Kids and Health Care: Infectious Diseases
Whenever kids are gathered together in groups their risk of sharing sicknesses increases. Though it is virtually impossible for toys and other shared items to be in perfect sanitary condition, there are steps that can be taken to avoid the spread of infection.
Immunizations are a valuable weapon when it comes to protecting your child against illness. Make sure your child's immunizations are up to date and include the following:
- diphtheria;
- tetanus;
- pertussis;
- polio;
- measles;
- mumps;
- rubella;
- hepatitis B; and
- chicken pox.
Make sure your childcare facility requires up-to-date immunization records for each child, as well as for any caregiver.
Teach your child proper hygiene, including hand washing, at home. Children should be encouraged and monitored to make sure they wash their hands after using toilets, before eating and after blowing their noses or coughing or sneezing into their hands.
When your child is sick, sending them to a childcare facility or school will only spread the sickness. As a parent, you can help keep other children healthy by keeping your child home until their illness is no longer contagious.
Illnesses most common in childcare facilities include: colds, flu, diarrhea diseases and skin/eye infections.
