A Guide to Common Infections DISEASE HOW IT IS SYMPTOMS WHEN IS IT WHEN TO REPORT TO SPREAD AND SIGNS CONTAGIOUS EXCLUDE FROM PUBLIC SCHOOL HEALTH Respiratory Infections Do not give ASA; acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) Common Cold Spreads person to person via Runny nose, sneezing, One day before to five Do not exclude unless too ill Not reportable to Health droplets; indirect spread via sore throat, cough, days after onset. to take part in the activities. Unit. contaminated hands, objects, decreased appetite. Fever Frequent hand washing surfaces. Almost always with some colds. is important. viral. Ear Infections Complication of cold. Earache or irritability, fever Not infectious. Do not exclude unless too ill Not reportable to Health (Otitis Media) and cold symptoms. to take part in the activities. Unit. Influenza Virus spreads through air in Sudden onset of fever, Before symptoms have Exclude until well enough to Report to Health Unit. enclosed spaces, by direct chills, headache, developed until 5-7 participate. Usually 5-7 Influenza can result in contact with respiratory generalized aches and days after onset of days. serious complications secretions or indirectly by pains, loss of appetite, symptoms. for the elderly and those contact with contaminated cough. Weakness and with chronic health hands, objects, surfaces. cough can last several problems. Incubation period 1-3 days. days to weeks. Strep Throat Bacteria spreads person to Fever, sore throat. General Until 24 hours after Exclude until 24 hours after Not reportable to Health Scarlet Fever person through respiratory discomfort and tender treatment begun. If the start of antibiotics. Unit. droplets or direct contact glands on the neck. untreated 10-21 days. with a symptomatic person or Sandpaper-like rash on asymptomatic carrier. Rarely neck, chest, in folds of spread indirectly through axilla, elbow, groin, and contaminated surfaces. inner surface of the thighs. Incubation period 1-3 days. Face looks flushed. Whooping Cough Bacteria which is spread from Begins as cold with runny From onset of runny Exclude until 5 days after Report to Health Unit. (Pertussis) person to person by nose and cough. Cough nose until 3 weeks start of antibiotics or 3 Parents and staff should respiratory droplets, and gets gradually worse and after onset of weeks from onset of be notified. direct contact with respiratory occurs in spasms, paroxysmal cough paroxysmal or ‘whooping’ secretions. Rarely, through characterized by with whooping (if not cough if no treatment is indirect contact with inspiratory ‘whoop’. treated with given. Contacts may need surfaces. Fever uncommon. antibiotics). antibiotics or vaccine. Very infectious. Incubation period 6-20 days. Gastrointestinal Infections Do not give Aspirin Campylobacter Bacteria excreted in stool. Fever, vomiting, diarrhea, For duration of Exclude until diarrhea is Report to Health Unit. Can be found in poultry, beef, blood in stool, abdominal diarrhea. If untreated, gone and symptom free for unpasteurized milk or other cramps, and malaise. can shed bacteria in 24 hours. food. Contaminated water stool for 2-7 weeks. may be source of infection. Infected pets and farm animals may also be a source. Incubation period 1- 10 days. Cryptosporidosis Parasite excreted in stool of Watery, non-bloody From onset of diarrhea Exclude until diarrhea is Report to Health Unit. infected persons and diarrhea, abdominal until several weeks gone and no other Immunocompromised animals. Spreads person to cramps and sometimes after symptoms symptoms for 24 hours. people are at risk of person and through fever, loss of appetite, resolve. serious complications. contaminated food or water. nausea and vomiting. Incubation period 2-14 days, Fever and vomiting are average 7 days. common in children. Symptoms may last 1-2 weeks or as long as a month. Symptoms can come and go over time. DISEASE HOW IT IS SPREAD SYMPTOMS WHEN IS IT WHEN TO EXCLUDE WHEN TO REPORT AND SIGNS CONTAGIOUS FROM SCHOOL TO PUBLIC HEALTH Diarrhea Germs are spread through Increase in frequency of For duration of Exclude children until Report to Health Unit the stool of infected persons. stools and/or change to diarrhea. diarrhea is gone or outbreaks of 2 or more Spread directly from person unformed, loose, or watery physician determines child children having diarrhea to person; indirectly from stool. Fever, loss of is not infectious. Notify occurring within 48 hands of staff and children, appetite, nausea, vomiting, parents at once if any of hours, also any case of objects, surfaces, food, or abdominal pain, mucus or the following are present: 2 bloody or diagnosed water contaminated with blood in stool may also or more episodes of bacterial diarrhea. germs (young children occur. Diarrhea may be diarrhea or diarrhea with frequently put fingers and dangerous in infants and fever over 39oC (102oF); objects in mouth). young children because repeated vomiting; the loss of fluid may cause dehydration; blood or dehydration. mucus in stool. Escherichia coli Spreads through food or Mild diarrhea to blood in For duration