CONTROL OF CASUAL-CONTACT COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
The Board of Education recognizes that control of the spread of communicable disease through casual contact is essential to the well-being of the school community and to the efficient District operation.
For purposes of this policy, “casual-contact communicable disease” shall include diphtheria, scarlet fever and other strep infections, whooping cough, mumps, measles, rubella, and other designated by the Michigan Department of Public Health.
In order to protect the health and safety of the students, District personnel, and the community at large, the Board shall follow all State statutes and Health Department regulations which pertain to immunization and other means for controlling communicable disease spread through normal interaction in the school setting.
The teacher may remove from the classroom and the Director may exclude from the building or isolate in the District any student who appears to be ill or has been exposed to a communicable disease.
The Superintendent shall develop administrative guidelines for the control of communicable disease which shall include:
A. instruction of professional staff members in the detection of these common disease and measures for their prevention and control;
B. removal of students from District property to the care of a responsible adult;
C. preparation of standards for the readmission of students who have recovered from casual-contact communicable diseases;
D. filing of reports as required by statute and the State Department of Health.
Management of Selected Casual-Contact Diseases
Diseases spread by airborne and/or direct contact with germs from sneezing, coughing, and speaking.
DISEASE SYMPTOMS INCUBATION CONTAGIOUS RETURN TO SCHOOL
PERIOD PERIOD
CHICKENPOX General discomfort, slight to high 10-21 days 5 days before When lesions are dry and
(Varicella) fever, headache, and loss of av: 14-16 rash to 6 days crusted and no new
appetite. Lesions appear in after rash first eruptions. At least 7 days
bunches with most on upper starts after rash first appears.
body. Face and extremities are
less affected. Typical lesions
have teardrop shape surrounded
by reddened area. Blistered
(new) and broken and crusted
(old) eruptions are on the skin
at the same time.
FIFTH DISEASE Rash begins as a solid red area 6-14 days Probably 2 days Exclude for diagnosis.
(Erythema on cheeks (“slapped cheek” Before rash and 4-5 days
Infectiosum) appearance), spreading to upper later. Usually no treatment
arms and legs, trunk, hands needed. Cause unknown.
and feet
INFLUENZA Starts suddenly with chills, fever, 24-72 hours About 3 days About 3 days, at discretion
(Viral Influenza) headache, muscle pains, and from first of school nurse or principal
coughing. Followed by other symptoms
cold symptoms.
SCARLET FEVER Begins with fever and sore throat. 1-7 days Variable. If not Exclude until 48 hours
(Scarletina) Rash appears as a pink-red flush av: 2-4 days treated, can be after treatment completed.
which looks like a sunburn with contagious for
goose pimples that spread to all months
parts of the body. Afterward, the
skin peels off like a sunburn. Often
the tongue has a “strawberry”
appearance.
SPINAL MENINGITIS Sudden onset of high fever, 1-10 days Unknown. Requires doctor’s note for
(Meningococcal) and headache, and stiff neck. In av: 2-4 days Probably re-admittance.
(Haemophilus) severe cases, delirium stupor throughout the
or coma can also occur. In duration of
meningococcal meningitis symptoms.
small purplish spots are oc-
casionally seen in skin and
mucous membranes.
STREP THROAT Similar to scarlet fever but 1-7 days Same as above. Same as above.
(Streptococcal sore without a rash. A sore throat and av: 2-4 days
throat) fever are the most pronounced
symptoms.
ROSEOLA Sudden high fever (104-105 degrees) 5-15 days Unknown. The Until no symptoms.
(Exanthem Subitum) which falls with the appearance of disease does
a rash on about the third or fourth not appear very
day. Rash consists of small rose-pink contagious.
spots which first appear on the chest
and abdomen but may spread to the
face, legs, and arms. Rash is
usually limited to only one or two days.
RUBELLA Rash begins on the face and 14-21 days 7 days before 7 days after rash onset.
(German Measles) spreads to the rest of the body av: 16-19 days to 7 days
within 24 hours and is usually after rash onset,
gone by the end of the third day.
Often present is a pronounced
swelling of the lymph nodes
behind the ear and at the base
of the skull. Mild coughing,
sneezing, and reddened eyes
are common early in the course
of the illness.
MEASLES Begins 3-4 days of gradually 8-13 days 4 days before 4 days after disappearance
(Rubeola) increasing fever, runny nose, av: 10 days rash and for of the rash.
(red) inflamed eyes, and up to 4 days
especially coughing. Rash usually after dis-
begins around ears and hairline, appearance of
spreading down to cover face, the rash.
trunk and arms by second day.
Rash is initially bright pink with
distinct raised spots. Tiny
blue-white pinpoint-sized
swelling inside the cheeks may be
observed a day before the rash
first appears. The rash usually
lasts about five days.
Sensitivity to light is also
common.
