Childhood Contagious Diseases

              Children are at increased risk of some infectious diseases because they have not yet developed immunity to them, they tend to gather in groups, and they may have difficulty with some aspects of hygiene.

 Chicken Pox

Time from exposure to illness
2 to 3 weeks.
Symptoms:
Slight fever, runny nose, and a rash that begins as raised pink spots that blister and scab. Can be more severe in pregnant women and newborns.
Do I need to keep my child home?
Yes, for 5 days from the onset of the rash and the blisters have dried.
How can I help prevent spread?
Immunise your child at 18 months of age. Immunisation is recommended for children at 12 years if they are not immune.

Conjunctivitis

Time from exposure to illness
1-3 days.
Symptoms:
The eye feels scratchy, is red and may water. Lids may stick together on waking.
Do I need to keep my child home?
Yes, while there is discharge from the eye.
How can I help prevent spread?
Careful hand washing; avoid sharing towels. Antibiotics may be needed.

Gastroenteritis

Time from exposure to illness
Depends on the cause: several hours to several days.
Symptoms:
A combination of frequent loose or watery stools, vomiting, fever, stomach cramps, headaches.
Do I need to keep my child home?
Yes, at least for 24 hours after diarrhoea stops.
How can I prevent spread?
Careful hand washing with soap and water after using the toilet or handling nappies and before touching food.

German Measles (Rubella)

Time from exposure to illness
2 to 3 weeks.
Symptoms:
Often mild or no symptoms: mild fever, runny nose, swollen nodes, pink blotchy rash that lasts a short time. Can cause birth defects if pregnant women are infected.
Do I need to keep my child home?
Yes, for at least 4 days after the rash appears.
How can I help prevent spread?
Immunisation (MMR) at 12 months and 4 years of age.

Glandular Fever

Time from exposure to illness
2 to 3 weeks.
Symptoms:
Fever, headache, sore throat, tiredness, swollen nodes.
Do I need to keep my child home?
No, unless sick.
How can I help prevent spread?
Careful hand washing, avoid sharing drinks, food and utensils, and kissing.

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Time from exposure to illness
3 to 7 days.
Symptoms:
Mild illness, perhaps with a fever, blisters around the mouth, on the hands and feet, and perhaps the nappy area.
Do I need to keep my child home?
Yes, until the blisters have dried.
How can I help prevent spread?
Careful hand washing especially after wiping nose, using the toilet and changing nappies.

Head Lice

Time from infestation to eggs hatching
Usually 5 to 7 days.
Symptoms:
Itchy scalp, white specks stuck near the base of the hairs; lice may be found on the scalp.
Do I need to keep my child home?
No, as long as head lice management is ongoing.
How can I prevent spread?
Family, friends and classroom contacts should be examined and managed if infested.

Hepatitis A

Time from exposure to illness
About 2 to 6 weeks.
Symptoms:
Often none in small children; sudden fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes), dark urine, pale stools.
Do I need to keep my child home?
Yes, for 2 weeks after first symptoms or 1 week after onset of jaundice.
How can I help prevent spread?
Careful hand washing; close contacts may need to have an injection of immunoglobulin; immunisation is recommended for some people.

Impetigo

Time from exposure to illness
1 to 3 days.
Symptoms:
Small red spots change into blisters that fill up with pus and become crusted; usually on the face, hands or scalp.
Do I need to keep my child home?
Yes, until treatment starts. Sores should be covered with watertight dressings.
How can I prevent spread?
Careful hand washing.

! Impetigo picture1, picture2, picture3

Influenza

Time from exposure to illness
1 to 3 days.
Symptoms:
Sudden onset fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, muscle aches and headaches.
Do I need to keep my child home?
Yes, until they look and feel better.
How can I prevent spread?
Careful hand washing, especially after coughing, sneezing or wiping your nose. Immunisation, is recommended for the elderly and people with chronic illnesses.

Measles

Time from exposure
About 10 to 12 days until first symptoms, and 14 days until the rash develops.
Symptoms:
Fever, tiredness, runny nose, cough and sore red eyes for a few days followed by a red blotchy rash that starts on the face and spreads down the body and lasts 4 to 7 days.
Do I need to keep my child home?
Yes, for at least 4 days after the rash appears.
How can I prevent spread?
Immunisation (MMR) at 12 months and 4 years. Contacts who are not immune may be excluded for 14 days after onset in the last case at the facility.

