Jefferson City School District

Jefferson City School District Board of Education Policy Regarding Communicable Diseases:

 

 

Please see the information below for details on some of the most common communicable diseases found in schools:

Chicken Pox
Common Cold
Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Fifth Disease
Impetigo
Scabies
Strep Throat

 

Chicken Pox
IMMUNIZATION: Recommended for children 12 months of age and older.
INCUBATION PERIOD: Usually 13 to 17 days, but ranges from 10 to 21 days.
SYMPTOMS: Sudden onset of mild fever, rash on second day as superficial raised pimples that shortly become filled with clear fluid. Later, scabs form. Lesions may continue to appear, more on the trunk, up to the tenth day of the disease.
PERIOD OF COMMUNICABILITY: As long as 5 days but usually 1 to 2 days before onset of rash, and not more than 5 days after onset of rash OR until all lesions are crusted.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: From person to person by direct contact with vesicle fluid OR by droplet or airborne spread from respiratory tract of infected person. Also direct contact with lesion fluid of persons with herpes zoster (shingles).
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE: May return when all lesions are crusted, generally day 6 after onset of rash.
CONTACTS/ FOLLOW UP: Susceptible individuals should be considered infectious 10-21 days following exposure. Susceptible individuals having serious medical conditions or if pregnant should be referred to their private physicians for evaluation for preventive therapy (VZIG) within 96 hours to prevent or modify disease.
Source: Missouri Department of Health, Prevention and Control of Communicable Disease.


Common Cold
IMMUNIZATION: None available.
INCUBATION PERIOD: Usually 48 hours, but ranges from 12 to 72 hours.
SYMPTOMS: Runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, irritated nose and throat, coughing, elevated temperature, chills, aches, and fatigue.
PERIOD OF COMMUNICABILITY: Unknown, but most contagious during presence of acute symptoms such as coughing and sneezing.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: By contact with discharges from respiratory tract of infected persons by airborne route, probably by droplets as well
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE: Exclude if fever is greater than 100 degrees F or if excessive coughing is present. Need not be excluded if symptoms are mild/moderate and child is able to participate in routine activities.
CONTACTS/FOLLOW-UP: Observe for other respiratory or viral illnesses such as strep throat, influenza, or chicken pox that may begin with symptoms similar to the common cold. Child’s health status should be monitored.
Source: Missouri Department of Health, Prevention and Control of communicable Disease.

 

 

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
IMMUNIZATION: None
INCUBATION PERIOD: Usually 24 to 72 hours
SYMPTOMS: Reddening of the white of the eye and inner eyelids, with or without purulent (pus) drainage
PERIOD OF COMMUNICABILITY: Entire course for active infection
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Direct contact with discharges from the eye or upper respiratory tract of an infected person; from contaminated fingers, clothing, or other items
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE: Preferably child should not attend school until examined by a physician and approved for re-admission. Otherwise, child should be excluded from school during acute stage of infection
CONTACTS/FOLLOW-UP: No recommendations
Source: Missouri Department of Health, Prevention and Control of Communicable Disease.

 

 

Fifth Disease (Erythema Infectiosum, Parvovirus B19)
IMMUNIZATION: None available.
INCUBATION PERIOD: Usually 4 to 14 days; may be as long as 28 days.
SYMPTOMS: May include low-grade fever, nonspecific headache and tiredness; within the next week, a red rash generally appears on the face giving a “slapped cheek” appearance. The rash may then extend to the body and tends to fade and reappear. Sometimes, the rash is lacy in appearance and may be itchy. The rash may persist for over a week, and may recur in response to sunlight or a warm bath. Some persons may have vague signs of illness or no symptoms at all.
PERIOD OF COMMUNICABILITY: Infectious for 1-3 days prior to the onset of the rash. Persons with suppressed immune systems that have chronic infection and severe anemia may be communicable for months to years.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Primarily by direct contact with discharges from the respiratory tract of infected persons.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE: No exclusion is necessary – may exclude for elevated temperature.
CONTACTS/ FOLLOW UP: No restrictions. For many years, “Fifth Disease” was viewed as an unimportant rash illness of children. Recent studies have shown that the virus may be responsible for serious complications in persons with chronic red blood cell disorders, persons with impaired immune systems, and pregnant women. When outbreaks occur in situations where there is prolonged contact, such as homes, schools and day care centers. These high risk persons should contact their physician for advice.
Source: Missouri Department of Health, Prevention and Control of Communicable Disease.

 

 

Impetigo
IMMUNIZATION: None
INCUBATION PERIOD: Variable, usually 1 to 10 days, depending upon causative organism.
SYMPTOMS: Skin lesions with several stages including raised pimples filled with fluid or pus and crusted areas. The infecting organism may be streptococci or staphylococci or both.
PERIOD OF COMMUNICABILITY: As long as purulent lesions continue to drain.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Direct contact with drainage from lesions, possibly through contact with contaminated objects.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE: Exclude until skin lesions are healed, or until 24 hours after medical treatment has been initiated. Current recommendations may include systemic antibiotic medication in addition to topical antibiotics.
CONTACTS/FOLLOW UP: Search for draining lesions
Source: Missouri Department of Health, Prevention and Control of Communicable Disease.

 

 

Scabies
IMMUNIZATION: None
INCUBATION PERIOD: 2 to 6 weeks before onset of itching in primary infections; may recur in 1 to 4 days.
SYMPTOMS: Intense itching. An infectious eruption found most frequently on front of wrists, webs of the fingers, elbows and folds of the skin. Rash is non-specific and easily misdiagnosed.
PERIOD OF COMMUNICABILITY: From day 1 until day following adequate treatment.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Skin-to-skin contact, occasionally via transfer from undergarments or bedclothes, bedding of infected person.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE: Exclude until the day after adequate treatment is completed.
CONTACTS/FOLLOW UP: Single infections in a family are uncommon. Treat bedmates, family contacts, other close contacts having repeated skin-to-skin contact. Launder bedclothes, sheets, and clothes worn in past 3 days by infested person. Launder bedclothes and sheets following treatment of contacts.
Source: Missouri Department of Health, Prevention and Control of Communicable Disease.

 

 

Strep Throat
IMMUNIZATIONS: None
INCUBATION PERIOD: Short, usually ranging 1 to 3 days.
SYMPTOMS: Streptococcal sore throat is scarlet fever infection without a rash. All symptoms are the same except the rash and peeling do not occur. Sudden onset, with sore throat, fever, tonsillitis or pharyngitis, and tender lymph glands in the neck. Rash, if appears, usually does so within 24 hours upon neck, chest and in the folds of the axilla, elbows and groin. It appears as a fine, pinpoint rash which can be felt (like sandpaper). The face is flushed, with paleness around the mouth. The red papillae of the tongue may show through white coating (“strawberry tongue”).
PERIOD OF COMMUNICABILITY: In untreated, uncomplicated cases, 10-21 days; in untreated persons with purulent discharges, weeks or months; with adequate antibiotic therapy, generally no more than 24 hours from start of therapy.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Mainly contact with respiratory droplets of infected person or carrier. Rarely per casual contact.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE: Children should not return to school until at least 24 hours after beginning antibiotic treatment, and until they are fever free. Stress importance of need to complete prescribed treatment.
CONTACTS/ FOLLOW UP: Symptomatic contacts should be cultured to assure adequate antibiotics treatment if culture is positive for strep.
Source: Missouri Department of Health, Prevention and Control of Communicable Disease.