CONTROL OF CASUAL-CONTACT COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
The Board of Education recognizes that control of the spread of communicable disease through casual contact is
essential to the well-being of the school community and to the efficient District operation.
For purposes of this policy, “casual-contact communicable disease” shall include diphtheria, scarlet fever and
other strep infections, whooping cough, mumps, measles, rubella, and other designated by the Michigan
Department of Public Health.
In order to protect the health and safety of the students, District personnel, and the community at large, the
Board shall follow all State statutes and Health Department regulations which pertain to immunization and
other means for controlling communicable disease spread through normal interaction in the school setting.
The teacher may remove from the classroom and the Director may exclude from the building or isolate in the
District any student who appears to be ill or has been exposed to a communicable disease.
The Superintendent shall develop administrative guidelines for the control of communicable disease which shall
include:
A.
instruction of professional staff members in the detection of these common disease and measures for
their prevention and control;
B.
removal of students from District property to the care of a responsible adult;
C.
preparation of standards for the readmission of students who have recovered from casual-contact
communicable diseases;
D.
filing of reports as required by statute and the State Department of Health.
Management of Selected Casual-Contact Diseases
Diseases spread by airborne and/or direct contact with germs from sneezing, coughing, and speaking.
DISEASE
SYMPTOMS
INCUBATION
PERIOD
CONTAGIOUS RETURN TO SCHOOL
PERIOD
CHICKENPOX
are dry and
(Varicella)
and no new
General discomfort, slight to high
10-21 days
fever, headache, and loss of
av: 14-16
5 days before
When lesions
rash to 6 days crusted
appetite. Lesions appear in
after rash first eruptions. At
bunches with most on upper
starts
least 7 days
appears.
body. Face and extremities are
less affected. Typical lesions
1
after rash first
have teardrop shape surrounded
by reddened area. Blistered
(new) and broken and crusted
(old) eruptions are on the skin
at the same time.
FIFTH DISEASE
diagnosis.
(Erythema
4-5 days
Infectiosum)
no treatment
Rash begins as a solid red area 6-14 days
Probably 2 days Exclude for
on cheeks (“slapped cheek”
Before rash and
appearance), spreading to upper
later. Usually
arms and legs, trunk, hands
needed. Cause
unknown.
and feet
INFLUENZA
Starts suddenly with chills, fever,
at discretion
(Viral Influenza)
headache, muscle pains, and
school nurse or principal
coughing. Followed by other
cold symptoms.
24-72 hours
SCARLET FEVER
until 48 hours
(Scarletina)
completed.
1-7 days
Begins with fever and sore throat.
About 3 days
About 3 days,
from first
of
symptoms
Variable. If not Exclude
Rash appears as a pink-red flush av: 2-4 days
treated, can be after treatment
which looks like a sunburn with
goose pimples that spread to all
parts of the body. Afterward, the
skin peels off like a sunburn. Often
the tongue has a “strawberry”
appearance.
contagious for
months
SPINAL MENINGITIS
Sudden onset of high fever,
Requires doctor’s note for
(Meningococcal) and headache, and stiff neck. In
admittance.
(Haemophilus)
severe cases, delirium stupor
or coma can also occur. In
meningococcal meningitis
small purplish spots are occasionally seen in skin and
mucous membranes.
1-10 days
STREP THROAT
as above.
(Streptococcal sore
1-7 days
av: 2-4 days
Unknown.
Probably
re-
throughout the
duration of
symptoms.
Similar to scarlet fever but
without a rash. A sore throat and
2
av: 2-4 days
Same as above. Same
throat)
fever are the most pronounced
symptoms.
ROSEOLA
symptoms.
(Exanthem Subitum)
Sudden high fever (104-105 degrees)
RUBELLA
rash onset.
(German Measles)
Rash begins on the face and
MEASLES
after disappearance
(Rubeola)
rash.
Begins 3-4 days of gradually
which falls with the appearance of
a rash on about the third or fourth
day. Rash consists of small rose-pink
spots which first appear on the chest
and abdomen but may spread to the
face, legs, and arms. Rash is
usually limited to only one or two days.
Unknown. The Until no
disease does
not appear very
contagious.
14-21 days
7 days before
7 days after
spreads to the rest of the body av: 16-19 days to 7 days
within 24 hours and is usually
after rash onset,
gone by the end of the third day.
Often present is a pronounced
swelling of the lymph nodes
behind the ear and at the base
of the skull. Mild coughing,
sneezing, and reddened eyes
are common early in the course
of the illness.
8-13 days
increasing fever, runny nose,
(red) inflamed eyes, and
especially coughing. Rash usually
begins around ears and hairline,
spreading down to cover face,
trunk and arms by second day.
Rash is initially bright pink with
distinct raised spots. Tiny
blue-white pinpoint-sized
swelling inside the cheeks may be
observed a day before the rash
first appears. The rash usually
lasts about five days.
Sensitivity to light is also
common.
MUMPS
onset and no
5-15 days
av: 10 days
4 days
rash and for
of the
up to 4 days
after disappearance of
the rash.
Onset is gradual. There may be 2 to 3 weeks
3
4 days before
Usually 5, but 5-9 days after
(Infectious Parotitis)
symptoms.
