Communicable Disease Prevention and Control

Students are excluded from school in cases of communicable diseases. When a student is suspected of having one of the following communicable diseases, it is the responsibility of the parent to take the child to the local health department or family physician for verification and treatment before that student can return to school.

  1. Chickenpox: Student is excluded for at least five (5) days after the rash appears or until all blisters have formed scabs.
  1. Measles (Rubeola/Rubella): Student is excluded until physician’s approval is given and student is no longer contagious.
  1. Pediculosis (Head Lice): Schools have a no lice policy. Any student found with live lice will be excluded until they have shown proof of treatment and are rechecked and found to be lice free.
  1. Scabies: Student is excluded until one (1) treatment with prescription medication for 8 to 24 hours is completed.
  1. Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye): Student is excluded if:
  • Eye(s) is (are) severely red and somewhat swollen.
  • There is a yellow (purulent) discharge.
  • Child excessively rubs the itching eye(s).
  • Condition has lasted more than three (3) days.
  • There is an epidemic in the school or it appears that cases are being transmitted from one student to another.

Student is allowed to return to school on approval of physician. May return when treatment has begun, has minimal drainage & student is able to keep hands away from eyes.

  1. Impetigo: Student is excluded from school if he has more than three to four sores and until seen by a physician and treated with a prescription antibiotic for 24 hours.
  1. Streptococcal and Staphylococcal Infections: Student is excluded from school until treated with a prescription antibiotic for 24 hours.

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Management of Communicable Diseases and Conditions

Objective:To be aware of communicable diseases occurring in schoolchildren in order to ensure prompt treatment and institute measures to prevent spread.

A. General Guidelines for Case Management

  1. The school nurse and Cabarrus Health Alliance Communicable Disease Program staff will serve as consultants to school personnel on questions regarding communicable disease.
  1. The school nurse will provide communicable disease follow-up in school as directed by the Medical Director/Communicable Disease Department at Cabarrus Health Alliance.
  1. School staff and/or school nurse will notify parents and arrange for children to go home when they have the following symptoms:
  • Fever of 100.4or higher (child should remain at home until fever-free for 24 hours without medicine)
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Severe headache
  • Diarrhea
  • Red, watery eyes with yellow drainage
  • Undiagnosed rash
  1. School nurse will advise the principal and refer immediately any suspected cases of highly infectious, reportable disease to the Cabarrus Health Alliance Communicable Disease Department (704-920-1000)
  1. The principal/school nurse will notify other parents regarding a confirmed communicable disease if determined necessary by the Cabarrus Health Alliance.
  1. School personnel should consult with the nurse regarding a suspected communicable condition or skin infection and refer the child to the nurse for confirmation.
  1. School personnel/school nurse will initiate measures to control spread of the communicable disease as directed by the Cabarrus Health Alliance.
  1. Teachers/school nurse will educate students in the prevention of disease spread through personal hygiene measures.
  1. The school nurse, when made aware of a student with a chronic illness that alters the immune system or causes anemia (i.e., cancer, leukemia, sickle-cell anemia), should alert the student’s parent in the event that highly contagious illness occurs in the student’s classroom.
  1. Principal will see that supplies needed for proper hand-washing (soap, paper towels) are maintained in all restrooms and other hand-washing areas.