Understanding Infectious Diseases
What are infectious diseases caused by?
Germs
Where should you cough or sneeze into?
Your sleeve or a tissue.
What is one of the symptoms of a common cold?
1. Runny nose
2. Tickled/Sore throat
3. Sneezing and Coughing more
If a child has a fever, childcare providers should do this.
What is keep the child at home?
Myth or Fact: You only get sick if you touch a sick person.
What is Myth? (Germs can also spread on surfaces, in the air, or through droplets.)
What are the four types of germs that cause infectious diseases?
Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, Parasites.
This childcare practice helps kill germs on toys, tables, and frequently touched surfaces.
What is cleaning and sanitizing (or disinfecting)?
How can someone catch Influenza A (The Flu)?
It can be caught by inhaling airborne droplets that were sneezed or coughed out by a sick person.
Children who are too tired, fussy, or uncomfortable to participate in daily activities should stay home to rest and recover.
What is general illness or not feeling well enough for care?
Myth or Fact: Hand sanitizer is always as good as washing with soap and water.
What is Myth? (Soap and water remove germs more effectively, especially after diapering or messy activities.)
Which two household rooms do germs spread the most?
The kitchen and bathroom.
Keeping sick children and staff at home helps protect everyone by reducing this.
What is the spread of germs or infection?
This stomach illness often causes vomiting and diarrhea and spreads quickly among young children.
What is norovirus (or stomach flu)?
A child with this contagious rash illness should stay home until a doctor says it’s safe to return.
What is chickenpox or hand, foot, and mouth disease?
Myth or Fact: Children should get sick sometimes to build immunity.
What is Myth? (Frequent illness can be serious, and prevention is better than exposure.)
Fever, cough, runny nose, and diarrhea are examples of these signs that may mean a child is sick.
What are symptoms?
This defense removes germs from hands and should last at least 20 seconds.
What is handwashing with soap and water?
This illness causes fever and a red, itchy rash and is common among young children.
What is hand, foot, and mouth disease?
If a child has a persistent cough or trouble breathing, they should stay home and be seen by this professional.
Who is a healthcare provider (doctor or nurse)?
Myth or Fact: You can catch a cold from being cold or wet outside.
What is Myth? (Colds are caused by viruses, not temperature.)
Children with contagious illnesses should stay home to prevent this from happening to other children and staff.
What is the spread of infection?
Getting enough sleep, healthy food, and physical activity helps strengthen this disease defense.
What is a strong immune system?
This eye infection causes redness, itching, and discharge and spreads through touch.
What is pink eye (conjunctivitis)?
Childcare centers follow these to know exactly when a child can safely return after an illness.
What are health policies, state guidelines, or exclusion rules?
Myth or Fact: Cleaning and sanitizing toys and surfaces doesn’t really help prevent illness.
What is Myth? (Regular cleaning and sanitizing are proven to reduce the spread of germs.)