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Sample Letters of Notification Campylobacteriosis E. Coli 0157:H7 Fifth Disease Head Lice Hepatitis A Measles (Rubeola) Impetigo Pinworm Disease Roseola Rubella Strep Throat Scabies Giardiasis Ringworm Haemophilus Influenza Type B (HIB) Pinkeye
Caution! The information provided in these sample letters of notification to parents is for the use of the child care center in providing general information about a particular disease in the child care setting. The Texas Department of Health, Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, the local health departments, and the Healthy Child Care North Texas Coalition do not take responsibility for how these letters are used. The information in the letters should not be used in place of contacting a health care provider. The information is limited and should be used only as a vehicle to notify parents that a particular disease has been found in the child care center. Parents should be encouraged to contact their own health care provider for specific information about a particular disease as it relates to their child. The sample letters that follow are not a substitute for consultation with a public health nurse or a health care provider.
Letters courtesy of Healthy Child Care Texas, Lone Star Guide to Healthy Child Care
Date: Subject: Notice about Campylobacteriosis Dear Parent or Guardian: Someone in our child care facility has Campylobacteriosis. This is an illness caused by bacteria. The symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and stomach pain. In some cases the diarrhea may contain blood. These symptoms can last up to 10 days. It usually takes 2 to 5 days to become ill after coming in contact with the bacteria. It can be spread through the feces (stool). Animals, especially dogs, cats, and poultry, may also have this bacteria in their droppings. Eating foods, such as chicken and raw milk, may also spread it or drinking water tainted with the bacteria. The best way to prevent the spread of this illness is by careful hand washing by everyone. It is also important when preparing food at home to cook all meat until juices run clear. Hands must be washed after using the restroom or changing diapers. Hands should also be washed before handling food, before eating, and after handling pets. If your child gets sick with fever and diarrhea, keep him or her home. Notify your health care provider and us.
Sincerely,
Date: Subject: Notice about E.Coli 0157:H7 Infection Dear Parent of Guardian: Someone in our child care has the infection E. Coli 0157:H7. This is an illness caused by a bacteria. The symptoms are stomach cramps, diarrhea, which sometimes contains blood, fever, and vomiting. The diarrhea usually lasts a few days to two weeks. It begins 2 to 8 days after contact with the bacteria. A small number of sick children develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This is a disease that affects the kidneys and blood clotting system. It can be lifethreatening. Ground meat tainted with the droppings from animals with the bacteria is the most common source of illness. Illness may occur if a small amount of this bacteria gets on hands, objects, or into food and then finds its way into someone’s mouth. You cannot see the bacteria. Wash hands, utensils and kitchen surfaces after handling raw meat. Cook all meat until juices run clear. The most important way to prevent E.Coli from spreading is through careful hand washing by everyone. Hands must be washed after using the restroom or changing diapers. Hands must also be washed before preparing food and before eating. If your child gets sick with fever and diarrhea, keep him or her home. Notify your health care provider. Tell your health care provider about this letter. Please let us know if your child gets sick with any of the symptoms. If your child has this illness, a health care provider must approve your child’s return to the child care center.
Sincerely,
Date: Subject: Notice about Fifth Disease Dear Parent or Guardian: Someone in our child care has fifth disease or “slapped cheek” disease. This is a viral infection. Anyone can be infected, but the disease seems to occur more often in school age children. One to two weeks after contact with the sick person, some children will have a low-grade fever and feel tired. By the third week, a red rash usually appears on the face giving a slapped cheek look. The rash may spread to the body and may fade and come back again. The rash may be lacy and itchy. Fifth0 disease is spread by coming contact with a sick person. It is easiest to catch the disease before the rash appears. The most important way to prevent the spread of this illness is by careful hand washing. Please let us know if your child gets fifth disease. You do not have to keep him or her at home unless fever is present. You may want to consult your health care provider if you are pregnant or if you have children with weak immune systems or blood disorders.
Sincerely,
Date Subject: Notice about Head Lice Dear Parent or Guardian: Someone in our child care has head lice or nits. The nits are tiny, white and/or dark eggs. They are stuck to a hair shaft. There may be an itching red rash at the back of the head or around the ears. If your child has head lice or nits, it is important to do the following: 1. Buy a lice shampoo or cream rinse. Some are available over the counter at your local pharmacy or supermarket. For serious cases, consult your health care provider for stronger medication available only by prescription. 2. Follow label directions when applying the shampoo or cream rinse. Since the eggs may not be killed after using the medicated shampoo the first time, a second treatment is necessary in seven days. Again, follow label directions or your health care provider’s instruction. Do not treat the child with more than two treatments. Multiple treatments may cause injury to the child. 3. Wash all clothing, bedding, and linens of the infested person in hot water. Items that cannot be washed may be dry-cleaned. Another method is to seal the clothing in a plastic bag for 2 weeks. This will kill all lice and nits. 4. Do not share combs, hairbrushes, hats, coats and towels. 5. Check all household members on a daily basis for at least two weeks. If infested, treat. 6. Soak combs, brushes and like items for 1 hour in the same medicated shampoo. 7. Vacuum all carpets, mattresses and upholstered furniture. Throw the vacuum bag away immediately after use. Do NOT treat the house or furniture with flea bombs. Do not use sprays. They could be harmful.
