Appendix: Communicable Disease Fact Sheets 

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Chicken Pox

What is chicken pox? It is a common illness that usually lasts five to seven days with:

• Mild fever
• Itchy skin rash, which:
• starts as small red spots that blister and scab over
• can be anywhere on the body and scalp

Although chicken pox is usually a mild illness, it can be dangerous for:

• Pregnant women because it can cause birth defects or severe illness in the baby.
• Newborns, teens, adults, and people with immune problems (e.g., HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy, organ transplant, steroid medications).

How does chicken pox spread? It is very contagious and spreads by:

• Being in a room together, coughing, and sneezing
• Sharing food, eating utensils, mouthed toys, and tissues
• Touching the nose, mouth, and the rash

Once you have had chicken pox or have gotten the vaccine, you usually won't catch it again.

When is chicken pox contagious?

• From two days before until five days after the rash appears.
• After exposure, it usually takes 11 to 14 (up to 21) days to get sick.

How do I know if my child has chicken pox? By how the rash looks. Doctors usually advise not to bring the child to their offices because the illness could spread to others.

What should I do if my child has chicken pox?

Treatment: Follow your doctor's recommendations:
• Baking soda/oatmeal baths, calamine lotion and antihistamines for itchiness.
• Giving acetaminophen for fever. Never give aspirin-it can cause a fatal condition called Reye's Syndrome.

If your child or anyone at home has immune problems or is pregnant and has never had chicken pox, call your doctor immediately.

Keep your child home: until six days after the start of the rash or when all the lesions are scabbed over. Notify your Head Start program immediately.

To limit the spread:

• Get the new chicken pox vaccine for children over 12 months and adults who never had the disease.
• Don't expose newborns, pregnant women, or people with immune problems.
• Wipe noses with clean tissues, throw them away, and wash your hands.
• Cough and sneeze into your elbow and away from people.
• Don't share food, pacifiers, bottles, or toothbrushes. Wash eating utensils, drinking cups, and mouthed toys well between uses.
• Don't kiss children on the mouth.
• Open windows indoors and maximize outdoor play.

Colds and Flu

What are "colds" and "flu"? They are common infections of the head and chest caused by viruses. Colds cause mild illness for five to seven days with:

• Stuffy and runny nose (clear or greenish mucus)
• Headache and sore throat
• Sneezing and coughing

The flu makes you a little sicker for a little longer with:

• Fever and chills
• Muscle aches and fatigue

How do colds and flu spread? They are very contagious. They spread when people:

• Touch infected mucus from the nose or saliva
• Cough and sneeze
• Kiss on the lips
• Share food, eating utensils, and mouthed toys
• Are together in crowded, poorly-ventilated, and overheated rooms

When are colds and flu contagious?

• From one to two days before the symptoms start and the first few days of the illness.
• It usually takes several days after exposure to colds or flu to become ill.

How do I know if my child has a cold or the flu? By the typical symptoms.

What should I do if my child has a cold or the flu?

Treatment: Follow your doctor's recommendations:

· Help your child recover by providing:
• rest, food, and plenty of liquids to drink.
• a cool mist vaporizer.
· For fever, the doctor might recommend acetaminophen. Never give aspirin—it can cause a fatal condition called Reye's Syndrome.

You do not need to:

• Give antihistamine or decongestant medications.
• Bundle children up or keep them indoors.

Should my child stay home? Children with colds or flu can attend school as long as they feel well enough to participate.

To limit the spread:

• Wipe noses with clean tissues, throw them away, and wash your hands.
• Cough and sneeze into your elbow and away from people.
• Don't share food, pacifiers, bottles, or toothbrushes. Wash eating utensils, drinking cups, and mouthed toys well between uses.
• Don't kiss children on the mouth.
• Open windows indoors and maximize outdoor play.

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

What is conjunctivitis? It is a common eye infection or irritation. It can be caused by germs ("infectious conjunctivitis") and often occurs with a cold or ear infection. It can also be caused by allergies (e.g., pollen), chemicals, or irritants (e.g., smoke, make-up, dust). It involves one or both eyes and usually lasts three to five days with:

• Red eyes
• Clear, white, yellow, or green drainage from the eyes
• Crusty eyelashes when the child wakes up
• Itchy, sore or burning eyes
• Sensitivity to light

How does conjunctivitis spread? Conjunctivitis is contagious only when it is caused by germs ("infectious conjunctivitis"), not by allergies, chemicals, or irritants. It spreads when people:

• Touch infected drainage from the eye, mucus from the nose, or saliva
• Share tissues, towels, and make-up
• Cough and sneeze

When is conjunctivitis contagious?

