| Disease | Symptoms | Return Date |
| Chicken Pox | Pink spots which change into blisters for 3-4 days then form crusts. |
5-6 days after rash appear or when all chicken pox are scabbed over |
| Colds | Stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, coughing | When child can actively participate in all parts of the program |
| Diarrheal Diseases | Abnormal loose stool | Diarrhea can be infectious. Child should be kept home until the diarrhea stops and bowel movements return to normal. |
| Fever | The degree of the fever is not as important as the child’s behavior (cranky, fussy, irritable, lethargic). |
When child can actively participate in all parts of the program |
| Fifth Disease
(Slapped Cheek) |
Mild fever, body aches, rash, cheeks look flushed. Rash progresses to a red raised lace on arms, legs, trunk, and buttocks. |
Once the rash appears the child is no longer contagious. |
| Flu | Sore throat, muscular aches, fever, chills, vomiting, and diarrhea can be involved. |
When child can actively participate in all parts of the program |
| Hand, Food, & Mouth | Sores inside the mouth, fluid filled bumps on hands and feet. |
When child can actively participate in all parts of the program |
| Head Lice | Itchy scalp, eggs or nits which are tiny pearly white objects that stick to the hair shafts. |
Please refer to our Lice Policy |
| Impetigo | Spreading sores which can develop golden color crusty areas. Little dot-like sores spread around the original sores. Can appear on face, hands, legs, feet, and buttocks |
24 hours after starting treatment |
| Mononucleosis | Rash, infected tonsils, headache, extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, sore throat, and swollen glands |
When child can actively participate in all parts of the program |
| Pink Eye/ Conjunctivitis | Tears, redness of the eye lid lining, irritation followed by swelling and discharge. |
24 hours after starting treatment |
| Ringworm | Small blister which spreads to a large ring shaped patch. |
When treatment begins or with the doctors approval. |
| Scabies | Intense itching which is worse at night. May appear as a rash or small bumps that resemble insect bites. Most often seen between fingers, wrists, forearms, arm pits, groin area, and waist |
After treatment has been completed with a doctors prescribed medicated cream |
| Strep Throat | Red and painful throat. Fever, swollen neck glands, white patches on tonsils. |
24 hours after starting treatment and when the child can actively participate in all parts of the program. |
We need to be notified if your child has been in contact with a nuisance disease such as head lice.
Nit Free Policy
~Headstart adheres to a Nit Free Policy designed to prevent the spreading of head lice. If your child does get head lice we have more detailed info sheets to assist you. It is mandatory that your child be NIT FREE before they can return to the center.