Notify your child care if any household members develop lice. An infested child cannot return to child care until after treatment with a medicated shampoo or cream.
Sincerely,
Date: Subject: Notice concerning Hepatitis A Dear Parent or Guardian: Someone in our child care facility has been diagnosed with Hepatitis A. The symptoms are flu like. They may include nausea, vomiting, fever, and cramps. The ill person may also have fatigue, dark urine, light colored stools, and yellow skin and eyes. Small children often have mild or no symptoms. A child will be contagious even though the symptoms are mild. It is spread through the stool of an infected person. The most important way to prevent the spread of this illness is through careful hand washing by everyone. This includes children.
Hands must be washed after using the restroom and changing diapers. Hands must also be washed before preparing food and before eating. If your child or other family members develop the symptoms of Hepatitis A keep them home. Please notify your health care provider, your local health department and us. Also, tell them about this letter. All infected persons must be excluded from the child care facility until 1 week after onset of symptoms.
Sincerely,
Date Subject: Notice Concerning Measles (Rubeola) Dear Parent or Guardian: Someone in our child care has measles. This is a highly contagious disease. It can cause serious illness. The symptoms start like a common cold. The child will have a runny nose, watery eyes, high fever and a cough. In a few days, the child will get a rash that starts on the face. The rash will spread to the rest of the body. You will need to contact your health care provider. Your child may need to get a shot to prevent him or her from getting measles. The shot will keep the child from getting very sick if he or she does get measles. The shot is very important if your child has never had the two (2) shots needed to prevent measles. Please let us know if your child gets the measles.
Sincerely,
Date Subject: Notice About Impetigo Dear Parent or Guardian: Your child has been exposed to impetigo. It is a common infection of the skin. The skin will have small red spots, which become tiny blisters. These blisters will break and weep, leaving a yellow, honey colored crust. You will usually see it on the face, neck, arms, and legs. It can be very easily passed from child to child. Ointments and creams are available for treatment of the skin. Antibiotics are sometimes given to treat impetigo. Please see your own health care provider for proper diagnosis and treatment if your child becomes infected. If your child catches impetigo, the child may not come back to this child care facility until 24 hours after treatment has begun. This is reported for your information.
Sincerely,
Date Subject: Notice about Pinworm Disease Dear Parent or Guardian: A child at our child care facility has pinworms. Pinworm disease is a common infection of the large intestine. It is caused by a parasitic worm The disease is found most often in preschool and school age children. Parents of infected children can get the disease. Pinworms usually cause itching around the anus. The child may also be cranky because he or she may have trouble sleeping. Some persons with pinworms may not have symptoms. Good hand washing after using the toilet, changing diapers, and before eating can help prevent the disease. If your child gets pinworms, contact your health care provider. All family members may need to be treated.
Sincerely,
Date Subject: Notice about Roseola Dear Parent or Guardian: Someone in our child care has roseola. This is a common illness in young children. A virus causes it. The symptoms are sudden fever and rash. The fever can go up to 106°F. It can last for 3 to 5 days. A few days after the fever starts, a pink rash (bumps) will appear. The rash can last for one to two days. You should contact your health care provider if your child gets these symptoms. If your child gets roseola, he or she cannot return to the child care center until the fever and rash or gone. Please let us know if your child gets roseola.
Sincerely,
Date Subject: Notice about Rubella Dear Parent or Guardian: Someone in our child care has rubella. This is a highly contagious disease. If women who are pregnant contract this disease, it can cause birth defects. The symptoms are low fever (usually less that 101° F), rash lasting three days or less, swollen glands, headache, runny nose, body and joint aches and reddened eyes. This disease can be caught for one week before the rash appears. You will need to contact your health care provider. Your child may need to get a shot to prevent him or her from getting rubella. The shot may keep the child from getting sick with rubella. The shot is very important. The shot given for this is MMR. Please let us know if your child gets rubella.
Sincerely,
Date Subject: Notice about Strep Throat Dear Parent or Guardian: A child at our child care has strep throat or scarlet fever. Your child may have been near the sick child. Strep infections are very common and are caused by a bacteria. It is spread by close contact to someone who is sick with a strep infection. It can be treated with antibiotics. Treating with antibiotics helps reduce the chances of more serious illnesses. Watch for fever, red painful throat, swollen tonsils, and or ear infections. If your child becomes sick with sore throat and fever consult your health care provider. People with strep infections should stay away from the child care facility until 24 hours after they begin antibiotics.
