1. Communicable and Acute Illness: Identification and Management
Chapter 6
Communicable and Acute Illness:
Identification and Management

2. Early Signs of Illness
Teachers should be familiar with the characteristic signs of common childhood communicable illnesses.
Recognizing the early signs of communicable illnesses provides an effective method for limiting their spread to other children and adults.

3. Airborne-Transmitted Illnesses
What signs do each of these illnesses present and how can the illness be controlled?
Common illnesses include (see Table 6-1):
Chicken pox
Colds
Fifth disease
Haemophilus influenza (Hib)
Measles
Meningitis
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4. Chicken Pox

5. Fifth Disease

6. Airborne-Transmitted Illnesses (continued)
Mononucleosis
Mumps
Roseola (Sixth disease)
Strep throat
Tuberculosis
Whooping cough
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7. Roseola

8. Blood Borne-Transmitted Illnesses
What signs do each of these illnesses present and how can the illness be controlled?
Common illnesses include (see Table 6-1):
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); acquired immunodeficiency disorder syndrome (AIDS)
Hepatitis B
©2012 Cengage Learning.
All Rights Reserved.

9. Contact (Direct, Indirect)-Transmitted Illnesses
What signs do each of these illnesses present and how can the illness be controlled?
Common illnesses include (see Table 6-1):
Pinkeye (conjunctivitis)
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Hand-foot-mouth disease
Herpes simplex (cold sores)
Impetigo
Head lice

10. Pinkeye

11. Hand Foot & Moth Disease

12. Impetigo

13. Head Lice

14. Contact (Direct, Indirect)-Transmitted Illnesses (continued)
What signs do each of these illnesses present and how can the illness be controlled?
Common illnesses include (see Table 6-1):
Ringworm
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Scabies
Tetanus
©2012 Cengage Learning.
All Rights Reserved.

15. Ringworm

16. Scabies

17. Fecal-Oral-Transmitted Illnesses
What signs do each of these illnesses present and how can the illness be controlled?
Common illnesses include (see Table 6-1):
Shigellosis − Hepatitis A
E. coli − Pinworms
Encephalitis − Salmonella
Giardiasis − Campylobacter

18. Diarrhea
It is important to distinguish between noninfectious and infectious causes of diarrhea.
Diarrhea can be serious condition in infants and toddlers, especially if it is excessive or prolonged.
Young children must be observed carefully for signs of dehydration.
Medical attention must be sought if diarrhea lasts more than several days.

19. Earaches
Earaches are common, especially in boys younger than three or four
The incidence gradually decreases with age
They are often associated with allergies, colds, feeding position (infants), and/or foreign objects in the ear.
Otitis media can develop and may interfere with hearing ability.

20. Lyme Disease
A tick-borne infection that is becoming more common in the United States and Canada.
Prevention is the best method of defense:
Wearing protective clothing
Using DEET insecticide repellants
Bathing, and inspecting the skin after playing outdoors
Removing any ticks

21. Consider this….
Why might some families knowingly bring an ill child to school?
How would you handle this situation as a teacher, especially if it is a recurring problem?

22. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Approximately 2,500 infants die each year.
SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants between 1 and 12 months of age.
Male babies are at higher risk (61 percent) for developing SIDS.

23. SIDS (continued)
A specific cause has not been identified, but certain factors are known to increase the risk, including:
Babies’ sleep position (should sleep on their back)
Lack of maternal prenatal care
Mothers who smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs during pregnancy
Exposure to secondhand smoke
Respiratory infections
Premature birth (before 37 weeks)
Being born to a teenage mother
Soft bedding (e.g., blankets, bumper pads, mattress)

24. Measures to Prevent SIDS
The CDC’s Back-to-Sleep campaign teaches families and care providers to always put infants to sleep on their back and in their own bed.

25. Additional Measures to Prevent SIDS
Mothers are urged to get prenatal care and avoid substances during pregnancy.
Breast-feeding offers infants some protection.
Soft bedding (e.g., pillows, blankets, toys) must be removed from baby’s bed.
Dressing babies too warmly should be avoided.

26. North Carolina Law
On August 13, 2003, North Carolina Governor Michael Easley signed into law a bill requiring childcare providers to put babies on their back when placing them to sleep in childcare settings.
The N.C. Prevent SIDS law (GS ) went into effect December 1, It is intended to reduce the risk of SIDS in child care.

27. NC Law
In addition to specifying infant sleep position, the law stipulates that childcare providers:
Monitor sleeping babies
Adopt a written safe sleep policy
Inform parents/guardians about the safe sleep policy
Receive SIDS-related training
The N.C. SIDS law allows for a medical or parent waiver under certain conditions. It also requires agencies involved in investigating reports of child abuse or neglect in childcare facilities to coordinate their efforts.

28. NC Childcare Licensing Rules
Childcare licensing rules designed to support the N.C. SIDS law went into effect May 1, 2004 and apply to all facilities licensed to care for infants 12 months of age or younger.
10A NCAC SPECIAL TRAINING REQUIREMENTS  
10A NCAC SAFE SLEEP POLICY
See handout EDU 153 safe sleep policy NC