• From one to two days before the symptoms appear until:
• 24 hours after antibiotic treatment is started (for bacterial conjunctivitis)
• the end of drainage from the eyes (for viral conjunctivitis)
• After exposure to conjunctivitis, it usually takes two to three days to develop the infection.

How do I know if my child has conjunctivitis? If you see the symptoms, take your child to the doctor. Conjunctivitis is diagnosed by the signs and symptoms.

What should I do if my child has conjunctivitis?

Treatment: Follow your doctor's recommendations for antibiotic eye drops or ointment. Be sure to use it in both eyes.

Keep your child home: until 24 hours after the start of antibiotic treatment, and until there is no discharge from the eyes.

To limit the spread:

• Encourage your child not to rub his eyes.
• Have children wash their hands after touching their eyes and nose.
• Wash your hands after touching the child's eyes, applying eye medication, or blowing noses.
• Throw out tissues after use. Don't share tissues or towels.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

What is cytomegalovirus (CMV)? It is a very common infection in young children. It usually has:

• No symptoms at all

        -OR-

• Fever, sore throat, swollen glands, tiredness for less than a week

Although CMV is usually mild, it can be dangerous for:

• Pregnant women-It can cause birth defects in the baby.
• People with immune problems (e.g., HIV/AIDS, cancer chemotherapy, organ fransplants)-It can cause pneumonia and blindness.

How does CMV spread? CMV is mainly spread by:

• Touching urine when changing diapers
• Sharing food, eating utensils, and mouthed toys
• Kissing on the lips

When is CMV contagious? Some people with CMV are contagious for a very short time; others can spread the virus for months to years.

How do I know if my child has CMV? Most people with CMV never know it because they don't have any symptoms. Rarely, special blood or urine tests might be done to check for CMV infection.

What should I do if my child has CMV?

Treatment: Follow your doctor's recommendations. Usually, no special treatment is needed.

If your child or anyone at home has immune problems or is pregnant, call your doctor to discuss CMV

Should my child stay home? A child with CMV does not need to stay home.

To limit the spread:

• Wash hands after diapering, toileting, or contact with saliva and blood.
• Don't share food, pacifiers, bottles, or toothbrushes.
• Wash eating utensils and drinking cups between uses.
• Clean and disinfect mouthed toys and dining tables after each use.
• Don't kiss children on the mouth.

Fifth Disease ("Slap Cheek")

What is fifth disease? It is typically a mild illness that is caused by a virus called parvovirus. It can last from one to three weeks with:

• Runny nose or mild fever
• Blotchy red rash, which:
• starts on the cheeks (like "slapped cheeks") and can be all over body
• may be itchy
• may come and go, especially after exercise or sun exposure

Although fifth disease is usually mild, it can be dangerous for:

• Pregnant women because it can cause miscarriage or stillbirth.
• People with sickle cell anemia and immune problems (e.g., HIV/AIDS, cancer chemotherapy, organ transplant, taking steroid medication).

How does fifth disease spread? It spreads by:

• Being in a room together, coughing, and sneezing
• Touching mucus from the nose or saliva
• Kissing on the lips
• Sharing food, eating utensils, and mouthed toys

When is fifth disease contagious?

• One to two weeks before the rash appears. After the rash, it is usually not contagious.
• After exposure, it typically takes two to three weeks to get sick.

How do I know if my child has fifth disease? A doctor can tell by the signs and symptoms.

What should I do if my child has fifth disease?

Treatment: Follow your doctor's recommendations:
 
•  Help your child recover by encouraging rest, food, and plenty of liquids to drink.

If your child or anyone at home has a blood disorder, immune problems, or is pregnant, contact your doctor immediately.

Should my child stay home? Children with fifth disease do not need to stay home as long as they feel well enough to participate. Notify your program.

To limit the spread:

• Wipe noses with clean tissues, throw them away, and wash your hands.
• Cough and sneeze into your elbow and away from people.
• Don't share food, pacifiers, bottles, or toothbrushes. Wash eating utensils, drinking cups, and mouthed toys well between uses.
• Don't kiss children on the mouth.
• Open windows indoors and maximize outdoor play.

