
No
No
Yes in case of
louses or nits
Yes if it is not
caused by other
diseases
No
No
No
Yes in case of
louses or nits
Yes if it is not
caused by other
diseases
No
No
No
Yes in case of
louses or nits
Possible symptoms of any other diseases must be taken into consideration, too, as for instance: the
child seems too tired, or cries a lot without reasons, or has a persistent cough or has tummy-ache or
shows other strange symptoms. Children who are healthy carriers of hepatitis B or C or HIV can
attend the school regularly. Waiting for the child’s removal, it is necessary to avoid contact with
other schoolmates, taking the child in a comfortable place and take care of him/her by using gloves.
In case of epidemic particular measures will be adopted for the all school. The ill child’s parents
should call the school to communicate the treatment prescribed by the doctor in order to help the
necessary prevention intervention at school.
Manual for infectious diseases’ prevention at school
2
ABSENCE FOR DISEASE AND READMISSION AT SCHOOL
Each disease lasting more than five consecutive days needs a medical certificate that attests the
possibility to attend the school again (D.P.R. 22.12.1967, n. 1518 art. 42 and D.P.R. 314/90 art. 19).
This implies that the child needs the medical certificate only if he/she was at home for more than
five days. Every other absence from school does not need the certificate for readmission as long as
the family has informed the school previously.
Children who were removed for a disease can be readmitted at school upon a certificate made by
parents attesting the treatments applied by the doctor and the possibility to come to school again.
(see Enclosure n.3 – Self-statement).
In case of removal for temperature the child must be kept under observation at least 24 hours before
his/her readmission at school.
Generally speaking it is necessary for the child to be well in order to be readmitted at school; so
he/she could follow and take active part into the school activities.
The child affected by pediculosis can attend the school the day after the beginning of the suitable
treatment.
Children in plaster or with other aids or sutures can attend the school without any restrictions.
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ENCLOSURE n. 2: SPECIMEN REMOVAL
Name of the school
To the parents of………………………………..
With the present we are informing you that your child shows symptoms that could not be accepted
for the school attendance. Please contact a doctor for the suitable treatment.
In case the child will recover before the sixth day you should provide a self-statement attesting the
possibility for your child to attend the school again.
In case the child will recover after the sixth day of absence, you should bring the medical certificate
attesting the recovery.
The school manager
………………….....
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ENCLOSURE n.3: SELF-STATEMENT
SELF-STATEMENT FOR READMISSION AT SCHOOL AFTER A REMOVAL
I………………………………………………………………………………………………………...
resident in……………………………………………………………………………………………..
address………………………………………………………………………………………………...
mother/father of………………………………………………………………………………………..
removed by the school on…………………………………………………………………………….
declare to have called a doctor and to have followed the treatment for my child’s recovery.
Now my child can be readmitted at school.
Signature
…………………………………………………….
Date
…………………………………………………….
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FLU:
5 SIMPLE RULES TO BE
FOLLOWED
1. WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY
WITH WATER AND SOAP
FOR AT LEAST TWENTY SECONDS
2. COVER YOUR MOUTH WITH A TISSUE
WHEN YOU COUGH AND YOUR NOSE WHEN
YOU SNEEZE AND THEN PUT THE TISSUE
AWAY
3. DO NOT EXCHANGE THINGS OR FOOD
WITH YOUR FRIENDS
(PENS, PENCILS, GLASSES, FORKS, SPOONS,
SNACKS…)
4. DO NOT TOUCH YOUR MOUTH,
NOSE AND EYES
WITH DIRTY HANDS
5. KEEP AWAY FROM THOSE
WHO SHOWS
THE FLU’S SYMPTOMS
Manual for infectious diseases’ prevention at school
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THE INFECTIVE DISEASES
THE INFECTIVE DISEASES AT SCHOOL
-
WHAT ARE THEY?
HOW DO THYE SPREAD?
HOW TO PREVENT THEM
WHAT TO DO
HEPATITIS A
Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease caused by a virus. It is often asymptomatic especially in
small children or it may cause a general slight illness, temperature, sickness, small appetite,
stomachache, headache, diarrhea. A few days later the skin becomes yellow and urine a bit dark.
This step can last from one to ten weeks, more or less it usually lasts six weeks. Then the person
will generally recover and there is no possibility of becoming a chronic disease nor to be a healthy
carrier.
WHAT SHOULD PARENTS DO?
They should wash their hands carefully and keep both the bathroom and the clothes particularly
disinfected.
HEPATITIS B
Hepatitis B is a contagious liver disease caused by a virus. The disease can usually cause a general
slight illness, temperature, sickness, small appetite and asthenia. A few days later the skin becomes
yellow and urine gets of a darker yellow. Mostly people recover but the disease has left traces of
antibodies in the blood. Sometimes there is the possibility of becoming a chronic disease or
producing a cirrhosis of the liver, too. Sometimes the disease can spread even without symptoms.
Someone can become an healthy carrier and infect other people.
WHAT SHOULD PARENTS DO?
They should follow the doctor’s indications until the child’s readmission at school.
BACTERIAL MENINGITIS
Bacterial meningitis is a dangerous disease which attacks meninxes, membranes around the brain
and the spinal marrow. Among the bacteria which might cause meningitis in children there are
haemophilus influenzae, meningococcus and pneumococcus. This disease can cause sudden fever,
headache, sickness, vomiting, mental disease.
WHAT SHOULD PARENTS DO?
They should follow the doctor’s indications and do the suitable antibiotic chemo-treatments.
