Microsoft word - 4.health policy_aug 06.doc

Preventing illness
Infections are common in children and often lead to il ness. At home, children are reasonably wel protected from infectious diseases because they don’t come in contact with many people. The adults they meet are general y immune to many childhood il nesses because they had them as children or they have been vaccinated. Because of this immunity, adults cannot transmit those infections to children. Spending time in child care centres or other facilities and being exposed to a large number of children for some time, provides an opportunity for infectious diseases to be spread. It is not possible to prevent the spread of al infections and il nesses within child care centres. However, a lot of il nesses from infectious disease can be prevented.1 1 Staying Healthy In Childcare – 4th Edition Dec 2005 2 p93;Staying Healthy in Childcare – 4th Edition Dec 2005 The University of Melbourne
Children’s Services
Recommended minimum exclusion periods for infectious conditions for schools, pre-schools and
Children who are unwell should stay home from schools, pre-schools and child
care centres
Exclude until there has not been a loose bowel Exclude until there has not been a loose bowel Exclude until all blisters have dried. This is usually at least 5 days after the rash first appeared in unimmunised children and less in immunised Exclude until there has not been a loose bowel Exclude until there has not been a loose bowel Exclude until medical certificate of recovery is received following at least 2 negative throat swabs, the first swab not less than 24 hours after finishing a course of antibiotics followed by Exclude until there has not been a loose bowel Haemophilus influenzae type b Exclude until the person has received appropriate antibiotic treatment for at least 4 days.10 Exclusion is NOT necessary if effective treatment is commenced prior to the next day at child care (ie the child doesn’t need to be sent home Exclude until a medical certificate of recovery is received, but not before seven days after the onset Hand, foot and mouth disease Exclude until all blisters have dried. Exclusion is not necessary if the person is developmentally capable of maintaining hygiene practices to minimise the risk of transmission. If the person is unable to comply with these practices they should be excluded until the sores are dry. Sores should be covered by a dressing where The University of Melbourne
Children’s Services
Exclusion is NOT necessary. If the person is severely immunocompromised, they will be vulnerable to other people’s illnesses. Exclude until appropriate antibiotic treatment has commenced. Any sores on exposed skin should be Exclude until approval to return has been given by Not excluded Exclude for 4 days after the onset of the rash Exclude until well and has received appropriate Exclude until appropriate antibiotic treatment has Exclude for nine days or until swelling goes down Exclude until there has not been a loose bowel Exclude until the day after appropriate antifungal Children are to be excluded from the centre until there has not been a loose bowel motion or Exclude until fully recovered or for at least four Exclude until there has not been a loose bowel The University of Melbourne
Children’s Services
Exclude until the day after appropriate treatment Exclude until there has not been a loose bowel Exclude until the person has received antibiotic treatment for at least 24 hours and feels well Exclude until medical certificate is produced from Exclude until medical certificate is produced from Not excluded unless Children are to be excluded from the centre until there has not been a loose bowel motion or Exclude until five days after starting appropriate antibiotic treatment or for 21 days from the onset The University of Melbourne
Children’s Services
The University of Melbourne
Children’s Services
The University of Melbourne
Children’s Services
1 pg39 Health in Early Childhood settings – Professor Frank Oberklaid The University of Melbourne
Children’s Services
Failure to comply with this directive will mean that the child will be regarded as
being unimmunised.
1 Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service. Parenting and Child Health; http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=114&np=304&id=1798 2 Victorian Government Health Information : National Immunisation Program _ The University of Melbourne
Children’s Services
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Childcare_and _healthy_eating?open Child care and healthy eating fact sheet_viewed Aug 2 Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia:10th April 2003 The University of Melbourne
Children’s Services
2 Sun Protection for Early Childhood Services – SunSmart School and Early The University of Melbourne
Children’s Services
M@0</4--04>55-@<-/4<EM-3;;; 0 --+ The University of Melbourne
Children’s Services

Source: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/355913/HealthPolicy08.pdf