COMMON CHILDHOOD DISEASES IN

EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTRES AND

HOW TO IDENTIFY THEM
 INTRODUCTION
As most Early Childhood educators would be aware, illnesses that are
contagious will often spread quickly throughout early childhood centres.
One of the main reasons for this is young children are prone to putting
things in their mouths and not yet able to follow correct hygiene
procedures to prevent the spread of illness.
This web quest has been created for those working in our Early Childhood
Centre. This web quest will ensure that each educator becomes aware of
the range of childhood diseases that they may come across. They will
learn to identify symptoms of these possible diseases, how to treat them
and what to do if they feel a child may have one.
 PERTUSSIS (WHOOPING COUGH)
Description: A highly infectious disease caused by the bacteria, Bordetella
pertussis.
Symptoms: Early symptoms may appear as a cold, runny nose, tiredness,
mild fever before a cough develops.
Infectious period: From when the cold like symptoms begin for up to 3
weeks or until antibiotics have been taken for 5 days.
Exclusion period: 21 days from the onset of symptoms or until antibiotics
have been taken for 5 days.

http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/infectious/factsheets/
pages/pertussis.aspx
 CONJUNCTIVITIS

Description: A condition that cause the eye to become inflamed and

weep.
Symptoms: Red eyes, discharge, pain, sensitive to light.
Infectious period: As long as there is discharge.
Exclusion period: Until eye discharge has stopped.

http://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Conjunc
tivitis/
 HEAD LICE
Description: Insects that live in the hair and suck blood from the scalp.
Does not cause disease or illness.
Symptoms: Itchy scalp
Exclusion period: Children may return to care as soon as a treatment
plan has been started.

http://www.health.wa.gov.au/docreg/Education/Dis
eases/Communicable/Parasitic/HP0149_head_lice_F
S.pdf
 GASTROENTERITIS
Description: An infection of the stomach and intestines resulting in
vomiting and diarrhoea.
Symptoms: Vomiting and Diarrhoea
Exclusion period: Until there has been 24 hours with no symptoms

http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/
Factsheets/gastroenteritis.pdf
 IMPETIGO (SCHOOL SORES)

Description: a skin infection caused by Staphylococcus or Streptococcus

bacteria. It is very infectious but not dangerous.
Symptoms: Flat yellow, crusty or moist patches or blisters on the skin.
Infectious period: While fluid is weeping from the sore, or until antibiotics
have been taken for 24 hours.
Exclusion Period: Until antibiotics have been taken for 24 hours. Exposed
sores should be covered with water tight dressings.

http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/
Pages/impetigo.aspx
 COMMON COLD
Description: A virus that affects the nose, throat and upper airways.
There are more than 200 viruses that can cause colds. Not as severe as
the Influenza viruses.
Symptoms: Blocked or runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing, cough, sore
throat, mild fever, feeling unwell
Infectious Period: 1 day before symptoms begin and while runny nose
remains.
Exclusion period: No need to exclude for a cold if the child feels well
enough to attend.
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_fil
e/0025/435607/ed-colds_and_flu.pdf
 HAND, FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE

Description: A viral infection that presents as blisters on various parts of

the body.
Symptoms: Blisters on hand, foot, nappy area, soles of feet, upper arms
or legs, may also have fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough.
Incubation period: 3-5 days
Exclusion period: Until all blisters have dried.

http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/
Pages/handfootmouth.aspx
 HUMAN PARVOVIRUS B19 (SLAP CHEEK
OR FIFTH DISEASE)
Description: A viral infection that often presents with mild symptoms and
a rash/redness on the cheeks.
Symptoms: Red rash on face, lacy rash on torso and limbs, fever, muscle
aches
Infections period: Until the rash appears
Exclusion period: No exclusion is necessary unless child feels unwell as
once the rash appears the child is no longer infectious.

http://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Slapped
_cheek_or_Fifth_syndrome/
 INFLUENZA
Description: A viral disease of the respiratory tract:
Symptoms: Fever, chills, headache, aches and pains, sore throat, cough
Infectious period: 7-10 days
Exclusion Period: Until they are well again children should be kept at
home.

http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/
Pages/influenza_factsheet.aspx
 MEASLES
Description: A serious and highly infectious viral disease.
Symptoms: Fever, cough, sore red eyes, rash of large, flat red blotches
that can join together and covers the skin.
Infectious period: 4-5 days before the rash appears until 4 days after the
rash appears:
Exclusion period: Until the child feels well and at least 4 days after the
appearance of the rash.

http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/
Pages/Measles_Factsheet.aspx
 TASK

As you can see there is a lot of diseases and illnesses that we as

educators need to watch out for. We need to be able to identify
symptoms and know what the procedure to follow is. For example: Does
a child need to go home for a runny nose? What about a fever or
vomiting?
I would now like each educator to pick a disease that has been discussed
and create a poster for the staff room. The poster will contain information
about the disease, how to recognise it, what to do next and who needs to
be notified. Use pictures and diagrams if appropriate. See the following
page for further links for information.
 FURTHER INFORMATION
https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_
files_nhmrc/publications/attachments/ch55_staying_healthy_5th_edition_
150602.pdf
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/childhood-illnesses
http://
www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+int
ernet
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/infectious/factsheets/Pages/default.aspx