Giardiasis

What is giardiasis? It is an intestinal infection caused by a parasite, Giardia lamblia. It can last for weeks or months with:

• No symptoms at all -OR-
• Persistent diarrhea (with mucus and foul smell)
• Gas, bloating, abdominal pain, nausea
• Weight loss

How does giardiasis spread? It spreads by:

• Touching stool when diapering and toileting
• Not washing hands before handling food
• Not cleaning/disinfecting toys and diapering, toileting, and hand-washing areas
• Playing in wading pools and water-play tables
• Drinking contaminated water in areas with inadequate sewage treatment or from lakes, rivers, and pools

When is giardiasis contagious?

• As long as the parasite is present in the stool, whether or not the person has symptoms. It spreads more easily when the person has diarrhea.
• After exposure to giardiasis, it usually takes one to two weeks to develop the illness.

How do I know if my child has giardiasis? If anyone in the family has the symptoms, see your doctor. Giardiasis is diagnosed by tests of the stool, usually three samples.

What should I do if my child has giardiasis?

Treatment: Follow your doctor's recommendations:
 
• If the child has symptoms, a medication might be prescribed.
• If the child has no symptoms, it is usually not treated. Often, the infection resolves on its own within four to six weeks.

If other family members have symptoms, see your doctor.

Keep your child home: if she has diarrhea. He can return to the program after treatment and when the diar rhea is resolved. Notify your Head Start program.

To limit the spread:

• Wash hands after diapering and toileting and before handling food.
• Clean and disinfect diapering areas, mouthed toys, and dining tables after each use; clean and disin fect toileting areas and hand-washing sinks daily.
• Use sprinklers instead of wading pools. Use individual water-play basins instead of water-play tables.
• Do not drink water from lakes, rivers, or pools.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Syndrome (Coxsackie Virus)

What is hand, foot, and mouth syndrome? It is a common childhood illness caused by the Coxsackie virus. It is usually a mild illness that lasts for one to three weeks with:

• Sores in the mouth, sore throat
• Blisters on the hands and feet
• Mild fever

How does hand, foot, and mouth syndrome spread? It spreads by:

• Touching stool when diapering and toileting
• Not washing hands before handling food
• Not cleaning/disinfecting toys and diapering, toileting, and hand-washing areas
• Playing in wading pools and water-play tables

When is hand, foot, and mouth syndrome contagious?

• Mostly in the first week during the mouth sores. By the time the hand and foot rash appears, it is less contagious.
• After exposure, it takes three to six days to get sick.

How do I know if my child has hand, foot, and mouth syndrome? A doctor can diagnose it by the symptoms.

What should I do if my child has hand, foot, and mouth syndrome?

Treatment: Follow your doctor's recommendations:
 
•  Help your child recover by encouraging rest, food, and plenty of liquids to drink.

Should my child stay home? Children can attend school as long as they feel well enough to participate. Notify your Head Start program.

To limit the spread:

• Wash hands after diapering and toileting and before handling food.
• Clean and disinfect diapering areas, mouthed toys, and dining tables after each use; clean and disin fect toileting areas and hand-washing sinks daily.
• Use sprinklers instead of wading pools. Use individual water-play basins instead of water-play tables.
• Don't kiss children on the mouth.

Head Lice

What are head lice? They are tiny bugs that live on the scalp and hair. You may see:

• Small grayish eggs ("nits") about the size of a sesame seed
• attached firmly to the base of hairs
• often behind the ears and neck
• Tiny bugs ("lice") crawling in hair, bite marks on scalp
• Scratching at scalp

How do head lice spread? They are very contagious. They spread by:

• Touching hair
• Sharing combs/brushes, hats, clothes, stuffed animals, towels, pillows, bedding, furniture, and carpets

When are head lice contagious?

• As long as the bugs or nits are alive. Nits hatch in seven to 10 days, and lice can live on the scalp for 20- 30 days.
• When lice and nits are off the body (e.g., on clothes), they die within seven days.

How do I know if my child has head lice? By seeing the nits or lice in the hair.

What should I do if my child has head lice?

Treatment: Consult your doctor for the appropriate treatment; some are dangerous for infants and women who are pregnant or nursing.
 
• Shampoo hair with special shampoo that kills lice and nits. Follow the instructions carefully.
• Remove all nits with a fine-tooth comb and by hand.
• Sometimes a second treatment is needed one or two weeks later to kill the lice that hatched from surviving nits.

