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Communicable Disease Control SOP

Purpose

To prevent the spread of communicable diseases within the childcare facility by ensuring early identification, appropriate exclusion, parent notification, and compliance with health authority requirements.

Scope

This SOP applies to all children, child care personnel, volunteers, and any other individuals present in the childcare facility.

Policy Overview

Children and staff in childcare settings are at increased risk for communicable diseases due to close contact and developing immune systems. The facility is committed to protecting the health and safety of all individuals by enforcing daily health checks, exclusion procedures, and proper reporting protocols.

Procedures

Step 1: Daily Health Observation

  • All children in care must be observed daily for signs and symptoms of communicable disease upon arrival and throughout the day.

  • Child care personnel must remain alert to changes in a child’s appearance, behavior, or physical condition.

Step 2: Exclusion and Isolation

  • Any child, child care personnel, or other person suspected of having a communicable disease must:

    • Be removed from the program, or

    • Be placed in a designated isolation area until they are picked up or leave the facility.

  • Individuals may not return until:

    • Medical authorization is provided or

    • All signs and symptoms of the illness are no longer present.

Step 3: Health Authority Determination

  • If the local health department official or primary health care provider determines that:

    • A child or staff member is contributing to illness transmission,

    • The individual is not adequately immunized during a vaccine-preventable disease outbreak, or

    • The circulating pathogen presents an increased risk,

  • The individual must remain excluded until the health department or provider confirms the risk of transmission is no longer present.

Step 4: Food Preparation Staff Exclusion

  • Child care personnel who work in food preparation areas may not return to work until:

    • Signs and symptoms of illness have been absent for a minimum of 48 hours.

Step 5: Parent/Guardian Notification

  • A child’s condition must be reported to the custodial parent or legal guardian as soon as possible.

  • For symptoms not requiring exclusion, notification may occur:

    • Verbally or

    • In writing at the end of the day.

Signs and Symptoms Requiring Attention

Children exhibiting any of the following symptoms may be suspected of having a communicable disease:

  1. Severe coughing causing facial redness, blueness, or a whooping sound

  2. Difficult or rapid breathing

  3. Stiff neck

  4. Diarrhea (more than one abnormally loose stool within a 24-hour period)

  5. Fever of 101°F or higher accompanied by other symptoms

    • Any infant under 2 months of age with a fever requires immediate medical attention

  6. Pink eye (conjunctivitis)

  7. Exposed, open skin lesions

  8. Unusually dark urine and/or gray or white stool

  9. Yellowish skin or eyes (jaundice)

  10. Any other symptoms indicative of a communicable disease

Head Lice Protocol

  • A child diagnosed with head lice must:

    • Be excluded for the remainder of the day.

    • May return the following day only if treatment has occurred and is verified.

  • Verification of treatment may include:

    • Product box or box top

    • Empty treatment container

    • Signed statement from the parent/guardian confirming treatment

  • The facility must clean and treat all areas, equipment, toys, and furnishings that the child had contact with.

Documentation & Compliance

  • All exclusions, parent notifications, and health-related actions must be documented according to facility policy.

  • This SOP must be followed in conjunction with state licensing regulations and public health guidance.