The document discusses common illnesses in child care and school settings and ways to reduce disease transmission. The most common sicknesses are colds and flu caused by viruses. Children typically experience 8-12 colds per year. Any child with a fever or respiratory symptoms should be excluded. Proper handwashing and immunizations can help reduce spread of infection. Child care facilities contact parents when a child shows mild illness signs and have policies for caring for or isolating sick children to prevent disease transmission.

1. Preventing the Spread of
Illness in Child Care or
School

2. Common Sicknesses in Child Care
and School
•The viruses responsible for colds or the flu cause the most
common sicknesses in child care facilities and schools. Even
though your child has had his immunizations, he can get other
infectious diseases common in children such as colds, sore
throats, coughs, vomiting, and diarrhea. In fact, most children
in child care and school settings have as many as 8 to 12 colds
a year. Diarrheal episodes occur once or twice a year in the
typical child.

3. •Any child with respiratory symptoms (cough, runny nose, or
sore throat) and fever should be excluded from their child
care program. The child can return after the fever has
resolved (without the use of fever-reducing medicine), the
child is able to participate in normal activities, and staff can
care for the child without compromising their ability to care
for the other
children in the group
Whenever children are together, there is a chance of spreading
infections. This is especially true among infants and toddlers
who are likely to use their hands to wipe their noses or rub
their eyes and then handle toys or touch other children. These
children then touch their noses and rub their eyes so the virus
goes from the nose or eyes of one child by way of hands or
toys to the next child who then rubs his own eyes or nose.
.

4. •To reduce the risk of becoming sick with the flu, child care
providers and all the children being cared for must receive all
recommended immunizations, including the flu vaccine. The
single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated
each year. This critically important approach puts the health
and safety of everyone in the child care setting first. The flu
vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and
older, including child care staff.

5. Reducing Disease
Transmission
•In many child care programs, as well as public and private schools,
parents are contacted right away when their child shows signs of
even a mild illness, like a cold. In others, a child is allowed to stay at
the facility as long as he doesn’t have a fever and can take part in
most activities. Either way, be certain that the school or caregiver
has a way to reach you at all times—make your phone numbers at
home and work available, as well as your cell phone number.
•In many child care facilities and schools, the staff simply cannot care
for a sick child, although in others, the child is kept comfortable in a
separate area so a cold, a cough, or diarrhea doesn’t spread
throughout the facility. In these programs, a staff member is trained
to care for ill children, often in a “get-well room” where they won’t
pass the disease to others. There may also be a place to lie down
while remaining within sight of a staff member if a child needs to
rest. In some communities, special sick child care centers have been
established for children with mild illnesses who should be kept apart
from healthy children.

6. Reducing Disease
Transmission
•In many child care programs, as well as public and private schools,
parents are contacted right away when their child shows signs of
even a mild illness, like a cold. In others, a child is allowed to stay at
the facility as long as he doesn’t have a fever and can take part in
most activities. Either way, be certain that the school or caregiver
has a way to reach you at all times—make your phone numbers at
home and work available, as well as your cell phone number.
•In many child care facilities and schools, the staff simply cannot care
for a sick child, although in others, the child is kept comfortable in a
separate area so a cold, a cough, or diarrhea doesn’t spread
throughout the facility. In these programs, a staff member is trained
to care for ill children, often in a “get-well room” where they won’t
pass the disease to others. There may also be a place to lie down
while remaining within sight of a staff member if a child needs to
rest. In some communities, special sick child care centers have been
established for children with mild illnesses who should be kept apart
from healthy children.