Stopping the spread of childhood infections

Head Lice

1. Regular Hair Checks: Encourage parents to regularly check their children’s hair for lice and nits (lice eggs), especially if there’s a known outbreak at school.
2. Wet Combing: It’s a non-chemical method effective for both detection and removal of lice and nits.
3. Environmental Cleaning: Recommend washing bedding, hats, and clothing in hot water. Vacuuming furniture and carpets can also help remove any stray lice or nits.
4. Avoid Sharing Personal Items: Children should be advised not to share combs, brushes, hats, or other hair accessories to prevent spread.
5. Education: Educate about the lifecycle of head lice and how they spread, to dispel myths and reduce stigma.

Scabies

1. Environmental Cleaning: Washing bedding, clothing, and towels used by the infected person in the past 48 hours in hot water and drying in a hot dryer.
2. Vacuuming: Vacuuming furniture and carpets in areas used by the infected person.
3. Isolation of Non-Washable Items: Items that cannot be washed can be sealed in a plastic bag for at least 72 hours to kill mites.
4. Personal Hygiene: Regular bathing and changing of clothes can help, although scabies is not due to poor hygiene.
5. Close Contact Precautions: Avoiding close physical contact until treatment is effective.

Dust Mites

1. Use Dust Mite-Proof Covers: Encourage the use of allergen-impermeable covers on mattresses, pillows, and duvets.
2. Regular Washing: Bedding should be washed weekly in hot water.
3. Humidity Control: Keeping indoor humidity below 50% helps reduce dust mite populations.
4. Frequent Vacuuming: Using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to reduce dust mite presence in carpets and upholstery.
5. Declutter: Reducing clutter in the home can minimize dust accumulation.

Impetigo

1. Good Hygiene: Regular hand washing and bathing with soap and water, especially after touching infected skin.
2. Avoid Touching Lesions: Teach children not to touch or scratch the sores.
3. Separate Personal Items: Use separate towels, bedding, and clothing for the infected person and wash these items regularly.
4. Covering the Sores: Keep sores covered with gauze or bandages to prevent the spread of infection.
5. Environmental Cleaning: Regular cleaning of surfaces and toys that the child frequently touches

Gastroenteritis

1. Hydration: Ensure adequate fluid intake to prevent dehydration, especially in children.
2. Hand Hygiene: Frequent hand washing with soap and water, particularly after using the bathroom and before handling food.
3. Cleanliness: Regularly clean and disinfect toilets, especially flush handles, toilet seats, and bathroom taps.
4. Food Safety: Practice good food hygiene, including proper storage and thorough cooking.

Glandular Fever (Infectious Mononucleosis)

1. Avoid Sharing Personal Items: Don’t share drinks, food utensils, or toothbrushes.
2. Rest: Adequate rest is crucial for recovery.
3. Hygiene: Regular hand washing to prevent spreading the virus.
4. Isolation During Acute Phase: Limit contact with others during the contagious period.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

1. Hand Hygiene: Frequent hand washing, especially after changing diapers or using the toilet.
2. Disinfect Surfaces: Regularly clean toys and surfaces.
3. Avoid Close Contact: Avoid kissing, hugging, or sharing utensils with infected individuals.
4. Isolation: Keep children with the disease away from school or daycare until fever and sores have healed.

Hepatitis A

1. Hand Washing: Especially after using the bathroom and before preparing or eating food.
2. Safe Food and Water: In areas with poor sanitation, drink bottled or boiled water and avoid raw or undercooked food.
3. Personal Hygiene: Avoid sharing personal items like towels or toothbrushes.
4. Vaccination: Hepatitis A vaccination for travel to high-risk areas.

Measles

1. Isolation: Keep the infected individual away from others, especially unvaccinated individuals, until at least 4 days after the rash appears.
2. Hand Hygiene: Regular hand washing.
3. Vaccination: Ensure vaccinations are up to date (MMR vaccine).

Molluscum Contagiosum

1. Avoid Sharing Personal Items: Towels, clothes, and bath sponges shouldn’t be shared.
2. Avoid Scratching: Scratching can spread the virus to other parts of the body.
3. Cover Lesions: Where practical, cover lesions with clothing or bandages.

Mumps

1. Isolation: Avoid school or work until 5 days after swelling begins.
2. Avoid Sharing Utensils: Don’t share drinks or eating utensils.
3. Hand Hygiene: Frequent hand washing.
4. Vaccination: MMR vaccine is effective for prevention.

Ringworm

1. Avoid Sharing Personal Items: Like combs, clothing, and towels.
2. Skin Hygiene: Keep the skin clean and dry.
3. Avoid Scratching: To prevent spreading to other body parts.
4. Treatment of Pets: As they can be carriers.

Scarlet Fever

1. Isolation: Keep the infected individual away from others during the contagious period.
2. Hand Hygiene: Regular hand washing.
3. Avoid Sharing Utensils and Personal Items: Particularly with the infected individual.

Slapped Cheek (Fifth Disease)

1. Hand Hygiene: Frequent hand washing.
2. Respiratory Etiquette: Covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
3. Avoid Close Contact: Especially with pregnant women, as it can be harmful to the fetus.

Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

1. Isolation: Keep affected individuals away from others, especially infants and those not vaccinated.
2. Hand Hygiene: Regular hand washing.
3. Respiratory Hygiene: Use tissues to cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
4. Vaccination: Ensure up-to-date vaccinations, including booster shots.