Contagious Conditions 

commonly seen in the school setting

In the event that your child develops a condition that you feel is contagious, please check with your health care provider.  We would appreciate you notifying the school if your child is diagnosed with a contagious condition so we can notify other parents if the health department recommends this. This is reported without identifying your child.  Many contagious conditions must also be reported to the Texas Department of Health. This information is not intended to take the place of consultation with your health care provider but to give you guidelines on school attendance in the event of a diagnosis of a contagious condition. Information unless otherwise stated, is taken from the Red Book, 26th Edition, 2003 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases by the American Academy of Pediatrics.  

Chickenpox (Varicella)	Flu (Influenza)	Head lice (Pediculosis)
Impetigo	Mono Mononucleosis	Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis)
Staph Infection (Staphylococcus Aureus)	Strep throat  (Group A Streptococcal Infection)	Fifth Disease  (erythema infectiosum)

Chickenpox (Varicella) Chickenpox usually begins with a slight fever and skin eruptions.  The skin usually develops a red rash which then becomes watery blisters.  After 3-4 days, these blisters form a scab or crust.  The child is considered contagious as long as there are blisters.  Once all the vesicles have crusted over and are no longer draining, the child may return to school. This is usually about a week. Children that have received the varicella vaccine injection may still occasionally develop a case of break-through varicella or chickenpox but is usually not as severe as someone who has not received the immunization.

Treatment:  Keep child at home as long as he/she is contagious.  Treat symptoms.  If running fever, do not use Aspirin products as this increases the risk of Reye's Syndrome. Check with your doctor if you have questions about treatment.  Please notify the school if your child has been ill with chickenpox as this needs to be reported, even if it is a case of break-through varicella. 

Flu (Influenza) Flu is classically characterized by a sudden onset of fever, often with chills, headache, muscle aches and a mild nonproductive cough.  The person may develop a sore throat, nasal congestion and runny nose.  Children with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher in the morning at home, should not come to school.

Treatment:  usually involves treating the symptoms with over the counter medications.  Check with your doctor about anti-viral medication that might decrease the length of the illness.   Avoid eating or drinking after someone who has been ill with the flu.  Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.  Frequent hand washing is important to prevent the spread of the flu. Students should be excluded from school until they are free of fever for 24 hours without having to use medication to lower the temperature.  Please report diagnosis of flu to the school nurse as the health department requires us to report the number of cases that we are seeing each week.

Head lice (Pediculosis) Head lice can happen to anyone.  It is not a sign of poor health habits or of being dirty.  It can be spread by sharing things such as combs, brushes, caps or hats.  It is important that you treat the problem quickly and thoroughly to prevent the spread.

Common symptoms of head lice are a persistent, intense, itchy scalp.  Upon examination of the hair, you will notice white eggs or nits that are glued to the hair shaft.  These may be confused with dandruff or dry skin.  Dandruff is not contagious and when combed, will fall out of the hair. In extreme infestation cases of head lice, the live lice may be seen in the hair. Head lice are tiny parasites that live on the human scalp.  They usually measure 2-3 mm. in length, move rapidly and are generally grayish-brown in color.  Head lice live exclusively on blood feedings from the human host.

Diagnosis:  if the hair is combed and the white flecks remain attached to the hair shaft, then most likely you are dealing with head lice.  You may use toothpicks to separate the hair to look for the eggs or nits.  They are usually more prevalent behind the ears or at the base of the neck.  You may also request your child's school nurse to check your child for head lice.  If the child is diagnosed at school, the school nurse will contact the school nurse(s) for any siblings in school to also check them.  It is important that the entire family be treated as well as treating the home.

Treatment:  A special shampoo (pediculicide) must be used to kill the lice and nits.  This is available by either prescription or over the counter.  It is a good idea to check with your doctor or pharmacist for recommendations. Unless advised otherwise by your doctor, follow the instructions on the bottle exactly. When our child returns to school following treatment for head lice, take the empty container with you and have the school nurse check your child's hair for the presence of nits as well as review the recommendations for the second treatment if necessary. Pediculicides may have harmful side effects if used excessively and/or improperly. Eight to ten days after the initial treatment, a second treatment may be recommended to ensure that any newly hatched nits will be killed before they begin laying eggs and restarting an infestation. Because pediculicides are not always 100% effective in killing eggs, it is extremely important to use an effective metal lice comb to remove nits (eggs) and dead lice.  Sheets, pillowcases, towels and clothing recently worn need to be washed in hot water to kill lice.  You should thoroughly vacuum carpets, mattresses, upholstered furniture and car upholstery.  Stuffed animals, blankets or fabric items should be either washed or if they are non-washable, the items should be dry cleaned or sealed in a plastic bag for approximately 2 weeks.  Parents should clean the child's combs, brushes and other hair accessories in hot water (130 degrees Fahrenheit).

Information from Recommended Guidelines for the Management of Pediculosis (head lice) in School Settings School Health Program, Bureau of Children's Health, Texas Department of Health.  http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/schoolhealth

Impetigo Impetigo is a common skin infection in children. It usually starts in an open area on the skin where the child has suffered an insect bite or scratch.  This area easily becomes infected with the Streptococcus bacteria (it is in the same family as a "strept throat" infection).  The infected area develops a crusty scab with intermittent yellow oozing.  The rash usually itches and occasionally blisters will form.  Once the child is infected, the itching causes the child to scratch and the impetigo spreads to normal skin around the infected area.  It can be spread to other areas of the body and even to other people through direct contact with the sores or from contact with the child's hands.

