NAME THAT ILLNESS
A child has a runny nose, cough, sneezing and sore throat. They are still happy, playing and participating normally. What common illness might this be?
What is a common cold/viral respiratory infection?
A child has a middle ear infection but feels well enough to play and participate. Must the child be excluded?
Answer: No.
Itchy scalp.
Answer: What are head lice?
True or False: Reporting requirements are exactly the same everywhere in Canada.
Answer: False.
Four-year-old Noah has a mild runny nose and cough. He is energetic, eating, playing and participating normally. His parent asks if he has to go home.
What would you say based on the CPS guidance?
Answer: Not necessarily
A child has an itchy scalp. You look closely and discover head lice. What condition is this?
What is head lice?
A child has head lice. Should the child automatically be excluded from the child care program?
Answer: No.
Whitish-gray patches appear inside a baby's cheek or on the tongue.
Answer: What is thrush?
A child in your centre is diagnosed with Giardia gastroenteritis. According to the CPS table, who should the centre contact?
Answer: The local public health unit.
Maya has a red "slapped cheek" appearance and is diagnosed with fifth disease. Her parent asks when she can return.
What is surprising about the exclusion recommendation?
Answer: She does not need to be excluded because of the rash.
A child develops an itchy, scaly, ring-shaped lesion on their arm. What infection should you suspect?
What is ringworm?
A child has ringworm. When can they return to child care according to the CPS table?
Answer: After the first treatment has been applied.
A child develops fluid-filled blisters, often around the mouth or nose. They break, ooze and develop a honey-coloured crust.
Answer: What is impetigo?
Two or more children in the same room develop red eyes with watery discharge. What should the ECE consider doing?
Answer: Contact the local public health unit because an outbreak of conjunctivitis may be occurring.
Leo has diarrhea, and his diaper can no longer contain it. The family says, "But he is still happy and playing!"
Can he remain at child care?
Answer: No, exclusion is required for several gastrointestinal infections when diarrhea cannot be contained in a diaper.
A child has a runny nose followed by frequent, severe coughing spells. Sometimes the coughing causes gagging or vomiting. What illness could this be?
What is pertussis (whooping cough)?
A child is diagnosed with strep throat. When can the child return according to the CPS table?
Answer: After receiving at least 24 hours of appropriate antibiotic treatment AND when well enough to participate in all program activities.
A child has fever and swollen glands around the jaw line or face, along with a headache.
Answer: What are mumps?
A child at your centre is diagnosed with meningococcal disease. Is this something ECEs simply document and monitor?
No. The local public health unit should be informed immediately.
A child is diagnosed with hepatitis A. As the ECE, you wonder whether this is something you simply record in the child's file.
What else is required?
Answer: The local public health unit should be informed immediately.
A child develops a high fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes. A few days later, a rash starts on the face and spreads over the body. What illness should you suspect?
What is measles?
A child has E. coli O157 gastroenteritis. What conditions must be met before returning?
Answer: The diarrhea must have subsided and two stool cultures, taken when the child is no longer receiving antibiotics, must test negative.
A child develops a fever and an itchy rash. Small red spots become fluid-filled blisters and then crust over. What illness might the child have?
What is chickenpox (varicella)?
A child is diagnosed with measles. What is the most important immediate communication action for the child care centre?
Answer: Notify the local public health unit immediately.
Several children suddenly develop diarrhea over a short period. You look at the CPS table but your centre policy doesn't match with CPS directions.
Whose directions should the centre follow?
Answer: Follow the direction of Manitoba Public Health/local public health authorities.