Health Information Sheet
Bacterial skin conditions (eg impetigo)
Impetigo is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the surface layers of the skin which causes sores and blisters,it is not usually a serious condition. However, you should take precautions to avoid spreading it to other people, particularly newborn babies. For example, carefully wash your hands after touching affected areas of skin, and do not share towels or bed linen. Antibiotic creams or medicines are usually recommended to treat the impetigo infection and minimise the risk of it spreading. Most people are no longer contagious after 48 hours of treatment, or once their sores have dried and healed. Please keep your child at home for at least 48hours.
Viral skin infections (eg chicken pox)
Chickenpox is a mild and common childhood illness that most children catch at some point. It causes a rash of red, itchy spots that turn into fluid-filled blisters. They then crust over to form scabs, which eventually drop off. Some children have only a few spots, but in others they can cover the entire body. The spots are most likely to appear on the face, ears and scalp, under the arms, on the chest and stomach and on the arms and legs. Chickenpox is most infectious from one to two days before the rash starts, until all the blisters have crusted over (usually five to six days after the start of the rash). As children are contagious before the rash appears it is impossible to manage the virus in complete isolation, however please keep the child at home until all the spots have crusted over to minimize the spreading of the virus.
Head Lice
Head lice often cause the scalp to itch, although this is not always the case. Itching is not caused by the lice biting the scalp but by an allergy to the lice. Some people are not allergic to head lice, so they may not notice that they have a head lice infestation. Even if someone with head lice is allergic to them, itching can take up to three months to develop. In some cases of head lice, a rash may appear on the back of the neck. This is caused by a reaction to louse droppings. Lice can usually be treated with over the counter shampoo.
Diarrhea and Vomitting
Diarrhoea can be caused by an infection and may be accompanied by vomiting. This is called gastroenteritis (a stomach bug). Wash hands and toileting areas frequently with antibacterial spray and soap. Please keep your child at home for at least 48hours after symptoms have ceased.
Thread Worm
Many children get threadworms. They spread by producing a large amount of tiny eggs that are too small to see.
The eggs are present in dust and they stick to food, carpets, towels, bed linen and toilet seats. Because they’re so small and widespread they can get on to fingers and under fingernails and are easily swallowed. In the bowel they hatch into worms that then lay eggs around the anus. They look like tiny white threads and will be visible in your child's stools (poo) if your child is affected. Your child may have an itchy bottom and may scratch it a lot, especially at night. If you think your child has worms, speak to your GP or health visitor, or ask your pharmacist for treatment. The whole family will need to be treated because threadworm eggs spread very easily. A rigourous routine is required to ensure children are not re-infected after treatment
• keep your child’s nails short
• let your child wear pyjamas or pants in bed
• bath your child or wash around their bottom each morning
• keep your child’s towel separate
• make sure everyone in the family washes their hands and scrubs their nails before every meal and after going to the toilet
• disinfect the toilet seat and toilet handle or chain regularly
• vacuum and dust bedrooms thoroughly