4.6        INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND EXCLUSION

 

DATED:             November, 2004

 

SOURCED:        National Health & Medical Research Council

                        Staying Healthy In Child Care, 3rd Ed.

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POLICY

 

Bayside Family Day Care is committed to maintaining the health and well-being of children in the care environment. To reduce the effect of infectious diseases in the family day care environment by promoting safe and hygienic practices and implementing an exclusion policy for those who may be infectious.

 

 

PROCEDURE

 

The Carer will ensure the health and safety of children in care is protected by:

 

  • Bayside Family Day Care scheme provide Carers with a current copy of Staying Healthy in Childcare, 3rd Edition prior to commencing work within the service. Carers use these guidelines to minimise the spread of infection within the care environment
  • Applying current exclusion practices and guidelines included in the Staying Healthy in Childcare 3rd  ed. when an infectious disease has been identified in the care environment
  • Where a child has symptoms of an infectious illness the scheme requires a Doctors Certificate for the child to return to care
  • Where a child has been unwell overnight the family are required to telephone the Carer prior to attending care. The family will inform the Carer of the child’s symptoms and any treatment given so that a decision can be made regarding the provision of care on that day.
  • Ensuring that children with a health condition are not discriminated against
  • Maintain the confidentiality of children and families in relation to medical conditions
  • Discuss the scheme’s policy on infectious diseases and exclusion practices with families seeking care
  • Maintain effective hygiene practices, including:

 

    • Correct hand-washing technique as outlined in Staying Healthy in Childcare 3rd Edition
    • Using standard precautions (see below) when handling blood, all body fluids, secretions, excretions, dried blood and other body substances
    • Cleaning bathroom and toilet areas at least once a day
    • Cleaning toys and other items that children are likely to put in their mouths, after use
    • Raking sandpits often and securely covering them when not in use. When removing faeces, blood or other body fluids from sandpits the surrounding sand should be included and placed in a plastic bag for disposal

 

  • Seeking information from FDC staff, Public Health Unit (30009148), or Medical Practitioner regarding transmission details and current exclusion practice for an identified infectious disease in the care environment
  • Inform staff, and families using their service of any infectious disease which may be present in the care environment, including exclusion details (with exception of those diseases dealt with by the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988)

 

 The Bayside Family Day Care Scheme will:

 

  • Obtain current immunisation details from the family of every child commencing care
  • A copy of the enrolment forms containing immunisation details will be provided to the parent to give to the carer at the time of their first interview, prior to the child commencing care
  • Maintain current information on infectious diseases, specifically transmission and exclusion details, and provide this information to families and carers when necessary
  • Provide information to families and carers regarding payment of child care fees in cases of absences due to illness
  • Maintain the confidentiality of Carers, children and families in relation to medical conditions
  • Provide information to families where there is an outbreak of an infectious illness in the care environment

 

 

The term, Standard Precautions, means treating all blood and other body fluids as if they are infectious. This includes:

 

  • Washing and drying hands before and after contact
  • Using gloves, masks or other protective barriers, and disposing by sealing into a plastic bag
  • Cleaning spills with paper towels and disposing by sealing into plastic bag
  • Disinfecting the area with an appropriate solution, following instructions on the container
  • Safe disposal of syringes or other sharp objects which may be contaminated

 

Exclusion Periods for Infectious Illnesses

(From Staying Healthy in Childcare, 3rd Edition)

 

Recommended minimum periods of exclusion from school, pre-school and child care centres

for cases of and contact with infectious diseases


National Health and Medical Research Council - June 2001

 

Condition

Exclusion of cases

Exclusion of contacts

Amoebiasis
(Entamoeba histolytica)

Exclude until diarrhoea ceases.

Not excluded.

Campylobacter

Exclude until diarrhoea has ceased.

Not excluded.

Chicken pox

Exclude for at least 5 days AND until all blisters have dried

Any child with an immune deficiency (for example, leukaemia) or receiving chemotherapy should be excluded for their own protection. Otherwise not excluded.

Conjunctivitis

Exclude until discharge from eyes has ceased.

Not excluded.

Cytomegalovirus Infection

Exclusion not necessary.

Not excluded.

Diarrhoea

 

Exclude until diarrhoea has ceased.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not excluded.

Diphtheria

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 family/household contacts until cleared to return by an appropriate health authority.

Glandular fever (mononucleosis)

Exclusion is not necessary.

Not excluded.

Hand, Foot and Mouth disease

Until all blisters have dried.

Not excluded.

Haemophilus type b (Hib)

Exclude until medical certificate of recovery is received.

Not excluded.

Hepatitis A

Exclude until a medical certificate of recovery is received, but not before seven days after the onset of jaundice or illness.

Not excluded.

Hepatitis B

Exclusion is not necessary.

Not excluded.

Hepatitis C

Exclusion is not necessary.

Not excluded.

Herpes ("cold sores")

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.

Not excluded.

Hookworm

Exclusion not necessary.

Not excluded.

Human immun.-deficiency virus infection (HIV AIDS virus)

 

 

 

 

Exclusion is not necessary unless the child has a secondary infection.

 

 

 

 

 

Not excluded.

Impetigo

Exclude until appropriate treatment has commenced. Sores on exposed surfaces must be covered with a watertight dressing.

Not excluded.

Influenza and influenza like illnesses

Exclusion is not necessary.

Not excluded.

Leprosy

Exclude until approval to return has been given by an appropriate health authority.

 

Not excluded.

Measles

Exclude for at least four days after onset of rash.

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.

Meningitis (bacterial)

Exclude until well.

Not excluded.

Meningococcal infection

Exclude until adequate carrier eradication therapy has been completed.

Not excluded if receiving rifampicin.

Molluscum contagiosum

Exclusion not necessary.

Not excluded.

Mumps

Exclude for nine days or until swelling goes down (whichever is sooner).

Not excluded.

Parvovirus (erythema infectiousum fifth disease)

 

 

 

 

Exclusion not necessary.

Not excluded.

Poliomyelitis

Exclude for at least 14 days from onset. Re-admit after receiving medical certificate of recovery.

Not excluded.

Ringworm, scabies, pediculosis (lice), trachoma

Re-admit the day after appropriate treatment has commenced.

Not excluded.

Rubella (german measles)

Exclude until fully recovered or for at least four days after the onset of rash.

Not excluded.

Salmonella, Shigella

Exclude until diarrhoea ceases.

 

Not excluded.

Streptococcal

infection (including scarlet fever)

Exclude until the child has received antibiotic treatment for at least 24 hours and the person feels well.

Not excluded.

Tuberculosis

Exclude until a medical certificate from an appropriate health authority is received.

Not excluded.

Typhoid fever (including paratyphoid fever)

Exclude until approval to return has been given by an appropriate health authority.

Not excluded unless considered necessary by public health authorities.

Whooping cough

Exclude the child for five days after starting antibiotic treatment.

Exclude unimmunised household contacts aged less than 7 years for 14 days after the last exposure to infection or until they have taken five days of a 10-day course of antibiotics. (Exclude close child care contacts until they have commenced antibiotics).

Worms (intestinal)

Exclude if diarrhoea present.

Not excluded.

 

 

Note:

The NHMRC recommends that children who are physically unwell should be

excluded from attending school, pre-school and child care centres. 

 

This list should be read in conjunction with the publication Staying Healthy in Childcare (3rd ed.) 

 

Source: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/order.htm