Code No. 507.3 Communicable Diseases - Students

Students with a communicable disease will be allowed to attend school provided their presence does not create a substantial risk of illness or transmission to other students or employees.  The term "communicable disease" will mean an infectious or contagious disease spread from person to person, or animal to person, or as defined by law.

Prevention and control of communicable diseases is included in the school district's bloodborne pathogens exposure control plan.  The procedures will include scope and application, definitions, exposure control, methods of compliance, universal precautions, vaccination, post-exposure evaluation, follow-up, communication of hazards to employees, and record keeping.  This plan is reviewed annually by the superintendent and school nurse.

The health risk to immunosupressed students is determined by their personal physician.  The health risk to others in the school district environment from the presence of a student with a communicable disease is determined on a case-by-case basis by the student's personal physician, a physician chosen by the school district or public health officials.

A student’s parent or guardian shall notify the superintendent or the school nurse when the student learns the student has a communicable disease. It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, when the superintendent or school nurse, upon investigation, has knowledge that a reportable communicable disease is present, to notify the Iowa Department of Public Health. Health data of a student is confidential and it shall not be disclosed to third parties.

 

Approved:  November 17, 1997

Revised/Reviewed: July 27, 2020

Code No. 507.3E1 Communicable Disease Chart

CONCISE DESCRIPTIONS AND RECOMMENDATION FOR EXCLUSION

OF CASES FROM SCHOOL

Disease

*Immunization is

Available

Usual Interval Between Exposure and First Symptoms

Of Disease

MAIN SYMPTOMS

Minimum Exclusion From School

CHICKENPOX

13 – 17 DAYS

Mild symptoms and fever. Pocks are “blistery.” Develop Scabs, most on covered parts of body.

7 days from onset of pocks or until pocks become dry

CONJUNCTIVITIS

(PINK EYE)

 

24 – 72 HOURS

Tearing, redness and puffy lids, eye discharge.

Until treatment begins or physician approves readmission.

COVID-19

5-6 days, but can be asymptomatic and contagious for up to 14 days

Typical symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Atypical symptoms include chills, malaise, sore throat, increased confusion, rhinorrhea or nasal congestion, myalgia, dizziness, headache, nausea, and diarrhea

14 days following exposure or and at least 3 days (72 hours) after recovery.

ERYTHEMIA

INFECTIOSUM

(5TH DISEASE)

 

4 – 20 DAYS

Usual age 5 to 14-unusual in adults. Brief prodrome of low-grade fever followed by Erythemia (slapped check) appearance on cheeks, lace-like rash on extremities lasting a few days to 3 weeks.  Rash seems to recur.

After diagnosis no exclusion from school.

GERMAN MEASLES

(RUBELLA)*

14-23 DAYS

Usually mild.  Enlarged glands in neck and behind ears.  Brief red rash.

7 days from onset of rash.  Keep away from pregnant women.

HAEMOPHILUS

MENINGITIS

2-4 DAYS

Fever, vomiting, lethargy, stiff neck and back.

Until physician permits return.

HEPATITIS A

 

VARIABLE

15-50

(average 28-30days)

Abdominal pain, nausea, usually fever.  Skin and eyes may or may not turn yellow.

14 days from onset of clinical disease and at least 7 days from onset of jaundice.

IMPETIGO

1-3 DAYS

Inflamed sores, with puss.

48 hours after antibiotic therapy started or until physician permits return.

MEASLES*

10 DAYS TO FEVER

14 DAYS TO RASH

Begins with fever, conjunctivitis, runny nose, cough, then blotchy red rash.

4 days form onset of rash.

MENNINGOCOCCAL

MENINGITIS

2-10 DAYS

Headache, nausea, stiff neck, fever.

Until physician permits return.

MUMPS*

12-25 DAYS

Fever, swelling and tenderness of glands at angle of jaw.

9 days after onset of swollen glands or until swelling disappears.

PEDICULOSIS

(HEAD/BODY LICE)

7 DAYS FOR EGGS TO HATCH

Lice and nits (eggs) in hair.

24 hours after adequate treatment to kill lice and nits.

RINGWORM OF SCALP

10-14 DAYS

Scaly patch, usually ring shaped, on scalp.