Meningococcal Disease

Time from exposure to illness
2 to 7 days.
Symptoms:
Sudden onset of fever and a combination of headache, neck, stiffness, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness or rash.
Do I need to keep my child home?
Seek medical attention immediately. Patient will need hospital treatment.
How can I help prevent spread?
Close contacts should see their doctors urgently if symptoms develop, and may need to have a special antibiotic. Immunisation with Meningococcal C vaccine at 12 months of age.

Picture1

Molluscum Contagiosum

Time from exposure to illness
1 to 6 months.
Symptoms:
Multiple small lumps (2-5mm) on the skin that are smooth, firm and round, with dimples in the middle. Lumps in children are mostly on the face, trunk, and upper arms and legs. Symptoms can last 6 months to 2 years.
Do I need to keep my child at home?
No.
How can I help prevent spread?
Avoid contact sports when a child has uncovered lumps
  picture1, picture2, picture3

Mumps

Time from exposure to illness
14 to 25 days.
Symptoms:
Fever, swollen and tender glands around the jaw.
Do I need to keep my child home?
Yes, for 9 days after onset of swelling.
How can I prevent spread?
Immunisation (MMR) at 12 months and 4 years of age.

Ringworm

Time from exposure to till illness
Varies (may be several days).
Symptoms:
Small scaly patch on the skin surrounded by a pink ring.
Do I need to keep my child home?
Yes, until the day after fungal treatment has begun.
How can I help prevent spread?
Careful hand washing.

Scabies

Time from exposure to illness
New infections: 2 to 6 weeks; reinfection: 1 to 4 days.
Symptoms:
Itchy skin, worse at night. Worse around wrists, armpits, buttocks, groin and between fingers and toes.
Do I need to keep my child home?
Yes, until the day after the treatment has begun.
How can I prevent spread?
Close contacts should be examined for infestation and be treated if necessary. Wash linen, towels and clothing worn in the past 2 days in hot water and detergent.

Scarlet Fever

Time from exposure to illness
1 to 3 days.
Symptoms:
Sudden onset sore throat, high fever and vomiting, followed by a rash in 12 to 36 hours.
Do I need to keep my child home?
Yes, until at least 24 hours of treatment has begun and the child is feeling better.
How can I prevent spread?
Careful hand washing. Sick contacts should see their doctor.

Slapped Cheek

Time from exposure to illness
1 to 2 weeks.
Symptoms:
Mild fever, red cheeks, itchy lace-like rash, and possibly cough, sore throat or runny nose. Can cause foetal disease in pregnant women if they have not been previously infected.
Do I need to keep my child home?
No as it is most infectious before the rash appears.
How can I prevent spread?
Careful hand washing; avoid sharing drinks.

Whooping Cough

Time from exposure to illness
7 to 20 days.
Symptoms:
Starts with a running nose, followed by persistent cough that comes in bouts. Bouts maybe followed by vomiting and a whooping sound as the child gasps for air.
Do I need to keep my child home?
Yes, until the first 5 days of a special antibiotic have been taken.
How can I help prevent spread?
Immunisation at 2, 4, 6 months and 4 years of age. A special antibiotic can be given for the patient and close contacts. Case should be excluded from childcare and school until 5 days after treatment begins. Unimmunised contacts may be excluded from childcare unless they take the special antibiotic.

Related links

• Staying Healthy in Child Care - Preventing infectious diseases in child care (4th Ed)  http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/ch43syn.htm

Personal hygiene Guide

          

•  Personal hygiene is defined as a condition promoting sanitary practices to the self. Hygiene is the science concerned with the prevention of illness and maintenance of  health. 

   Cleansing of the skin is a complex interaction between the stratum corneum barrier, environmental dirt, body secretions, and a surfactant. Washing of the skin is the single most common cause of dermatologic disease, yet it is necessary in terms of personal hygiene and health.

Personal hygiene is defined as a condition promoting sanitary practices to the self. Hygiene is the science concerned with the prevention of illness and maintenance of health. It is important to know, understand and practice good personal hygiene for as early as childhood to ensure a healthy lifestyle up until the stage of puberty and adulthood.

     

I. HANDWASHING

Hand washing is an easy way to prevent infection. It is a simple habit that can help keep you healthy. Learn the benefits of good hand hygiene, when to wash your hands and how to clean them properly.

 Hand washing is something most people do without thinking. Yet hand washing,when done properly, is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick. This simple habit requires only soap and warm water or an alcohol- based hand sanitizer — a cleanser that doesn't require water.

 

IMPORTANCE
    1. To cleanse the hands of pathogens (including bacteria or viruses) and chemicals which can cause personal harm or disease.
    2. One good way to prevent transfer of infectious diseases that are commonly spread through hand-to-hand contact and contact with fomites (doorknobs) including the common cold, flu and several gastrointestinal disorders, such as infectious diarrhea. 

