Staying Healthy in Child Care - National Health and Medical ...

Tuberculosis (TB)
Description
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that can affect almost any part of the body but is
most common in the lungs.
TB is spread by inhaling TB germ-containing droplets expelled directly from the
lungs of infectious persons during coughing, sneezing, laughing and speaking 51 . It is
not hereditary.
The symptoms of TB include a cough that lasts longer than 3 weeks and doesn’t go
away with normal treatment, fever, cough, loss of energy and being tired. There may
also be sweats, particularly at night, and weight loss can also occur. The cough may
produce phlegm and sometimes blood. TB can be suspected when there are changes
seen on a chest x-ray.
Incubation period
About 2-10 weeks from infection to positive tuberculin skin test 52 . The risk of active
disease is greatest within the first year or two after initial infection, although the
germs may lie inactive for many years.
Infectious period
Young children with their initial infection rarely spread the disease. Adults who
develop active TB are most infectious when they are coughing and have not received
treatment or are in the first few weeks of treatment.
Exclusion period
People are excluded from child care until they have a written clearance from their
treating medical practitioner.
Responsibilities of child care providers/staff
Advise the parent to keep the child home until they have proof of clearance from the
treating medical practitioner.
Responsibilities of parents
Parents should inform the director if their child has TB or if the child is on TB
medications.
Keep child home until they have proof of clearance from the treating medical
practitioner.
Controlling the spread of infection
The most important way to prevent TB is to reduce the source of the germs by
diagnosing people with TB and ensuring they are fully treated. By reducing the
number of people with infectious TB in the community the chance of exposure to TB
is reduced for the general population.
Cover mouth while coughing and sneezing. Wash hands.
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Draft for Public Consultation