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

Shigellosis
Description
Shigellosis is a severe intestinal infection caused by Shigella bacteria. The germ can
be identified by a faecal culture. Symptoms include diarrhoea (sometimes containing
blood or mucus), fever, vomiting and cramps. Some infected people have no
symptoms. Shigella spreads when hands, objects or food become contaminated with
the faeces of infected people, and the bacteria are then taken in by mouth. Very small
numbers of the bacteria are sufficient to cause an infection. Stringent control measures
are needed.
Incubation period
1–7 days, usually 1–3 days.
Infectious period
While ill and for a few days afterwards.
Exclusion period
Exclude until diarrhoea has stopped for at least 24 hours.
Responsibilities of child care providers/staff
Report the infection to the director.
Staff may resume handling food 48 hours after diarrhoea has ceased.
Contact your local health authority if more than one child in one group is ill. Public
health workers may be able to help identify how the germ has spread through the
centre and prevent further infection.
Responsibilities of parents
Observe the exclusion period.
Controlling the spread of infection
Exclude a person with infectious diarrhoea from the centre until the diarrhoea has
stopped for at least 24 hours.
Make sure that effective hand washing and cleaning procedures are being followed in
the centre and at home.
A person with Shigella in their faeces must not be involved in food preparation until
diarrhoea has ceased for at least 48 hours 66 .
Treatment
A child with this infection may become seriously ill. The child may need
hospitalisation. Seek medical advice on treatment and fluid replacement. The doctor
may prescribe antibiotics.
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