Keep your child home until: after treatment is completed, and he or she is free of nits. Notify your Head Start program.

To limit the spread:

• Every day, for two weeks, check everyone at home and at school for lice and nits. Treat if necessary.
• Don't share combs and brushes. Wash them in the anti-lice shampoo; boil in water for 10 minutes; OR soak in bleach solution for one hour.
• Don't share hats and jackets. Keep personal clothes and bedding separate in individual cubbies for each child.
• Launder clothes, linen, bedding, stuffed animals, and small carpets in with detergent and hot water. Dry in hot dryer or press with hot iron. For non-washable items, dry-clean or seal in plastic bag for 10 to 14 days.
• Vacuum carpets, upholstered furniture, and car seats.

Hepatitis A

What is hepatitis A? It is an infection of the liver caused by a virus. It can last from one week to several months with:

• No symptoms at all, especially in young children -OR-
• Jaundice or yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes
• Abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite
• Dark urine and pale-colored stools
• Low-grade fever, fatigue

How does hepatitis A spread? It spreads by:

• Touching stool when diapering and toileting
• Not washing hands before handling food
• Not cleaning and disinfecting toys and diapering, toileting and hand-washing areas
• Playing in wading pools and water-play tables
• Drinking contaminated water and eating shellfish in areas with inadequate sewage treatment

When is hepatitis A contagious?

• From two weeks before until one week after the start of jaundice.
• After exposure to hepatitis A, it can take two to eight weeks (typically four weeks) to get sick.

How do I know if my child has hepatitis A? If anyone in the family has symptoms, see your doctor immediately. Hepatitis A is diagnosed by special blood tests.

What should I do if my child has hepatitis A?

Treatment: Follow your doctor's recommendations:

Help your child recover by encouraging rest, food, and plenty of liquids to drink.

If children or adults at home or school were exposed to hepatitis A within the previous two weeks and haven't gotten sick yet, they can get a special injection to prevent them from getting sick or make their illness milder.

Keep your child home: until one week after the start of jaundice and until the child feels well enough to participate in activities. Notify your Head Start program immediately.

To limit the spread:

• Report the illness to the local health department.
• Ask your doctor about getting hepatitis A vaccine.
• Wash hands after diapering and toileting and before handling food.
• Clean and disinfect diapering areas, mouthed toys, and dining tables after each use; clean and disinfect toileting areas and hand-washing sinks daily.
• Use sprinklers instead of wading pools. Use individual water-play basins instead of water-play tables.

Hepatitis B

What is hepatitis B? It is an infection of the liver caused by a virus. It causes:

• No symptoms at all -OR-
• Jaundice or yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes
• Abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite
• Dark urine, and pale-colored stools
• Low-grade fever, fatigue

Most people recover completely within weeks to several months. But approximately 1% develop severe and fatal complications, and 10% percent become "chronic carriers" of hepatitis B infection-with or without symptoms- for life.

How does hepatitis B spread? It spreads by blood, sexual fluids (semen and vaginal secretions), or saliva get ting into another person's body by:

• Splashes of blood onto broken skin, eyes or mouth
• Sharing razors and toothbrushes
• Biting (rarely)
• Sexual intercourse
• Pregnancy, childbirth and breast feeding
• Blood transfusions and sharing injection equipment

When is hepatitis B contagious?

• From approximately one month before until one month after the start of jaundice.
• "Chronic carriers," with or without symptoms, are usually contagious for life.
• After exposure, it can take six weeks to six months to develop the illness.

How do I know if my child has hepatitis B? If you see symptoms, see your doctor immediately. Hepatitis B is diagnosed by special blood tests.

What should I do if my child has hepatitis B?

Treatment: Follow your doctor's recommendations:
 
• Help your child recover by encouraging rest, nutrition, and plenty of fluids to drink.
• For severe symptoms, hospitalization and special treatments are needed.

If children or adults at home or school were exposed to hepatitis B within the previous three days, they can get a special injection and vaccine to prevent illness.

Keep your child home: until one month after the start of jaundice and until he or she feels well enough to participate. "Chronic carriers" can attend as long as they don't have uncontrolled biting or oozing skin lesions that can't be covered. Notify your Head Start program.