Sincerely,
Date Subject: Notice About Scabies Dear Parent or Guardian: Your child has been exposed to scabies, a skin disease caused by a tiny mite. The mite is transmitted through close bodily contact. Clothing and bedding of infested persons probably play a role in the spread of the infection. Acts as simple as shaking hands, holding, or clasping hands, as in children’s games can be a method of transfer. The mites do not live more than two days if away from the body. The most common symptom is a rash that itches intensely, especially at night. The rash is usually found between the fingers, on the wrists, armpits, elbows, nipples, waistline, genitals and lower buttocks. In infants, the rash may appear on the face, scalp, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet. If you think that your child has scabies, see your health care provider. Creams or lotions prescribed by your health care provider can be applied to the skin to kill the mite. Follow the health care provider’s instructions carefully for treatment. Wash off the cream as directed. Itching may continue for up to two weeks after treatment. However, it does not mean that the treatment did not work. Occasionally, a second treatment a week later is required. Do not apply the cream more often than prescribed by the health care provider. Applying the cream more often than recommended can result in injury to your child. The entire family and any care givers should be treated. Laundering in hot water and detergent can disinfect clothing, bedding, and towels used by the infested person. Dry using the hot setting on the dryer. Children with scabies must be excluded from the child care facility until they have received treatment. If your child develops scabies, please notify us immediately.
Sincerely,
Date: Subject: Notice about Giardiasis Dear Parent or Guardian: Someone in our child care facility has Giardiasis. This illness is caused by a parasite that gets into the intestines by way of the mouth. The main symptom is greasy, foul smelling diarrhea. There may also be nausea, stomach pains and gas. If the symptoms continue to occur, the child may fail to gain weight or may even lose weight. Many people have no symptoms but still pass the parasite in their stool. It usually takes one to four weeks for a person to become sick after contact with the parasite. It is spread through the stool of a person or animal who has the parasite. Objects, food or water put into someone’s mouth, which have the parasite on them, can cause infection. The most important way to prevent this illness is by good hand washing. Hands must be washed after using the restroom or changing diapers. Hands must also be washed before preparing food and before eating. Avoid drinking water that has not been treated. If your child gets diarrhea, keep him or her home. Notify your health care provider. Also tell your health care provider about this letter. Please let us know if your child gets sick with any of the symptoms. All infected persons must stay away from the child care facility until the diarrhea is gone.
Sincerely,
Date: Subject: Notification about Ringworm Dear Parent or Guardian: Someone in our child care has ringworm. Ringworm is caused by a fungus. It very often affects the scalp, skin, nails, and hair. Fungal growth on the skin can produce distinctive reinlike patches with raised borders, thought by some to look like worms. There are no “worms” in ringworm infections. Ringworm is spread by direct skin-to-skin contact with people or pets that are infected. It can also be spread by sharing hairbrushes, combs, hair clippers, and hats contaminated with the fungi. If you think that your child has ringworm, please consult with your health care provider. Medicine is available by prescription to treat ringworm. If your child develops ringworm, please notify us. The child can come to child care if treatment has been given. The affected area must be covered. Encourage your child to wash his or her hands often. To limit the spread of the infection, do not allow the sharing of bedding, clothing, towels, or other personal articles.
Sincerely,
Date Subject: Notice about Haemophilus Influenza Type B (HIB) Dear Parent or Guardian: Someone in our child care has HIB. This illness is caused by a bacteria. It causes meningitis, which is an infection of the coverings of the spinal cord and brain. HIB may also cause ear, sinus, and bronchial infections. Signs to watch for include: fever, sleepy or very tired, sudden vomiting, and stiff neck. The HIB bacteria are carried by drainage or droplets from the nose and throat. You will need to contact your health care provider immediately if symptoms occur. Your child was required to have a series of HIB shots starting at two months of age. Please contact your health care provider to be sure your child’s shots are up to date. HIB shots are available from: your private health care provider, your local health department, or by calling 1-800-SHOTS4U.
Sincerely,
Date Subject: Notice about Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis) Dear Parent or Guardian: Someone in our child care has pinkeye. It is also called conjunctivitis. Pinkeye is an infection of the lining of the eye lid. It is one of the more common ailments among children. The condition is usually caused by allergens, viruses, or bacteria. Pinkeye is usually seen as a redness that involves the white of the eye. The condition can cause the child’s eye to itch and burn. Sometimes there is a discharge that may cause the eyelashes to stick together. The child will have trouble opening the eye when waking up from sleep. Some forms of pinkeye are catching. It is usually spread by children coming into contact with the tears or discharges from the eyes of an infected child, then touching their own eye. It can also be spread by coughing and sneezing. Please see you health care provider if your child has pinkeye. A child with pinkeye may not come back to the child care until one of the following three things happens: • the itching, pain, or tearing have stopped • the child has gotten at least 24 hours of antibiotic treatment • the child is released to come back by the child’s health care provider.
Sincerely,