    3. Inadequate hand hygiene contributes to food-related illnesses, such as salmonella and E. coli infection. 

PROCEDURE

•Wet your hands with warm, running water and apply liquid soap or use clean bar soap. Lather well.

•Rub your hands vigorously together for at least 15 to 20 seconds.

•Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.

•Rinse well.

•Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel.

•Use a towel to turn off the faucet. 

II. ORAL CARE 

Get daily dental care tips and learn ways to protect your oral health. See which symptoms should prompt a call to your dentist. Don't take your smile for granted. Maintain good oral health by practicing regular dental care habits and reporting problems to your dentist promptly.

IMPORTANCE

     1.  Prevents losing your teeth and gives you a wide good smile.

   2. Cleaning your teeth daily and visiting your dentist one to two times a year

prevents gum disease and other oral health problems. 

PROCEDURE 

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day and ideally after every meal, using fluoride-containing toothpaste.

• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush — it's gentler on your gums.

• To brush properly, hold your toothbrush at a slight angle against your teeth and use short back-and-forth motions.

• Brush the inside and chewing surfaces of your teeth.

• Brush your teeth for about two minutes each time you brush.

• Brush your tongue.

• Avoid vigorous or harsh scrubbing, which can irritate your gums.

• Replace your toothbrush every three or four months, or sooner if it become frayed. 

III. HAIR AND NAILS 

  The hair follicles (which the hair grows from) produce oil which keeps the hair smooth. You also have sweat glands in your scalp, and dead skin cells come off the scalp. The oil, sweat and dead cells all add together and can make the hair greasy and look dirty unless you wash it regularly. 

IMPORTANCE

    1.  Gains good impression from other people especially the peers.

   2.  Prevents acquiring of infestations and different parasitic organisms.
   3.  Cut nails helps to avoid a perfect environment for germs to live and breed.

 4. Wearing nail polish adds color and style to your nails but may harbor microorganisms and maybe harmful to health.

   5.  Nail biting must not be practiced even if hands have been washed.

PROCEDURE

•Wash hair regularly with shampoo (cheap ones are often as good as very expensive ones).

•massage your scalp well. This will remove dead skin cells, excess oil and dirt.

•rinse well with clear water.

•conditioner is helpful if you have longer hair as it makes the hair smoother and easier to comb, but hair doesn't need to have conditioner.

•a shorter hair and avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun would minimize damage to the hair and acquiring of nits.

•use a wide toothed comb for wet hair as it is easier to pull through.

•Cut nails once a week. Best time would be after taking a bath. 

IV.BATHING AND BODY CARE 

   According to the experts young kids may sweat but they don't start having body odour (BO) until they reach puberty. That's when special sweat glands under the arms and around the genitals roar into full production pouring out sweat which smells!

   Even if you're not heavily into puberty style sweating, clothes can get stained, dirty and generally grubby, so you need to change them often. 

  Underclothes are right next to your skin and collect dead skin cells, sweat and possibly other unmentionable stains. Overnight bacteria start to work on these stains so your clothes do not smell as nice on the second day of wearing.

 

IMPORTANCE

1. Prevents body odor.
2. Helps refresh the body and the mind.
3. Prevents acquiring pimples and having oily face.
4. Gives a good impression from other people.

PROCEDURE

•Take a bath everyday or after periods of sweats or getting dirty.

•May use scented body soaps but germ-free soaps are more effective in giving a sure clean. After washing with soap and completely drying, immediately apply an underarm antiperspirant. Remember, deodorants do not prevent sweating. They mainly mask the smell of the bacteria on your sweaty skin. Antiperspirants are chemical agents that reduce sweating. 

    Many antiperspirant preparations also contain a deodorant, which helps to mask the smell. Check the product you use to make sure it contains an antiperspirant. 

    Keep your underarms dry. Bacteria have a hard time breeding in dry areas of the body.Shaving your underarm regularly will help prevent the accumulation of bacteria and can reduce sweat and odor.

    If you have excessive sweating (called hyperhidrosis), talk to your doctor. There are many treatment options for those with more severe sweating who desire more permanent treatments. Also, certain medical problems can lead to excessive sweating. Your doctor can make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

•Scrub off thoroughly especially the elbows, knees and armpit parts. 

•Use a separate facial wash for the face.

•Rinse well.

•Change clothes every after bathing or when soaked with sweat.

•Clean the ears after every bath.