Tina-Avalon Health Policy

HELP CONTROL COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
By enforcing the state communicable disease regulations, excluding children who are ill, and promptly reporting all suspected cases of communicable disease, personnel working with children can help ensure the good health of the children in their care.

Be alert for signs of illness such as skin rashes; inflamed eyes; flushed, pale, or sweaty appearance. If a child shows these or other signs of illness, pain, or physical distress, he/she should be evaluated by a health care provider. Children with communicable diseases should not be allowed to attend school until they are permitted to return to school by their doctor.

The following are a few communicable diseases, which require the student to be excluded from school for a specified amount of time:

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

• Immunization-none
• Symptoms-The most obvious clinical manifestation is hyperemia of the conjunctiva (reddening of the white of the eye and inner eyelids), may have mucopurulent (pus) drainage.
• Incubation Period-Usually 24-72 hours
• School Attendance-Children should not attend school during the acute stage, or if itching, pain and/or drainage are present. Body fluids/drainage/ secretion precautions

Streptococcal Sore Throat and Scarlet Fever

• Immunization-none
• Symptoms-Streptococccal 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, fevers, tonsillitis or pharyngitis, and tender lump glands in the neck. Rash, if it appears, usually does so within 24 hours upon the neck, chest and 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”).
• Incubation-Short, usually ranging 1 to 3 days
• School Attendance-Children should not return to school until at least 24 hours after beginning antibiotic treatment, and until they are afebrile. Prescribed treatment should be completed.
• Special Features-Rheumatic fever and nephritis may follow streptococcal infections.

Pediculosis Capitis (Head Lice)
GUIDELINES

1. Teachers should be alert for students who are constantly scratching their heads or who appear to have nits (eggs of lice) which are sometimes easily seen and identified. Please notify the school office as soon as possible.
2. When a case of head lice is reported or suspected, the student will be examined by the school nurse or other trained school personnel. If presence of nits, or lice are obvious, parents will be contacted to pick the child up from school.
3. If evidence of pediculosis is identified the parent/guardian should be contacted and the student should be excluded from school until he/she has been adequately treated and all nits removed. A letter explaining treatment and control measures will be sent home with the student.
4. When a case is found, all children in that classroom should be examined and any siblings or other students living in the same household. It will be up to the discretion of school personnel to determine if an informational letter should be sent home with other students in the same classroom.
5. Before a student returns to school, he/she must be brought to school by a parent/guardian to be rechecked by the school nurse or trained school personnel to determine if a student may return to the classroom.
6. Care should be taken at school to avoid piles of coats since this can be a contributing factor to the spread of head lice.
7. Teachers should inform students about the importance of not sharing head gear, combs, brushes, ect.
8. A record of each infestation should be kept in the student’s health file located in the nurse’s office.
9. If the child has not received adequate treatment after initial infestation and retreatment according to the manufacturer’s label on the approved pediculosis shampoo then the parent/guardian must provide the school district with the label from the approved pediculosis shampoo. The district will keep the label in the student’s health file located in the nurse’s office. After the school district receives the label the student must be rechecked to determine if a student may return to the classroom. The Tina-Avalon R-II School does participate in a “no nit” policy and we do exclude all children until all nits have been removed.
10. If there is absolute refusal to attempt treatment or continued infestation which results in educational neglect, it may be necessary for school personnel to contact the Family Support Division (FSD).

 

Tina-Avalon R-II School * 11896 Hwy 65 * Tina, MO 64682 * Phone: 660-622-4211 * Fax: 660-622-4210 e-mail jholcer@tinaavalon.k12.mo.us