Health

Precautions against the spreading of colds, viral infections and contagious diseases are very necessary in Kurrajong.
Parents should keep children home if they are running a temperature or showing any signs of being unwell.
Children who have had vomiting or diarrhoea should be kept at home for at least 24 hours after the last episode.

MEDICATION

Medication should be scheduled out of school hours wherever possible. If medication is required during school hours please complete a medication administration form, available from the School Nurse or Class Teacher.

Medication must be in original container and clearly labelled with Student’s name and instructions for administration.

Please note that aspirin should not be given to children under 12 years of age unless specifically recommended by a doctor.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Please notify the school if your child contracts an infectious disease.

Some common infectious diseases include the following:

Chicken pox

Incubation: 2 – 3 weeks

Infectious: from 2 days before the rash appears, until all blisters have dried

Spread: through droplets, eg coughing, sneezing or contact with fluid from blisters

Exclusion: for at least 5 days after rash first appears, and after all blisters have dried

Conjunctivitis

Incubation: 24 – 72 hours

Infectious: while eye discharge is present

Spread: contact with any object that has been contaminated with eye secretions

Exclusion: until discharge from eyes has ceased

Gastroenteritis

Incubation: 24 – 72 hours

Infectious: during illness and for at least 48 hours after symptoms have disappeared

Spread: contaminated hands, object or food, or through coughing and sneezing

Exclusion: until vomiting and diarrhoea has ceased for at least 48 hours

Giardia

Incubation: 3 – 25 days

Infectious: as long as organism is present, whether symptomatic or not

Spread: person to person through contaminated hands, objects or food

Exclusion: until diarrhoea has stopped and appropriate antibiotics have commenced

Hand, Foot and Mouth

Incubation: 3 – 5 days

Infectious: while fluid is still in blisters – faeces can remain infectious for several weeks

Spread: contact with blisters, coughing or talking

Exclusion: until all blisters have dried – do not intentionally pierce or break

Head Lice

Infectious: as long as the eggs or lice are alive

Spread: direct head to head contact, rarely through combs, hats or pillowcases

Exclusion: may return to school the day after appropriate treatment has commenced

Herpes Simplex (cold sores)

Spread: through infected saliva and moist blisters

Exclusion: while cold sore is weeping

Measles

Incubation: 10 – 14 days

Infectious: 5 days before rash appears until 4 days after rash appears

Spread: through infected droplets – directly, on articles, or can remain in a room for up to 2 hours

Exclusion: until 4 days after onset of rash

Mumps

Incubation: 14 – 25 days

Infectious: from 6 days before swelling until 9 days after swelling begins

Spread: airborne droplets or soiled articles

Exclusion: for 9 days after onset of symptoms or until swelling goes down

Ringworm

Spread: direct contact or from contaminated articles

Exclusion: until day after appropriate treatment has commenced

Rotavirus

this is the most common cause of severe diarrhoea

Incubation: 24 – 72 hours

Infectious: while ill with fever and diarrhoea

Spread: through airborne droplets, or contaminated hands, objects or food

Exclusion: until diarrhoea and vomiting has ceased

Rubella (German Measles)

Incubation: 14 – 23 days

Infectious: from 7 days before until 4 days after appearance of rash

Spread: airborne droplets and contact with articles or hands soiled by nose and throat discharge

Exclusion: until at least 4 days after appearance of rash, and until fully recovered

NOTE: All pregnant women with suspected exposure to Rubella should seek expert obstetric advice

School Sores (Impetigo)

Incubation: 4 – 10 days

Infectious: extremely contagious – as long as there is discharge from sores

Spread: direct contact with sores or contact with contaminated clothes

Exclusion: until 24 hours after appropriate antibiotic treatment is started

Any sores on exposed surfaces should be covered with a watertight dressing

Slapped Face / Cheek

Incubation: 4 – 14 days

Infectious: not once rash appears

Spread: direct or indirect connection with airborne droplets

Exclusion: not necessary

Whooping Cough

Incubation: 6 – 20 days

Infectious: highly infectious

Without treatment, the first 3 weeks of coughing

With treatment – until 5 days after antibiotics commenced

Spread: through respiratory droplets

Exclusion: while infectious – see above

Immunisations

Immunisation schedules change approximately every 2 years. The schedule followed by your child will be determined by their date of birth. The use of immunisations is recommended by the government and supported by Pulteney.

These are a guide to immunisations. Please consult your own schedule to confirm specific recommendations for your child.

  • Birth
  • Hep B

  • 2 months
  • Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis
  • Poliomyelitis
  • Hib
  • Hep B

  • 4 months
  • Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis
  • Poliomyelitis
  • Hib
  • Hep B

  • 6 months
  • Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis
  • Poliomyelitis
  • Hep B

  • 12 months
  • Measles, mumps and rubella
  • Hib

  • 18 months
  • Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis

  • 4 years
  • Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis
  • Poliomyelitis
  • MMR

Children born November 1996 to 1 May 2000 may not receive the Hep B immunisations.

Children born 2003 to 2005 may also receive Meningococcal C at 12 months, and may not receive DTP at 18 months.