Download JGCC, Communicable/Infectious Diseases

FILE: JGCC
Cf: GAMF, GAMFB
Cf: JGCB
COMMUNICABLE/INFECTIOUS DISEASES
The Lafourche Parish School Board recognizes that occasional health problems
may exist in the school setting. The principal and school nurse shall consult as needed
with the local health department for specific measures in handling suspected cases of
communicable disease. School officials shall cooperate with the local health department
which has the discretion to institute appropriate measures to control or eliminate the
spread of a disease in the school population. This may include the recommendation for
closure of school or exclusion of susceptible person from school.
School employees have a responsibility to advise the principal when a student is
suspected of having a communicable disease. The principal or designee shall annually
review with staff the procedures to be used for handling a student who is suspected of
having a communicable or "nuisance" disease.
PEDICULOSIS (LICE)
School children are at greatest risk, and no socioeconomic group is immune.
Transmission occurs by close contact with the infested person or a personal item.
Infestations can be spread by direct contact with hats, scarves, ribbons, combs, brushes,
chairs, beds, and carpeting containing lice or eggs.
Early signs and symptoms are irritation and itching of the scalp. Lice are light gray
insects which lay eggs or nits on the hair, especially at the nape of the neck and above
the ears. There are pediculocides (shampoos) available by prescription or there are
over-the-counter preparations.
Any child with lice must be satisfactorily treated and possibly remain at home until
he/she is free of nits.
Recommended Procedure for Control Measures and Treatment of Head Lice
1.
School personnel should conduct lice screening if a case of head lice is suspected.
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2.
Principals may exclude the affected student(s) and refer to treatment.
3.
Schools may provide the following instruction and control:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
4.
Treat all family members; if any are under two years of age, consult
physician.
After shampooing, remove all nits with fingernails or fine tooth comb.
Repeat treatment in seven to ten days.
Wash all combs and brushes with lice-killing shampoo.
All clothing and bedding must be laundered in hot soapy water.
Unwashable items may be placed in a sealed, air-tight plastic bag and
allowed to remain at least five (5) days.
A common household insecticide should be used on mattresses,
upholstered furniture, etc.
Follow-up school measures should include:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Rescreen classrooms as deemed necessary.
Provide materials of instruction to teachers and parents.
Encourage health education in the classroom.
Determine whether or not there are siblings attending other schools, and
notify appropriate school personnel.
Authorized personnel may make a home visit if necessary.
SCABIES
Scabies are caused by a tiny mite which burrows between the layers of the skin. It
is often found between the fingers or on the wrist. Intense itching occurs, and a rash of
tiny blisters appears. Scabies are transmitted by direct contact such as handholding or
handshaking.
Only a medical doctor can confirm a case of scabies.
Recommended Procedure for Control Measures and Treatment of Scabies
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The principal may exclude the student from the classroom until he/she is seen by a
medical doctor.
School personnel should conduct screening only if a confirmed case is found.
Schools may provide necessary information and health education.
School personnel should determine whether or not there are other siblings in other
schools, and inform appropriate personnel.
Authorized personnel may make a home visit if necessary.
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CHICKENPOX
Period of Communicability: Lasts for an interval of at least six (6) days from the earliest
evidence of the disease.
School Attendance Recommendations: Isolation at home is required until sores are
healed, or only a few remain, which are well covered by scabs. Other children in the
family may attend school but are to be excluded immediately at the first sign of illness.
DIPHTHERIA
Period of Communicability: Usually between two (2) and four (4) weeks, if untreated.
School Attendance Recommendations: Isolation of the patient at home or in the hospital
until health authorities determine that the child is no longer infectious. All family contacts
of the patient who are in school are to be isolated at home until released by the local
health authorities. Schoolroom contacts should be placed under daily observations by
teacher or nurse until seven (7) days after last exposure.
IMPETIGO (INDIAN FIRE)
Period of Communicability: While sores remain unhealed or untreated. The disease is
spread by direct contact and indirectly by contact with articles recently soiled by
discharges from the sores.
School Attendance Recommendations: Infected individuals should be excluded from
school until the sores are healed, or until released by local health authorities.
MEASLES (GERMAN - RUBELLA)
Period of Communicability: One week before and at least five (5) days after appearance
of rash. Highly communicable.
School Attendance Recommendations: Isolation for school children is not required if the
diagnosis is accurate. Exposure of female children is actually recommended by many
physicians because of the risk involved to the unborn child if they should contract this
disease later in life when pregnant. However, exposure of pregnant women to the
children is to be avoided.
