The Family Academy of Bethesda
Illness/Communicable Disease Exclusion Policy
Illness
The Family Academy may not admit a child to care or allow a child to remain in care when there are
signs and symptoms of illness as described below:
A. The illness prevents the child from participating comfortably in facility activities
B. The illness requires more care than the child care staff can provide without compromising the
health and safety of the other children
C. The child has any of the following signs and symptoms of illness:
Appearance/Behavior
Child looks or acts differently than usual: unusually tired, pale, loss of appetite, confused,
irritable, difficult to be awoken plus temperature of 100°F (armpit) or 101°F (oral) or above.
Cough & Respiratory
Difficult or rapid breathing, severe cough, high pitched croupy, wheezing or whooping sound
after cough.
Diarrhea
An increased number (3 or more episodes) and/or abnormally loose stools in the previous 24
hours that cannot be contained in a diaper/underwear.
Eyes/Nose Drainage
Red/pink appearing eyes/thick mucus or pus from the eye or nose.
Fever
Remember that temperatures taken under the arm are one degree lower than oral
temperatures. Therefore, one degree Fahrenheit should be added to the armpit reading. Any
child with a temperature of 100°F (armpit) or 101°F (oral) or above is considered to have
significant fever. Children should not return to the center until they have been fever free for 24
hours.
Skin Problems
Undiagnosed skin rashes are possibly contagious. Be alert to rashes or sores with crusty, yellow
or green drainage. Rashes with fever can be serious and needed to be discussed with the child’s
health care provider.
Sore Throat/Earache
Sore throat and/or difficult swallowing, especially when fever or swollen glands in the neck are
present.
Unusual color
Eyes or skin – yellow (jaundice)
Stool – gray or white
Urine – dark, tea colored
The above symptoms can be found in Hepatitis B & should be evaluated by child’s health
care provider.
Nausea/Vomiting
2 or more episodes within the previous 24 hours
When a child becomes ill in the center, the parent/guardian will be contacted and asked to pick his/her
child up from care within an hour.
When a child is sent home, he/she should remain at home for at least 24 hours.
When a child is sent home due to fever, he/she should be kept at home for 24 hours after the fever
goes down to 98.6 degrees without fever reducing medications.
Communicable Disease
Certain symptoms of illnesses (listed above) in children may suggest the presence of a communicable
disease such as conjunctivitis, impetigo, strep throat, head lice, scabies, chicken pox, pertussis,
Hepatitis A virus, etc.. Children who have the symptoms of illness should be excluded from the center.
Required conditions for children to return to the center:
Children who have signs and symptoms of illness should be excluded from the center until:
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A Doctor’s note that the child can return to the center without danger to himself or
other children and staff.
The symptoms have been gone for 24 hours
The child is well enough to participate fully in the center’s daily routine (including
outdoor time).
Exclusion for Acute Illness (COMAR 13A.16.11)
The center may not admit a child to care or allow a child to remain in care when the child is exhibiting
symptoms of acute illness.
A child may not be readmitted to care after an absence of 3 days or more due to illness without written
statement from the parent or physician that the child may return to a regular schedule.
Administration of Prescription Medications and Non-prescription Medications
A Medication Authorization Form must be filled out by parent/guardian with child’s name, amount and
dates to be administered.
Prescription medications must be in a container labeled by the pharmacy or physician with the child’s
name, dosage, and expiration date. At least one dose of prescription medication must be given at
home prior to the child’s arrival at the center.
Non-prescription medications must be in the original manufacturer’s container labeled with
instructions for dosage and expiration date. The center may administer only one-dose of nonprescription (over-the counter) medications to a child per illness. Over the counter medications
administered in the center require a written order from the health care provider with prescriptive
authority and parent written authorization when more than one dose is given.
We cannot administer homeopathic medicines or herbal preparations in the school.