Treatment:   If your child is suspected of having impetigo here at school, you will be called and asked to pick your child up.  Check with your doctor in regard to treatment.  Sometimes if detected early enough, impetigo can be treated with vigorous treatment by scrubbing the sores hard enough to remove the crusts and applying antibiotic ointment.  Many times the doctor will need to prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection.  Please get a note from the doctor that the child may return to school.  If antibiotics need to be administered at school, only send the needed doses to school in the prescription bottle as the medication cannot be sent home with the student.  Please get a note from your doctor indicating that your child can return to school.  Encourage your child to wash hands frequently and to avoid scratching the area of infection.

Mononucleosis (Mono)  is a common infection of childhood characterized by fever, fatigue, sore throat and swollen lymph glands.  It is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).  EBV spreads from one person to another when infected saliva comes in contact with the mouth and possibly, the nose and eyes.  It has been dubbed the "kissing disease" and although kissing is one way to catch the illness, the virus can also be spread on cups, utensils and other objects, as well as in droplets coughed and sneezed in the air. A typical case of "mono" begins with weakness and fatigue, sore throat, fever and lack of appetite.  Tonsils may be swollen and red.

Diagnosis:  Check with your doctor if you suspect your child has mono. Most likely your doctor will order blood tests to diagnose the illness.

Treatment:  Rest and treat the symptoms.  Get a note from your doctor indicating when your child may return to school and if involved in athletics or extra-curricular activities, when these may be resumed. 
 

Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis) is an inflammation of the thin, clear membrane (conjunctiva) that covers the white of the eye and inside surface of the eyelid.  It can be caused by a variety of bacteria, viruses and other germs as well as by allergy and exposure to chemicals.  Infection spreads from person to person by direct contact, in droplets coughed or sneezed into the air, or on hands, towels and washcloths. 

Symptoms:  Redness of the white of the eye, often accompanied by increased tearing or discharge ("matter").  This discharge may be watery or thick with mucus and pus causing the eyelids to stick together.  Infection may begin in only one eye, but usually spreads to involve both.  The eyes may burn or itch or it may feel that something is in the eye.  If your child exhibits symptoms of pinkeye at school, the parent will be called to pick up the child.  Please see your doctor to confirm whether or not your child has pinkeye. 

Treatment:  If pinkeye is the diagnosis, the doctor will probably prescribe antibiotic eye drops or ointment.  These need to be used as long as directed by the doctor.  Girls that use eye makeup should discard the mascara currently being used.  Do not resume use of eye makeup until infection clears.  Frequent hand washing should be encouraged as well as discouraging your child from sharing eye makeup or contacts with anyone. To return to school, the child either needs to be free of symptoms or must have a note from the doctor stating that the child may return to school.

Staph Infection (Staphylococcus Aureus) Staph is a common bacterium found in people.  Infection increases if people have a cut or break into their skin.  Infected lesions commonly present themselves as a spider or insect bite that later develops into a red, swollen abscess. Students involved in contact sports are more prone to develop staph infections (boils).  A doctor must examine any suspicion of an infection immediately. Any student with open lesions or sores should be evaluated and excluded from contact sports until the lesions are healed or released by a doctor to participate. Staph infections left untreated can be dangerous, and in extreme cases, even life threatening.

Treatment:  See your doctor immediately.  The infected area may be lanced and drained.  Antibiotics are usually always prescribed. Always take all doses of antibiotics prescribed by a doctor even if the area appears healed.  If you have a reaction to a particular antibiotic, notify your doctor rather than just discontinuing the antibiotic. Notify the school nurse if your child is diagnosed with a staph infection. Get a note from your doctor as to when your child can return to school and to athletics or extra-curricular activities, if indicated.  If antibiotics or any special treatment is required at school, please get instructions from the doctor and give them to the school nurse.  Send only antibiotics needed at school in the original prescription bottle as this bottle cannot be sent back and forth with the student. Any sores that are draining pus need to be covered while at school.  Use good hand washing techniques to prevent the spread of infection.

Strep throat (Group A Streptococcal Infection) Strep throat is commonly seen in school aged children. "The textbook case of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis is an acute illness with a predominant sore throat and a temperature higher than 38.5°C (101.3°F). Constitutional symptoms include fever and chills, muscle aches, headaches and nausea. However, many patients do not fit the textbook picture. Children, for example, may present with abdominal pain or emesis."  Information taken from American Academy of Family Physicians web page.  Click for more information.   If left untreated, a strep infection could lead to more serious rheumatic fever and kidney disease.

Treatment:  Consult your family doctor if you suspect your child has strep throat.  Diagnosis is done by a positive rapid antigen detection test or by a throat culture. Treatment normally consists of antibiotics.  Always take all doses of antibiotics

There is no vaccine for fifth disease, and no real way to prevent the spread of the virus. Isolating someone with a fifth disease rash won't prevent spread of the infection because the person usually isn't contagious by that time.Practicing good hygiene, especially frequent hand washing, is always a good idea since it can help prevent the spread of many infections.
Incubation