No exclusion from school. Exclude from gymnasium, swimming pools, contact sports.

SCABIES

2-6 WEEKS INITIAL EXPOSURE; 1-4 DAYS REEXPOSURE

Tinny burrows in skin caused by mites.

Until 24 hours after treatment.

SCARLET FEVER

SCARLATINA

STREP THROAT

1-3 DAYS

Sudden onset, vomiting, sore throat, fever, later fine rash (not on face).  Rash usually with first infection.

24 hours after antibiotics started and no fever

WHOOPING COUGH*

(PERTUSSIS)

7-10 DAYS

Head Cold, slight fever, cough, characteristic whoop after 2 weeks

5 days after start of antibiotic treatment

Readmission to School-It is advisable that school authorities require written permission from the health officer, school physician or attending physician before any pupil is readmitted to class following any disease which requires exclusion, no mere absence, from school.

 

Revised/Reviewed: July 27, 2020

 

Code No. 507.3E2 Reportable Infectious Diseases

While the school district is not responsible for reporting, the following infectious diseases are required to be reported to the state and local public health offices:

Acquired Immune                               Leprosy                                   Rubella (German        

  Deficiency Syndrome                       Leptospirosis                           measles)

  (AIDS)                                              Lyme disease                          Rubeola (measles)

Amebiasis                                            Malaria                                    Salmonellosis

Anthrax                                               Meningitis                               Shigellosis

Botulism                                                (bacterial or viral)                 Tetanus

Brucellosis                                           Mumps                                    Toxic Shock

Campylobacteriosis                             Parvovirus B 19                      Syndrome

Chlamydia Trachomatis                        infection (fifth                      Trichinosis

Cholera                                                  disease and other                   Tuberculosis

COVID-19                                            complications)

Diphtheria                                                                                           Tularemia

E. Coli 0157:h7                                   Pertussis                                  Typhoid fever

Encephalitis                                           (whooping cough)                 Typhus fever

Giardiasis                                            Plague                                     Venereal disease

Hepatitis, viral                                     Poliomyelitis                           Chancroid

  (A, B, Non-A Inguinale                    Psittacosis                               Gonorrhea

  Non-B, Unspecified)                        Rabies                                     Granuloma

Histoplasmosis                                    Reye’s Syndrome                    Lymphogranuloma

Human Immunodeficiency                 Rheumatic fever                        Venereum

Virus (HIV) infection                         Rocky Mountain                     Syphilis

  other than AIDS                                 spotted fever                         Yellow fever

Influenza                                             Rubella (congenital

Legionellosis                                         syndrome)

Any other disease which is unusual in incidence, occurs in unusual numbers of circumstances or appears to be of public health concern, e.g., epidemic diarrhea, food or waterborne outbreaks, acute respiratory illness.

 

Revised/Reviewed: July 27, 2020

Code No. 507.3E3 Report the Following Diseases IMMEDIATELY BY Telephone

 

REPORT THE FOLLOWING DISEASES IMMEDIATELY BY TELEPHONE (1.800.362.2736)

Botulism                                 Poliomyelitis                                       Yellow Fever

Cholera                                   Rabies (Human)                                  Disease outbreaks of

Diphtheria                               Rubella                                                any public health concern

Plague                                     Rubella (Measles)

REPORT ALL OTHER DISEASES BELOW.                                        

Week Ending________

DISEASE

PATIENT

COUNTY OR CITY

DOB

SEX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name                 Parent(If Applicable)

 

 

Address

 

 

Attending Physician

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name                 Parent(If Applicable)

 

 

Address

 

 

Attending Physician

 

 

 

 

 

Reporting Physician, Hospital, or Other Authorized Person

Address

Remarks:

FOR SCHOOLS ONLY:  REPORT OVER 10% ABSENT ONLY.  TOTAL ENROLLMENT:

 

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

No. Absent

 

 

 

 

 

% of Enrollment

 

 

 

 

 

 

REPORT NUMBER OF CASES ONLY

 

___CHICKEN POX                                                 ____GASTROENTERITIS

 

___ERYTHMA INFECTIOSUM (5TH DISEASE)         ____INFLUENZA-LIKE ILLNESS(URI)

 

 

Revised/Reviewed: February 25, 2019