CHAPTER 5: THE INFECTIOUS PROCESS AND
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Answers to Review Questions
ANSWERS TO CASE STUDY
1. A runny nose and cough can be symptoms of an allergy. However, if Laura has a fever, nasal
discharge, swollen glands, and/or white patches in her throat or on her tonsils or is lethargic,
she may have an upper respiratory infection and should be sent home to avoid exposing the
other children.
2. If Laura has a communicable illness, it will be important to separate her from the other
children, practice thorough hand washing, dispose of tissues properly, and wash any
toys/objects that she has played with.
3. Be sure that Laura’s mother has a copy of the program’s policies. Remind her that children
may not attend when they are ill. If her mother continues to disregard program policy, you
may want to find out why. Dismissal from the program may also be considered.
4. Talk with Laura’s mother and find out why she continues to bring Laura to school when she
is obviously ill. Explain why it is important that Laura not attend school when she is ill to
avoid exposing the other children. Perhaps Laura’s mother simply needs help in locating
alternative child care options.
ANSWERS TO CHAPTER REVIEW
A. By Yourself
1. Have the students prepare an oral or written sentence defining each of the Terms to Know
2. a. Airborne transmission: illness-producing pathogens are carried on droplets of moisture
that are expelled from the nose or mouth during coughs, sneezes, and conversation.
Examples of how an illness can be transmitted via the airborne route include coughing,
sneezing, and talking.
b. Indirect contact: illness-producing pathogens (germs) are transmitted from an infected
individual (reservoir) to an intermediate object (e.g., food, water, eating utensils, toys,
towels, insects, or animals) and then to a new susceptible host (when the individual
comes into contact with these objects). Examples of how illnesses are transmitted via the
indirect method include sharing towels, drinking out of an ill person’s cup or using their
eating utensils, touching door-knobs or toys that an ill child has touched or chewed on,
eating food that has been prepared by someone who has not washed his/her hands, etc.
3. By 30 months of age, a child should have received the following immunizations: four DTaP
(diphtheria, tetanus, & pertusis/whooping cough), three IPV (polio), one MMR (measles,
mumps, rubella), three hepatitis B, four Hib (Haemophilus influenza), one varicella
(chickenpox), four PCV (pneumonia), and 3 doses of rotavirus vaccine (infectious diarrhea).
Two doses of hepatitis A vaccine and a flu shot are also recommended for children attending
school, child care, or living in high-risk areas.
4. Immunizations can be obtained from family physicians, immunization clinics, or local public
health departments.
5. Communicable illnesses may be somewhat contagious near the end of the incubation stage,
but are most contagious during the prodromal and acute stages.
B. As a Group
1. The three factors include a susceptible host, a pathogen, and, a method of transmission. All
three factors must be present for an illness or infection to be communicable.
2. Early signs of communicable illness may include unusually flushed or pale skin color, red or
sore throat, enlarged lymph glands, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, red or watery eyes,
headache, dizziness, chills or fever, achiness, or unusual tiredness.
3. a. Identification and exclusion of sick children; frequent hand washing; teaching children to
cover coughs/ sneezes; discouraging children from sharing eating utensils or food or
mouthing toys/objects.
b. Frequent and careful hand washing, exclusion of sick children/adults (diarrhea);
discouraging children from sucking on fingers; separating children in diapers from toilettrained children; disinfecting potty chairs and changing mats after each use.
c. Identify affected children and exclude; bandage small, treated areas until gone.
d. Remove toys/objects after they have been handled/ chewed by a child; wash and disinfect
toys/objects daily; use paper towels/ cups or provide separate items for each child;
disinfect changing mats after each use.
4. The implementation of universal infection control precautions involves:
a. using appropriate barrier protection whenever coming in contact with body fluids; ex.,
wearing latex gloves when caring for children’s injuries; wearing protective eye wear and
gown if warranted.
b. practicing diligent hand washing after removing gloves
c. disposing properly of all materials contaminated with body fluids, especially blood, urine,
and feces; ex., putting soiled paper towels into a sealed plastic bag and double-bagging it
for added protection; disposing of needles in specially marked biohazard safety
containers; disposing of vomitus and feces in the toilet. Children’s soiled clothing should
be sealed in plastic bags and sent home to be laundered.
d. washing and disinfecting all contaminated surfaces
e. consider being immunized against hepatitis B
5. The main consideration is whether the program can provide a quiet area away from other
children that is supervised while teachers continue to provide quality care for the remaining
children. Much also depends on how well the child feels and whether he/she would be more
comfortable at home.