To limit the spread:

• Immunize your children against hepatitis B, starting in infancy.
• For adults at risk, consider getting immunized against hepatitis B.
• Follow universal blood and body fluid precautions:
• Try to avoid direct contact with blood.
• Wear disposable latex or vinyl gloves for dealing with bloody injuries, bloody diarrhea, oozing skin rashes, and mouth or eye procedures.
• Clean and disinfect spills of blood.
• Seal blood-stained items in a plastic bag for disposal or laundering.
• Wash hands after removing gloves; wash skin after contact with blood.
• Don't share food, pacifiers, teething rings, bottles, toothbrushes.
• Clean and disinfect eating utensils, cups, mouthed toys, and dining tables after each use.
• Don't share injection equipment. If equipment is reused, disinfect it.
• Use condoms during sexual contact.
• Prevent sexual abuse.

Herpes

What is herpes? It is a common infection, in children and adults, caused by a virus. Symptoms include:

• Painful sores in mouth/gums and on lips ("cold sores," "fever blisters")
• Fever and headache -OR-
• Painful sores on genitals

Symptoms resolve within a week, but can recur with illness, sun exposure, or stress.

Although herpes is usually mild, it can be dangerous for:

• Pregnant women-Genital sores at delivery can cause severe illness in the baby.
• People with immune problems (e.g., HI V/AIDS, cancer chemotherapy, organ transplant, taking steroid medication).

How does herpes spread? Oral (mouth) herpes spreads by:

• Touching the mouth sores or saliva
• Kissing on the lips
• Sharing food, bottles, pacifiers, eating utensils, mouthed toys, and toothbrushes Genital herpes spreads by sexual contact or sexual abuse.

When is herpes contagious?

• Several days before the start of symptoms until the sores are healed.
• After exposure, it can take two to eight weeks to develop symptoms.

How do I know if my child has herpes? If you see the symptoms, see your doctor. Herpes is diagnosed by the typical symptoms. Sometimes swabs and cultures are done.

What should I do if my child has herpes?

Treatment: Follow your doctor's recommendations:
 
• Help your child recover by encouraging rest, nutrition, and plenty of fluids to drink.
• For severe or frequent outbreaks, medication might be prescribed.

If your child has immune problems or severe illness, see your doctor immediately. Special medication can help prevent and treat the illness.

Keep your child home: until the mouth sores are healed or can be covered.

To limit the spread:

• Cover lip sores with a bandage. Wash hands well after touching them.
• Don't expose newborns, people with immune problems, and pregnant women.
• Don't kiss children on the mouth.
• Don't share food, pacifiers, bottles, or toothbrushes. Clean and disinfect eating utensils, cups, mouthed toys, and dining tables after each use.
• Children with genital lesions should be examined and tested by an experienced physician. If herpes or another sexually-transmitted disease is diagnosed, the child should be evaluated for sexual abuse and Children's Protective Services should be notified.

HIV/AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)

What is HIV/AIDS? It is an infection caused by a virus. Over time, it damages the body's immune system and other organs and can lead to severe, life-threatening illnesses. Symptoms include:

• No symptoms at all for years
• Failure to thrive, weight loss, fevers, fatigue
• Frequent infections (e.g., thrush, diaper rash, ear infections, pneumonia)
• Developmental delay and neurologic problems

How does HIV/AIDS spread? It spreads by blood, sexual fluids (semen and vaginal secretions), or saliva getting into another person's body by:

• Splashes of blood onto broken skin, eyes or mouth
• Sharing toothbrushes and razors
• Sexual intercourse
• Pregnancy, childbirth, and breast feeding
• Blood transfusions and sharing injection equipment HlV has not spread by children playing together in early childhood programs.

When is HIV/AIDS contagious?

• Beginning after infection, with or without symptoms, and continuing for life.

How do I know if my child has HIV/AIDS? If you think your child is at risk or you see symptoms, see your doctor. HIV infection is diagnosed by special blood tests.

What should I do if my child has HIV/AIDS?

Treatment: Follow your doctor's recommendations:

• There are many medications to treat HIV and the other illnesses. Medication can prevent spread of HIV from mother to baby and improve health and survival.

Should my child stay home? Children with HIV/AIDS can attend school as long as they feel well enough to participate. Keep them home if they are too sick to participate, have oozing skin lesions that can't be covered, or other contagious conditions (e.g., active tuberculosis). To protect the child with HIV/AIDS from other diseases, get prompt notification of disease outbreaks such as chicken pox, measles, salmonella, and cryptospiridium, keep the child home, and consult your doctor immediately about possible treatment.

