COMMUNICABLE/NUISANCE DISEASE CONTROL

PHILOSOPHY:

We believe school health services should promote and maintain optimal health for each student and staff member. The Orange Southwest Supervisory Union, in coordination with state and community health services, provides students and staff members with health appraisal and supervision, and takes steps to control communicable/nuisance diseases.

To protect the general welfare of the school population, students and staff with certain communicable/nuisance diseases may be excluded from school for an appropriate period of time (see table below), by the school nurse. Our goal is to protect the rights of individuals, while maintaining confidentiality and effective infection control.

PROCEDURES:

1. The school nurse will function as the liaison with student’s parents/guardian and the student’s physician, the Vermont Department of Health (VDH), and the school.

2. An individual with a compromised immune system, may need to be removed from the classroom for his/her own protection when cases of infectious disease are occurring in the school population. This decision will be made by the individual’s physician and parent/guardian in consultation with the school nurse.

3. Hand washing is considered to be the most important procedure in preventing the spread of infection. Proper hand washing requires the use of soap and water with vigorous washing for approximately ten seconds followed by rinsing under running water.

4. Many infections do not constitute a reason for exclusion from school. Examples that do not necessitate exclusion are non-purulent conjunctivitis, rash without fever or behavior change, minor upper respiratory infections and 5 th disease.

The following table indicates the time period of exclusion for some specific contagious diseases.

DISEASE AND PERIOD TO REMAIN OUT OF SCHOOL

Chickenpox: Until all pox are dry and scabbed over.

Conjunctivitis: Most cases are viral and require no treatment. An individual with profuse eye drainage with eye pain and photophobia should be referred to a physician.

HIV/AIDS: The individual’s physician will decide if the health of the individual involved, is at risk.

Impetigo: Until under treatment with topical or oral antibiotics, depending upon severity.

Infectious Hepatitis A: For one week after onset of illness or jaundice; may return to school with doctor’s permission.

Measles (Rubeola:) Per recommendation from the VDH.

German Measles (Rubella): Per recommendation from the VDH.

Mumps: Per recommendation of the VDH.

Pediculosis (Head Lice): Until after one treatment and nit removal.

Ringworm: Until treated.

Scabies: Until treated.

Scarlet Fever or Strep Throat: For at least 24 hours after antibiotic treatment has begun.

Pertussis (whooping cough): Until a full five days of antibiotic therapy have been completed.

Note: The period of time a student is to remain out of will depend on the child feeling well and being afebrile (a temperature less than 100).