Nursery’s sickness guidance
Enclosed is a list of the most common communicable diseases that young children may experience. The list has been devised using the Guidance from the Health Protection Agency Public Health England.
If your child is suffering from any of the following infectious illnesses and therefore is unable to attend Nursery, please contact the nursery on 0207 582 7282.
· Diarrhoea and/or vomiting.
As diarrhoea and vomiting is infectious, please do not bring your child to Nursery until he/she has been clear of these symptoms for 48 hours.
· Measles
Early symptoms of measles may include a running nose, watery eyes, high temperature and cough. Red spots with white centre may also be seen on the inside of the mouth, behind the ears and on the face and limbs.
As measles is infectious until five days after the appearance of the rash, please exclude children from Nursery until the rash disappears.
· Chicken pox
Children who have chicken pox can display a wide range of symptoms, but usually they will appear unwell and have a high temperature. Small blisters appear on the torso, face and/limbs,
Chicken pox is infectious; to reduce the risk to other children must be excluded from Nursery until the blisters have crusted over (A minimum of 5 days).
Pregnant woman should consult their doctor if they have been in contact with a child with chicken pox if they are not immune. Please see NHS website for more information.
· Mumps
Early symptoms of mumps can include glands on one or both sides of the face, sore throat and loss of appetite. A child with Mumps may also have difficulty swallowing.
Mumps can be infectious for up to one week after the facial swelling appears. Children with Mumps must be excluded from Nursery for five days from the onset of swelling.
· Rubella ‘German measles’
Symptoms of German measles can include any of the following:
- High temperature
- Swollen glands behind the ears and around the neck.
- Loss of appetite, sore throat
- Rash on the face and body
Please exclude your child from Nursery for five days after the appearance of rash.
Pregnant woman should consult their doctor if they have been in contact with a child with German Measles if they are not immune. Please see NHS website for more information.
· Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is soreness, itching of the whites of the eyes, watering, or discharge and/or slight sensitivity to light.
Conjunctivitis is highly infectious, to relieve the irritation of the eye bath the eyes in mild saline solution. Wipe from the centre to the outside of the eye and discard each piece of cotton wool. It is advised that you disinfect all toys, towels, and facecloths that your child has been in contact with.
The staff are not permitted to administer eye drops or eye baths for children with conjunctivitis, therefore it is recommended that you keep your child off Nursery for at least 24 hours to commence treatment.
· Head-lice
Head-lice are still common amongst school and Nursery children. Headline has a lice appearance and form eggs on the hair follicles. They spread very easily and are passed from one head to another during head-to-head contact.
It is advisable for you to routinely check your family’s hair and treat head-lice with treatment usually purchased from the pharmacy. It is also advisable to treat the whole household.
· Threadworm
If your child is scratching his/her bottom, especially at night it may be due to threadworms. They are tiny, white, thread-like worms that may be visible in faeces.
Threadworms are easy to treat with medication, it is recommended to treat the whole household.
· Hand, foot, and mouth
Hand, foot and mouth are usually a mild illness which often starts with a feeling of being unwell for a day or so. This might include a high temperature. Small spots that develop inside the mouth. Blisters often appear on palms, soles of the feet as well as in the mouth, spots sometimes appear on other parts of the body.
There is not an exclusion period for Hand, Foot and Mouth, however it is highly contagious, therefore it is recommended that you keep your child at home if blisters are weeping or sore.
· Slapped Cheek (fifth disease or parvovirus B19)
Fifth disease is usually a mild illness, particularly affects children and typically causes a rash that may resemble a “slapped cheek”. The rash sometimes spreads to the trunk arms and legs. Children with fifth disease can also have a temperature and flu like symptoms.
If your child is unwell, please keep them at home until they feel well again.
· Impetigo
Impetigo is an infection of the skin caused by bacteria. It most commonly occurs on the skin around the nose and mouth, but it can affect skin on other parts of the body. The spots may be clustered or merge together.
If impetigo is suspected you must take your child to see a doctor as the condition is infectious, antibiotic treatment is Important.
Children must be excluded from Nursery until lesions are crusted and healed or 48 hours after commencing antibiotic treatment.
· Meningococcal meningitis septicaemia
In most cases someone with Meningitis or Septicaemia will become seriously ill rapidly. Trust your instincts and seek medical attention immediately if you are concerned.
Symptoms in babies and small children include:
- Stiff body with jerky movements or very floppy
- Irritability or dislike being handled.
- A shrill cry or unusual moaning
- Refusal to feed
- Tense or bulging fontanelle (soft spot on the head)
- Pale, blotchy/rash skin
- Rapid breathing
- Fever/vomiting
- Drowsiness/ impaired consciousness
- Severe headache, stiff neck the dislike to bright light.
Not all symptoms have to be present at the same time.
Children can return to Nursery once they have recovered.
· Coughs, colds, and flu
We do appreciate the children pick-up illness from time to time. If your child is unwell and would not cope with a nursery day, it would be better to keep your child at home to reduce the risk of spreading infection to other children.