MEASLES (RED-RUBEOLA)
Period of Communicability: Five days before rash through first few days of rash.
School Attendance Recommendation: Any child with measles should be isolated at home
for at least three to five days following the appearance of the rash. Other children in the
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family may attend school, but are to be observed carefully by the teacher and excluded at
the first sign of illness. Children may return to school without a letter from the attending
physician.
MUMPS
Period of Communicability: From several days before the earliest symptoms until swelling
has disappeared.
School Attendance Recommendations: Isolation of the patient at home until the swelling
disappears. Other children in the family may attend school, but the teacher should
observe them closely and exclude them immediately at the earliest symptoms of illness.
No doctor's readmission letter is required for return to school if all evidence of swelling
has disappeared.
POLIOMYELITIS (POLIO)
School Attendance Recommendations: Individuals should be excluded from school until
released by a physician.
RASHES
There are numerous other cases of rashes caused by echo and coxsackie viruses
frequently associated with upset stomach. The child should be out of school for the
duration of the rash unless he/she presents a note from a physician stating that he/she
may attend school.
RINGWORM
Period of Communicability:
Undetermined.
Ringworm is spread by wearing
contaminated clothing (caps), or by contact with scales or hairs from the sores. It may
also come from contact with dogs and cats. Greatest incidence is among children from
five to twelve years of age, but there is one type of ringworm which may infest adults.
School Attendance Recommendations: Anyone having ringworm should be placed under
treatment by a physician. Return to school is dependent upon being under adequate
treatment. No child should be readmitted to the classroom unless he/she has a note from
a physician stating he/she is under care.
BLOOD BORNE CONTAGIOUS OR INFECTIOUS DISEASES
The attendance at school of students who have been diagnosed as having blood
borne diseases which are infectious or contagious, such as AIDS and Hepatitis-B, and
which may be transmitted by the exchange of body secretions, shall be determined by the
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Superintendent on a case-by-case basis. The Superintendent shall obtain the advice of
an advisory committee to assist him/her in making his/her determination.
The
composition of the committee shall be determined by the Superintendent. The student
may be excluded from school pending the Superintendent's decision. The privacy rights
of the student involved shall be respected. The number of personnel who are made
aware of the student's condition shall be minimized but shall not serve to jeopardize the
safety of the student and other persons within the school environment.
The following procedures shall be utilized in determining the attendance at school
of any students diagnosed as having a blood borne disease which is infectious or
contagious, such as AIDS and Hepatitis-B, and which may be transmitted by the
exchange of body secretions. Each such determination shall be made on a case-by-case
basis. These procedures shall not apply to persons suffering from common childhood
diseases, such as measles, chicken pox, impetigo, strep throat, scarlet fever, head-lice,
etc.
1.
The Superintendent shall establish a Review Panel which shall make a
recommendation to him/her regarding the student's attendance at school.
Prior to making such a recommendation, the panel shall review all pertinent
information regarding the student. The panel shall consist of personnel
from the local public health department, the student's family physician, the
student's parents, the student, if appropriate, and such other persons as the
Review Panel shall deem necessary. The Review Panel may make such
further recommendations as it deems appropriate.
2.
The Review Panel shall meet and make its recommendation to the
Superintendent as soon thereafter as practical. The Superintendent shall
notify the student's parents of his/her decision within three (3) operational
days after receiving the Review Panel's recommendation. The student's
parents may appeal the Superintendent's decision to the School Board.
The request for such a plea must be submitted to the Superintendent in
writing within (3) three operational days of the date of the Superintendent's
decision. Failure to request an appeal within the specified time shall
constitute a waiver of the right to an appeal to the School Board. The
Board shall be informed of action taken by the administration.
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3.
The student's status shall be reevaluated based upon a plan for periodic
review formulated by the Review Panel.
4.
The student may be excluded from school pending the Superintendent's
decision or any reevaluation.
5.
All parties involved shall respect the individual's right to privacy. The
number of personnel who are informed of the student's condition shall be
kept at a minimum needed to assure proper care of the student and to
detect situations where the potential for transmission may occur (e.g.,
bleeding injury).
Recommendations of the Lafourche Parish Health Unit and the Louisiana Office of
Health Services and Environmental Quality are to be followed in dealing with all other
cases of communicable disease.
Ref:
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:170; Louisiana School Health Guide, Bulletin
1707, Louisiana Department of Education; Board minutes, 11-4-87, 4-5-89.
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