of the Exclude until no diarrhea Report to Health Unit. (E. coli 0157:H7) water contaminated with stool, abdominal cramps, diarrhea. or other symptoms for 24 human or animal feces. Generally, no fever hours. Person to person spread is present. found in families, child care centres, and custodial institutions. Incubation period 2 to 8 days. Usually 3-4 days. Giardia Parasite in stool of infected Most children have no Often months. Exclude until treated and Report to Health Unit. persons. Spreads person to symptoms. May have no diarrhea for 24 hours. person. Common in child diarrhea, loss of appetite, care settings. Incubation bloating, abdominal period 3 - 25 days or longer. cramps, pale and greasy Average 7-10 days. foul smelling stools, excessive gas, fatigue, weight loss. Hepatitis A Virus excreted in stool of Most children have no 2 weeks before to 1 Exclude for 1 week Report to Health Unit. infected persons. Spreads symptoms. May have week after onset of after onset of jaundice (or Vaccination is available person to person by the fecal- fever, loss of appetite, jaundice. illness if no jaundice is for susceptible contacts. oral route; may also be nausea, abdominal present). spread in contaminated food discomfort, followed in a or water. Incubation period few days by jaundice 15-50 days. (yellow colour in skin and eyes). Norwalk Virus Virus excreted in stool or Diarrhea and vomiting During acute stage of Exclude until 48 hours Report outbreaks to the Norwalk-like vomit of infected persons. accompanied by illness and up to 48 after diarrhea and vomiting Health Unit. Virus Spreads person to person abdominal cramps, hours after the have stopped. through the fecal-oral route. headache, malaise, diarrhea has stopped. Vomiting can cause the virus myalgia, low grade fever. to become aersolized and Symptoms persist for 24- infect food, water and 48 hours. surfaces. Incubation period 1-2 days. Rotavirus Germ is excreted in stool of Fever and vomiting During the acute stage Exclude until 48 hours Report outbreaks to infected persons and spreads precede watery diarrhea. of illness through to after diarrhea and vomiting Health Unit. person to person through the Dehydration may occur the 8th day of infection. have stopped. Emphasize proper fecal-oral route. May also rapidly. handwashing. spread via contact and Symptoms usually last for through respiratory 4 –6 days. secretions. Incubation period is 1- 3 days. Salmonella Acquired mainly from Sudden onset of headache, While having diarrhea. Exclude until 24 hours Report to Health Unit. contaminated food, including abdominal pain, diarrhea Can be several days to after diarrhea has stopped. Treatment is usually not eggs and egg products, beef, and nausea. Sometimes several weeks. indicated. poultry, unpasteurized milk, vomiting is present. Fever Excellent hand hygiene is and produce. Incubation is common. important. period 6-72 hours. Average is Anorexia and diarrhea tend 12–36 hours. to persist for several days. Shigella Bacteria excreted in stool of Diarrhea, fever, blood For duration of Exclude until diarrhea is Report to Health Unit. infected persons. Spreads and/or mucus in stool, diarrhea. Highly gone and no other Emphasize proper person to person by indirect abdominal cramps. infectious. symptoms for 24 hours. handwashing. or direct fecal-oral Symptoms usually last 48– If untreated up to 4 transmission. Also spread in 72 hours. weeks. Asymptomatic contaminated food, water or carriers may transmit milk. Flies can be vectors. infection. The carrier Incubation period 1-7 days. state may persist for months. DISEASE HOW IT IS SPREAD SYMPTOMS WHEN IS IT WHEN TO EXCLUDE WHEN TO REPORT AND SIGNS CONTAGIOUS FROM SCHOOL TO PUBLIC HEALTH Skin and Scalp Infections (Refer to School Board policy for Head Lice) Do Not give Asprin Chickenpox Spreads person to person by Sudden onset of mild Up to 5 days before Return to school or Report to Health Unit. (Varicella) direct contact, droplet or fever. Small red pimples onset of rash and childcare as soon as child Vaccine availabe. airborne spread of fluid from which develop into lasting until lesions is well enough to Staff and parents should vessicles or secretions of the blisters, then become have crusted (about 5 participate normally in all be notified. Susceptible respiratory tract. Indirectly encrusted. Occurs in days). actvities (regardless of the pregnant staff will need to through articles freshly soiled successive crops, and state of the rash). seek medical care with secretions from vessicles. tends to affect face, hands, promptly. Very infectious. May develop neck and extremities. following contact with person having shingles. Incubation period 14-21 days. Shingles Return to school or Reactivation of chickenpox. A rash, often with blisters, Up to one week after childcare as soon as child Not reportable. If a person who has never had that may be painful, the rash develops. No is well enough to May seek guidance from chickenpox touches the rash of usually on one side of the longer infectious once participate normally in all Public Health, as vaccine a person with shingles, they body.