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.