MUMPS Onset is gradual. There may be 2 to 3 weeks Usually 5, but 5-9 days after onset and no
(Infectious Parotitis) chills, discomfort, headache, av: 18 days may be as long symptoms.
pain below ears accompanied by as 7 to 9 days
a moderate fever of 101-102 prior to the onset
degrees or higher followed by of salivary gland
swelling of one or both salivary swelling.
glands. Swelling is below and
in front of ear. Usually swelling
in one gland subsides as the
other begins to swell. The ear
lobe is often pushed forward by
the swelling of the gland.
Swelling usually lasts 5 to 7 days.
TUBERCULOSIS Starts with fever, night sweats, 2-10 weeks Variable. After Requires a doctor’s note
(TB) and weight loss early. Later starting treat- for re-admittance.
symptoms include a persistent ment with anti
non-productive cough, chest TB drugs, a
pain, hoarseness, and coughing patient may
of blood. become non-
infectious in as
little as two
weeks.
WHOOPING COUGH Coughing and sneezing followed 7-10 days Early, when the Requires doctor’s note
(Pertussis) 1 to 2 weeks later by breathing av: 7 days patient has for re-admittance.
characterized by a series of common cold-
short convulsive-like coughs, like symptoms.
and a high pitched gasp of The patient
air called a whoop becomes less in-
fectious as the
convulsive-like
coughs begin.
Infectious stage
ends in about
four weeks
Diseases spread by contact with tiny parasites on contaminated belongings of others.
DISEASE SYMPTOMS INCUBATION CONTAGIOUS RETURN TO SCHOOL
PERIOD PERIOD
RINGWORM Ringworm of the scalp begins 4-14 days As long as any Return after treatment has
(Tinea Capitis; as a small pimple which grows untreated lesions begun – cover with bandaid
Tinea Corporis) and spreads, leaving scaly are present and or clothing, when possible
patches of temporary baldness. spores persist on
Ringworm of the body appears contaminated
as flat, spreading, ring-shaped materials.
lesions. The outside is usually
reddish and filled with pus while
the skin on the inside tends to
return to normal.
PINWORM Itching in anal areas, disturbed 3 weeks As long as the Return after treatment.
sleep, irritability and local to 3 months female worm
irritation due to scratching. survives in
the intestine.
Diseases spread by the fecal-oral route – contamination of food, drink or objects placed in the mouth.
DISEASE SYMPTOMS INCUBATION CONTAGIOUS RETURN TO SCHOOL
PERIOD PERIOD
CAMPYLOBACTER Sudden onset of fever and 1-20 days Throughout the Requires doctor’s note for
(Vibriosis Vibrionic abdominal pain and diarrhea av: 3-4 days illness (1-4 re-admittance.
Enteritis) which may be severe. May days). If not
also be vomiting and some- treated, up to
times blood in the stools 7 weeks.
GIARDIASIS Chronic, intermittent diarrhea, 1 to 4 weeks Entire period Same as above.
(Protozoan bloating, foul-smelling stools after exposure of infection
Diarrhea) and fatigue and weight loss.
Sometimes observable
symptoms are not present.
SALMONELLOSIS Sudden onset of fever, 6-72 hours Variable.. Same as above.
(Acute Gastro abdominal cramps, diarrhea av: 12-36 hours throughout
Enteritis) and possibly vomiting. course of
(Food Poisoning) illness.
SHIGELLOSIS Sudden onset of fever, diarrhea 1-7 days From onset Same as above.
(Bacillary Dysentery) abdominal pain. Loss of av: 2-3 days of illness
appetite and vomiting may also until 4 weeks
occur. There may be blood, later.
mucous, or pus in the stools.
VIRAL Abrupt onset of nausea, vomiting 24-48 hours From onset of Same as above.
GASTROENTERITIS diarrhea, abdominal pain, and illness until
(Viral Diarrhea; discomfort. Fever, if present, symptoms
Winter Vomiting is usually low grade. Very subside.
Rotoviral Diarrhea) contagious.
Hepatitis A Sudden loss of appetite, nausea, 15-40 days 10-15 days Same as above.
(Infectious Hepatitis) and abdominal pain or av: 28 days before
(Epidemic Jaundice) discomfort. Within a few days, symptoms
jaundice occurs with yellowing appear until
of eyes and skin and darkening the first few
of urine. days of
jaundice.
Diseases spread by direct skin contact with wounds or discharges from an infected person.
DISEASE SYMPTOMS INCUBATION CONTAGIOUS RETURN TO SCHOOL
PERIOD PERIOD
IMPETIGO Isolated pus filled spots which 4-10 days As long as Return when lesions are
(Impetigo Contagiosa) become crusted and break pus filled dry, there is no seeping
releasing a straw-colored lesions con- and under treatment.
fluid. Occurs principally tinue to drain. Cover, if possible, while
around the mouth and nostrils. at school.
PINKEYE Irritation of the eye accompanied 27-72 hours During the Until under treatment.
(Epidemic Form of by tears, swelling of the lids, period of
Acute Conjunctivitis) extreme sensitivity to light, active in-
and a buildup of a sticky fluid fection. Some
that dries to a straw-colored, children
crusty material accumulating recover in only
at the corners of the eye. a few days but
many cases
take 2-3 weeks.
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