ILLNESS / DISEASE SYMPTOMS / SIGNS |
INCUBATION PERIOD |
SCHOOL ACTION AND COMMENTS ON COMMUNICABILITY |
SOURCE OF INFECTION AND MODE OF TRANSMISSION |
Hand , Foot , and Mouth Disease |
Sores occur toward the front of the mouth , on the sides of the tongue , inside the cheeks , and on the gums ; may last 7-10 days . In most cases , sores can be found on the palms of the hands , the fingers , and the soles of the feet . A low-grade fever may |
last 1-2 days . Usually 3-5 days |
Exclude until temperature is normal for 24 hours and child is well enough to participate in normal , daily activities . Sores may still be present . |
Coxsackievirus spreads through contact with nose and throat discharge and stool of infected persons . Hand washing important . |
Pink Eye ( Conjunctivitis ) |
Bacterial : pink or red conjunctiva with pus that causes matting of the eyelids , pain or redness of eyelids . Viral : pink conjunctiva with clear watery discharge and without pain or redness of eyelids . |
1-3 days Refer for medical diagnosis and treatment . |
Most are viral in etiology , some bacterial . May be spread through hand-eye contact . |
Reye Syndrome |
Sudden onset of violent vomiting , mental confusion , extreme sleepiness , or fatigue , twitching or jerking movements , hostility , coma . |
1-7 days following viral infection ( cold , flu , chicken pox ) |
1 . If one or more symptoms appear , call physician immediately .
2 . Go to emergency room of hospital .
3 . Do not give aspirin to a child with a viral illness .
4 . Exclude from school until clinically well .
|
Usually follows viral infection . It is not contagious . Cause unknown . No prevention . Requires immediate attention at onset of symptoms . Most common in young children . |
Ringworm Body : Ringworm appears as flat , spreading ring-shaped lesions . The edge of the lesion may be dry and scaly or moist and crusty . As the lesion spreads outward , the center often becomes clear . Scalp : Ringworm may be hard to detect in the early stages . It often begins as a small , scaly patch on the scalp . Mild redness and swelling may occur . Infected hairs become brittle and break off easily . |
Body : 4-10 days
Scalp : 10-14 days
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Exclude from school until 24 hours after treatment has been started . |
Lesions must be covered when participating in contact sports . Fungus spread by contact with infected person , animal or contaminated articles . |
Scabies |
Rash and intense itching which may be more severe at night . Common locations to see the rash are folds of skin between fingers , around wrists , elbows , and armpits . Other areas where rash may appear are knees , waistline , thighs , male genitals , abdomen , chest , and lower portion of buttocks . Infants may be infected on head , neck , palms , and soles of feet . |
2 weeks - 2 months :
Symptoms may appear in less than 1 week if the person has had scabies before .
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Exclude from school until 24 hours after treatment begins . |
Mite is transferred by direct contact with skin or through shared bedding , towels , and clothing of a person with scabies . Treat all members of household at the same time . |
Streptococcal Sore Throat / Scarlet Fever |
Sudden onset of fever , sore throat , swollen glands , headache , abdominal pain , nausea and vomiting in severe cases . With scarlet fever a very fine raised rash is present . A fuzzy , white tongue may occur . The rash appears most often on the neck , chest , in folds of the armpit , elbow , groin , and the inner thigh . Later there may be peeling of the skin on the fingertips and toes . |
Usually 1-3 days |
Exclude until throat culture report is received . If positive for strep , exclude from school until 12 hours after antibiotic treatment is started and until clinically well . Communicable until 12 hours after treatment is started . Exclude from school until temperature has been normal for 24 hours . |
Bacteria spreads directly from nose and throat discharges of infected persons . |