1. Common Diseases and Infection Control in School - 1
Adebola E. Orimadegun

2. What is a communicable disease?
“any condition which is transmitted directly or indirectly to a person from an infected person or animal through the agency of an intermediate animal, host, or vector, or through the inanimate environment”.

3. Other Definitions
Infectious: Caused by a germ (bacteria, virus parasite, fungus)
Communicable: Can be spread from person to person
Reportable: Required to be reported to the local health authority department

4. Modes of transmission Direct Indirect
Food-borne – E. coli, Salmonella (typhoid),
Air-borne/Inhalation
Contaminated water- Cholera, rotavirus, Hepatitis A
Skin to skin
Blood-borne or sexual
Indirect
Vector-borne- malaria
Formites/clothing

5. Importance of Communicable Diseases
Significant burden of disease especially in low and middle income countries
Social impact
Economic impact
Potential for rapid spread
Human security concerns
Intentional use

6. Measles
Symptoms
Fever, runny nose, cough, sore / red eyes, photophobia
Red-brown blotchy rash that spread from face to trunk to extremities
Transmission: Airborne transmission via respiratory droplets (or contact with nasal or throat discharge)
Treatment: Supportive therapy
Isolation: Exclude for at least 5 days following the onset of rash

7. Mumps
Symptoms: Swelling of parotid glands (unilateral or bilateral), fever, headache
Transmission: Contact with nose or throat discharge, saliva, or respiratory droplets
Treatment: Supportive therapy
Isolation: Excluded for 9 days after the onset of parotid swelling

8. Mumps

9. Chickenpox (Varicella)
Symptoms: Rash that begins maculopapular and progresses to vesicular; often starts on trunk of body
Transmission: Direct contact with drainage from lesions or airborne respiratory droplets
Communicability: Contagious 1-2 days prior to rash onset through 6 days after appearance of vesicles
Treatment: Symptomatic treatment
Isolation: Excluded from school until 6th day after rash onset or until all lesions are dry

10. Conjunctivitis Symptoms: Redness of eye, discharge
Allergic: Thick, ropey strands of discharge; intense itching
Viral: Watery discharge
Bacterial: “Goopy” discharge
Transmission: Contact with discharge from eye or respiratory secretions
Treatment: Eye drops
Isolation: Exclude until 24 hours of antibiotic treatment (if ordered)

12. Scabies Caused by mite that burrows under the skin and lays eggs
Symptoms: Bumps or linear burrows (especially in between the fingers, inside the wrist, elbows, armpits, belt-line, genital area) with intense itching; patchy red rash may be present
Symptoms may not occur until 2-6 weeks after infestation Can transmit infection during this time

13. Scabies..2 Transmission: Direct skin to skin contact
Treatment: Topical scabicide applied from jaw line to soles of feet; reapply again in 7-10 days
Individuals who have had skin-to-skin contact with the case should also be treated
Isolation: Excluded from school for 24 hours following treatment with appropriate scabicide
Mite does not remain viable off the skin of the host for more than 24 hours

14. Scabies...3

15. Ringworm
Fungal infection of skin on the body, scalp, groin (jock itch) or feet (athlete’s foot)
Symptoms
Scalp: Scaly patches of temporary baldness; brittle hair
Skin: Flat, ring-like rash; may itch or burn
Feet: Scaling and cracking of skin, especially between toes; blisters may be present
Transmission: Skin to skin contact or contact with contaminated items or pets
Treatment: OTC or prescription antifungal cream

16. Ringworm

17. Simples steps to control infections in school
Sources and spread
people, food, contaminated surfaces such as toilets, kitchens, toys and animals such as pets can spread infections.
From person to person.
Germs are carried in the faeces and spread on unwashed hands to other places (e.g. taps, toilet flushes, other people, food)
Via contaminated utensils, work surfaces.

18. CONTAINMENT MEASURES Isolate sick child
Exclude affected pupils and staff members until symptom free for 48 hours
Staff should not work in other schools or childcare settings during the outbreak, even if they are not symptomatic.
Wear gloves and apron for contact with an affected pupil or environment

19. Wash hands with soap and water after contact with an affected patient or environment, after removing gloves and apron.
Remove exposed food such as fruit, also condiments, sauce bottles. Regular toilet inspections

20. HAND HYGIENE Hand washing and drying
most important procedures for preventing the spread of infection.
VITAL to prevent person to person transmission
Encouraged – After going to the toilet, before and after eating, supervision of young children

21. HAND HYGIENE Easy access to liquid soap and paper towels
Hot and cold running water
“Mr Soapy Soap”:
May be supplied free!
In addition to hand washing alcohol gels can also be used.

22. Six stage hand washing technique

23. Enhanced cleaning
Increase frequency
Toilet areas, handles, fomites

25. Thank you