TUBERCULOSIS
note
(TB)
admittance.
chills, discomfort, headache,
av: 18 days
may be as long
pain below ears accompanied by
a moderate fever of 101-102
degrees or higher followed by
swelling of one or both salivary
glands. Swelling is below and
in front of ear. Usually swelling
in one gland subsides as the
other begins to swell. The ear
lobe is often pushed forward by
the swelling of the gland.
Swelling usually lasts 5 to 7 days.
as 7 to 9 days
prior to the onset
of salivary gland
swelling.
Starts with fever, night sweats, 2-10 weeks
Variable. After Requires a doctor’s
and weight loss early. Later
starting treat- for re-
symptoms include a persistent
non-productive cough, chest
pain, hoarseness, and coughing
of blood.
ment with anti
TB drugs, a
patient may
become noninfectious in as
little as two
weeks.
WHOOPING COUGH
Coughing and sneezing followed
7-10 days
Early, when the
Requires doctor’s note
(Pertussis)
1 to 2 weeks later by breathing av: 7 days
patient has
for re-admittance.
characterized by a series of
common coldshort convulsive-like coughs,
like symptoms.
and a high pitched gasp of
The patient
air called a whoop
becomes less infectious as the
convulsive-like
coughs begin.
Infectious stage
ends in about
four weeks
Diseases spread by contact with tiny parasites on contaminated belongings of others.
DISEASE
SCHOOL
SYMPTOMS
INCUBATION
PERIOD
RINGWORM
after treatment has
Ringworm of the scalp begins
PERIOD
4-14 days
4
CONTAGIOUS RETURN TO
As long as any Return
(Tinea Capitis;
with bandaid
Tinea Corporis)
when possible
as a small pimple which grows
untreated lesions
and spreads, leaving scaly
are present and or clothing,
patches of temporary baldness.
Ringworm of the body appears
as flat, spreading, ring-shaped
lesions. The outside is usually
reddish and filled with pus while
the skin on the inside tends to
return to normal.
PINWORM
treatment.
begun – cover
spores persist on
contaminated
materials.
Itching in anal areas, disturbed 3 weeks
sleep, irritability and local
irritation due to scratching.
As long as the Return after
to 3 months
female worm
survives in
the intestine.
Diseases spread by the fecal-oral route – contamination of food, drink or objects placed in the mouth.
DISEASE
SCHOOL
SYMPTOMS
INCUBATION
PERIOD
PERIOD
CAMPYLOBACTER
Sudden onset of fever and
Requires doctor’s note for
(Vibriosis Vibrionic
abdominal pain and diarrhea
admittance.
Enteritis)
which may be severe. May
also be vomiting and sometimes blood in the stools
GIARDIASIS
(Protozoan
Diarrhea)
SALMONELLOSIS
as above.
(Acute Gastro
Enteritis)
(Food Poisoning)
SHIGELLOSIS
(Bacillary Dysentery)
Chronic, intermittent diarrhea,
bloating, foul-smelling stools
and fatigue and weight loss.
Sometimes observable
symptoms are not present.
Sudden onset of fever,
1-20 days
av: 3-4 days
Throughout the
illness (1-4
re-
days). If not
treated, up to
7 weeks.
1 to 4 weeks Entire period
after exposure of infection
6-72 hours
abdominal cramps, diarrhea
and possibly vomiting.
CONTAGIOUS RETURN TO
Variable..
Same as above.
Same
av: 12-36 hours throughout
course of
illness.
Sudden onset of fever, diarrhea 1-7 days
abdominal pain. Loss of
av: 2-3 days
appetite and vomiting may also
occur. There may be blood,
5
From onset
of illness
until 4 weeks
later.
Same as above.
mucous, or pus in the stools.
VIRAL
GASTROENTERITIS
(Viral Diarrhea;
Winter Vomiting
Rotoviral Diarrhea)
Abrupt onset of nausea, vomiting
diarrhea, abdominal pain, and
discomfort. Fever, if present,
is usually low grade. Very
contagious.
24-48 hours
From onset of Same as above.
illness until
symptoms
subside.
Hepatitis A
(Infectious Hepatitis)
(Epidemic Jaundice)
Sudden loss of appetite, nausea,
15-40 days
10-15 days
and abdominal pain or
av: 28 days
before
discomfort. Within a few days,
symptoms
jaundice occurs with yellowing
appear until
of eyes and skin and darkening
the first few
of urine.
days of
jaundice.
Same as above.
Diseases spread by direct skin contact with wounds or discharges from an infected person.
DISEASE
SCHOOL
SYMPTOMS
INCUBATION
PERIOD
IMPETIGO
Isolated pus filled spots which
when lesions are
(Impetigo Contagiosa) become crusted and break
there is no seeping
releasing a straw-colored
treatment.
fluid. Occurs principally
around the mouth and nostrils.
PINKEYE
under treatment.
(Epidemic Form of
Acute Conjunctivitis)
CONTAGIOUS RETURN TO
PERIOD
4-10 days
As long as
pus filled
lesions con-
Return
dry,
and under
tinue to drain. Cover, if possible, while
at school.
Irritation of the eye accompanied
by tears, swelling of the lids,
extreme sensitivity to light,
and a buildup of a sticky fluid
that dries to a straw-colored,
crusty material accumulating
at the corners of the eye.
6
27-72 hours
During the
period of
active infection. Some
children
recover in only
a few days but
many cases
take 2-3 weeks.
Until