Infection and Illness

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Infection and Illness
A Germ Nick, Age 5
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Fisk Factors Illness and infection

• Overseas and Australian research has shown that
  children attending formal child care are at a
  greater risk of many infections than are children
  cared for at home
• Staff employed in childrens services also appear
  to be at greater risk of some infections
• Carers must ensure that all policies and
  procedures designed to minimise the spread of
  infection are followed at all times.

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How Infection Spreads

• Infection can be spread in many ways, especially
  in environments where there are young children.
• Ways infection is spread include
• Airborne droplets
• Faecal - Oral Spread
• Contact Spread
• Body secretions

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Controlling the spread of infection

• Effective strategies for controlling the spread
  of infection are
• Air quality
• Regular cleaning of all surfaces, including
• childrens toys and equipment
• Screening of children on arrival
• Strict nappy change procedures
• Immunisation policy

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Controlling the spread of infection

• Effective strategies for controlling the spread
  of infection are
• Regular hand washing (children
• and carers)
• Practicing universal
• precautions when handling all body fluids
• Regular use of disposable gloves

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Controlling the spread of infection Cleaning

• Limiting access to shared toys for infants and
  toddlers
• Regularly cleaning of toys
• Keeping sandpit covered at night and changing
  sand frequently
• Ensuring that animals are kept away from
  childrens play areas

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Screening of children on arrival
STOP THE SPREAD OF DISEASE

• QUICK HEALTH CHECK
• Use all you senses
• Look
• Listen
• Feel
• smell

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The importance of immunisation

• Why Immunise?
• The 10 childhood diseases , which are preventable
  by immunisation can cause serious complications
  and sometimes death
• Except for tetanus the preventable diseases are
  highly contagious

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Immunisation

• Why Immunise?
• contagious diseases are spread more easily from
  child to child than people realise
• vaccines have almost eliminated the diseases from
  our society
• Where to go for Immunisation
• GP surgery
• Early Childhood Health clinic
• Peadiatric Department Hospital

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Immunisation

• How to do vaccines work?
• Vaccination provides the body with a mild form
  of the infection to stimulate building up of a
  resistance by the body
• What about side effects?
• Immunisation can cause mild side effects
• Very rarely serious
• Immunisation outweighs the risk of disease

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Immunisation

• Parent Obligations
• Obtain correct information about immunisation
• Keep a record of immunisation and document any
  reactions
• If child is sick discuss with doctor/ nurse
  before hand
• Follow immunisation schedule

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Immunisation

• Service/school Obligations
• Check blue book/ immunisation certificate
• Keep immunisation certificate in childs records
• Follow exclusion policy

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Exclusion policy

• When to exclude children
• Exclusion should be in accordance with the
  exclusion policy of the service
• Exclude children who are considered a health risk
  or hazard for the other children, or who are
  unwell
• Exclude children who have a contagious disease

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Administering medication

• If a child in your care is prescribed medicine
  and you are responsible for administering it you
  should be aware of some of the basic rules to
  follow
• Follow the 4 RS
• RIGHT CHILD
• RIGHT MEDICINE
• RIGHT AMOUNT
• RIGHT TIME

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Administering medication

• Medications need written instructions regarding
  the drug. Make sure you are clear on the
  instructions
• The dose of the medicine should be clearly stated
  on the label
• Label needs to be intact and in the childs name.
  NEVER give medication prescribed for specific
  children to others

A Scription Sean, 5 years
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Administering medication

• Carers should have means of measuring the
  medication accurately
• The correct timing should be adhered to
• Correct storage is important for some drugs
• Always have a second carer observe the procedure