To limit the spread:

• Follow universal blood and body fluid precautions: Try to avoid direct contact with blood. Wear disposable latex or vinyl gloves for dealing with bloody injuries, bloody diarrhea, oozing skin rashes, and mouth or eye procedures. Clean and disinfect spills of blood. Seal blood-stained items in a plastic bag for disposal or laundering. Wash hands after removing gloves; wash skin after contact with blood.
• Don't share toothbrushes.
• Don't share injection equipment. If equipment is reused, disinfect it.
• Prevent sexual abuse.
• Between adults, use condoms during sexual contact.

Impetigo

What is impetigo? It is a mild skin infection caused by bacteria It is common in children around the nose and mouth after a cold, in the diaper area, and on cuts and insect bites. It usually lasts one to three weeks with:

• Reddish sores that become oozing and crusty
• May be itchy

How does impetigo spread? It spreads by:

• Touching or scratching the sores on the skin
• Sharing towels, clothes, and bedding

When is impetigo contagious?

• As long as the sores are oozing and moist and until 24 hours after antibiotic treatment is started.
• After exposure, it takes four to 10 days to develop the infection.

How do I know if my child has impetigo? If you see the rash, take the child to the doctor. Impetigo is diagnosed by how the rash looks.

What should I do if my child has impetigo?

Treatment: The doctor may prescribe:
 
• Washing sores with soap and water.
• Antibiotic medication to take by mouth and/or ointment for the sores.

Keep your child home: until 24 hours after the start of antibiotic treatment. Notify your Head Start program.

To limit the spread:

• Keep the lesions clean and dry.
• Wash hands after touching the lesions.
• Do not share clothes, towels, or bedding. Separate personal clothes and bedding in individual cubbies for each child.

Infectious Diarrhea (including Enterovirus, Rotavirus, Norwalkvirus, Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigelia, E. Coli, Cholera, Giardia, Ameba)

What is infectious diarrhea? It is an intestinal infection caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites. It is the most common cause of diarrhea. Symptoms include:

• Stools that are loose, watery, frequent, foul-smelling, mucusy, bloody
• Stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting
• Fever, headache, and fatigue

Although infectious diarrhea is usually mild, it can be dangerous for:

• Infants and toddlers-they can get dehydrated
• Seniors and people with immune problems (e.g., HIV/AIDS, cancer chemotherapy, organ transplant, taking steroid medication)

How does infectious diarrhea spread? It spreads by:

• Touching stool when diapering and toileting
• Not washing hands before handling food
• Not cleaning/disinfecting toys and diapering, toileting and hand-washing areas
• Playing in wading pools and water-play tables
• Drinking contaminated water and eating shellfish in areas with inadequate sewage treatment
• Eating under-cooked poultry, beef, and eggs

When is infectious diarrhea contagious? Depending on the type of infection:

• Usually in the one or two days before the start of symptoms until the diarrhea ends and/or treatment is completed.
• After exposure, it can take one day to weeks to get sick.

How do I know if my child has infectious diarrhea? If your child has severe symptoms, bloody stool, signs of dehydration, or doesn't get better within two to three days, see your doctor. Infectious diarrhea is diagnosed by the symptoms and tests of stool.

What should I do if my child has infectious diarrhea?

Treatment: Follow your doctor's recommendations:
 
• Help your child recover by offering:
• plenty of clear liquids to drink (e.g., broth, rice water, gelatin)
• bland food (e.g., bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, crackers, noodles, tortillas)—avoid milk prod ucts.
• breastmilk for breastfed babies
• For severe symptoms or infection from bacteria or parasites, antibiotic medication and sometimes hospitalization and rehydration are needed.

Keep your child home: until the diarrhea is resolved. If it's a bacterial or parasite infection, the child must have received the appropriate treatment. Notify your Head Start program immediately.

To limit the spread:

• Report outbreaks to the local health department.
• Wash hands after diapering and toileting and before cooking and eating.
• Clean and disinfect diapering areas, mouthed toys, and dining tables after each use; clean and disinfect toileting areas and hand-washing sinks daily.
• Use spriniders instead of wading pools. Use individual water-play basins instead of water-play tables.
• Do not drink from lakes, rivers, or pools.
• For perishable foods (poultry, meat, fish, eggs, and milk products):
• Cook thoroughly until juices run clear.
• Serve immediately or refrigerate-Don't let stand at room temperature..
  
  
  
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