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INFECTIVE MONONUCLEOSIS
Infective mononucleosis is a disease caused by a virus which attacks B lymphocytes. As a result
they proliferate abnormally. People affected by this virus have fever, pharyngitis, a swelling of the
spleen, lymph nodes and liver. Sometimes it can cause skin disease or exanthema. The 50% of
infected people spread the disease, the others are asymptomatic, especially if they are babies or
small children.
WHAT SHOULD PARENTS DO?
They should follow the doctor’s indications until the child’s readmission at school.
MEASLES
Measles is an infective, highly contagious disease caused by a virus which spreads through the
upper respiratory tract. It causes high fever, coughing, a running nose, conjunctivitis and a typical
rash over the entire body (exanthema). A child is always tied down by measles which is correctly
considered as the most serious among the common childhood infective diseases because its acute
symptomatology and its possible complications. This complications can be: laryngitis, bronchial
pneumonia and above all encephalitis.
WHAT SHOULD PARENTS DO?
They should follow the doctor’s indications until the child’s readmission at school. It is very
important to communicate the disease to the school in order to allow a suitable preventive treatment
for the other children.
MUMPS
Parotids, commonly called mumps, is an infective disease caused by a virus spread by the airways.
It reveals itself through a swelling in front of the ear caused by the inflammation of a salivary gland
called parotid either on one or both sides of the face. The child will usually recover within 7-9 days.
The symptoms are fever, sickness and abdominal pain. The seriousness of this illness depends on
the consequences which may follow: meningoencephalitis, damage to the hearing organs,
pancreatitis and, after puberty, inflammation of one or both testicles.
WHAT SHOULD PARENTS DO?
They should follow the doctor’s indications until the child’s readmission at school.
PEDICULOSIS
Pediculosis is an infestation of the scalp, piliferous zones of the body and the clothes caused by
louses, grubs end eggs. The head louses live in the hair or behind the ears, but among the beard, too.
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The body louses live in the clothes but move in the body to eat. The pubis louses live in the hairs,
eyebrows, beard and moustache. The head pediculosis can attack every child at school and
represents a health problem. Louses are small insects of a white color, without wings but with foots
that allow the holding to the hair. They can sting the skin to eat blood. Pediculosis is often an
asymptomatic disease, it can just cause itch.
WHAT SHOULD PARENTS DO?
They should collaborate with the school to avoid the spread to the other children.
TO AVOID PEDICULOSIS’ SPREADING AT SCHOOL
It is important to know that it is not possible to prevent pediculosis’ spreading and it can be
contracted more and more. However some important device can be adopted in order to avoid the
disease’s spreading:
1. Parents should check accurately their children’s head, especially the nape and behind the
ears after school trips, at the beginning of the scholastic year and at the end of holidays.
2. In case of scholastic spreading it is useful to check all the family components, especially the
babies to discover possible nits and to apply the suitable treatment.
3. Remember that pediculosis can be contracted by adults, too.
4. Teach the children to avoid the exchange of some personal objects, such as hair brushes,
caps, scarves, hair slides or towels in extra-scholastic places, too.
PERTUSSIS
Pertussis is an infective disease that behaves, at first, like a common cold: tenderness, pain, slight
fever, sneezing and cough. But then each cough attack happens violently and rapidly, this is the
reason why pertussis is also called whooping cough. The disease course is favorable, even though
some complications, especially in infants less than one year old, may occur: pneumonia,
convulsions and brain damages.
WHAT SHOULD PARENTS DO?
They should follow the doctor’s indications.
RUBELLA
Rubella is an infective disease caused by a virus but with a favorable course. Symptoms are slight
fever, swelling of the lymph nodes and a brief rash. Serious complications are rare. It is a serious
disease if contracted for the first time during the pregnancy. In this case it can cause serious damage
such as abortion or congenital malformation of heart, brain, eyes and hearing.
WHAT SHOULD PARENTS DO?
They should follow the doctor’s indications and keep the child isolated until the end of infection.
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SCABIES
Scabies is a skin disease caused by an itch mite. It reveals itself with small red spots that cause itch
especially at night. The mite lays eggs under the skin and some days later grubs will originate. In
children of less than two years old the red spots rash on the head, neck, hands and feet. In older
children instead they usually rash among fingers, on wrists, armpits and elbows.
WHAT SHOULD PARENTS DO?
They should call the doctor and start the treatment, avoid the contact with the child’s infected skin
and wash carefully bed linens and underwear, too.
SCARLET FEVER
Scarlet fever is a disease caused by a bacterium, the A beta-hemolytic streptococcus. The common
symptoms are fever, sore throat, sickness. After more or less 12-48 hours small red spots appear on
the body and the tongue seems red like a strawberry. Possible complications are otitis and tonsillar
abscess.
WHAT SHOULD PARENTS DO?
They should follow the doctor’s indications.
TUBERCULOSIS
Tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial disease that can attack each organ or apparatus. The first
emergence of symptoms appear within 1-6 months after the infection and can reveal themselves
with fever, cough, loss of weight and sweating at night. The bacterium can stay inside the body for
the all life, too and can sometimes cause the active disease.
WHAT SHOULD PARENTS DO?
They should follow the doctor’s indications.
CHICKENPOX
Chickenpox is an infective, very contagious disease caused by a virus. It reveals itself by a not very
high fever, an unwell feeling and a typical exanthema characterized by small pink papules which
appear over the chest, ace, the limbs, but also inside the mouth, anus, vagina and ears. Its
complications are not very usual in children.
WHAT SHOULD PARENTS DO?
They should follow the doctor’s indications until the child’s readmission at school.
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