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- What is Fifth's Disease?
- What is MRSA?
- When and how is a person contagious with strep throat?
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What is Fifth's Disease?
Fifth's Disease is a contagious disease spread by a virus. It is usually a
mild rash illness of children. The risk of fifth disease is to the unborn
babies of pregnant women. If exposed, she should see her obstetrician.
One to two weeks after infection, some children will have a low-grade fever
and will feel tired. A red rash appears on the cheeks, giving a "slapped
face" appearance. The rash may then spread to the rest of the body and tends
to come and go. Sometimes the rash looks "lacy" with vague signs of illness
or no symptoms at all except for the rash.
It takes one to two weeks from exposure to development of Fifth's Disease
(incubation).
People can spread the rash during the week before the rash appears. By the
time the rash is seen, the virus can no longer be spread to others.
It is spread by droplets--coughing or sneezing.
There is no treatment and this is usually a mild illness.
The child does not need to be excluded from school, because by the time the
rash appears, it is no longer contagious.
Please remind the children to cover their mouths or noses when coughing and
sneezing and to remember the good handwashing.
Thank you
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What is MRSA?
Staphylococcus aureus or "Staph" is a common bacterium that can cause skin and
invasive infections. Many different types of bacteria are commonly found on
the skin or in the nose of healthy people. These bacteria may cause an
infection when a break in the skin gives the bacteria a place to grow (such as
a scratch or insect bite). Most skin infections are usually mild and can be
treated by cleaning it and protecting it with a bandage. Signs and symptoms
of a skin infection would be redness, tenderness or pain, swelling, and
drainage.
Over the years, these bacteria have developed resistance to several
antibiotics, thereby making it harder to treat these infections.
Methicillin Resistant Staph. Aureus (MRSA) is more common among patients in
nursing homes and hospitals but these infections have been reported in
increasing numbers among persons of all ages without the traditional risk
factors. It is referred to as "community associated MRSA" (CA-MRSA). Many
times they are misdiagnosed as spider bites. Staph. is found on our skin, and
the spread of a staph. infection can be from direct skin on skin contact; it
can also be transferred to environmental surfaces by hands or bare skin. That
is why the infections have been reported among athletes, where close contact,
contamination of equipment, and sharing of personal items like towels might
have contributed to transmission.
At school, we will continue to practice good handwashing and if a child has an
open wound or sore it should be cleaned with soap and water and covered with a
bandaid or dressing. Change the bandaid or dressing if it becomes wet, dirty
or loose.
Please let me know if your student /child is diagnosed with a staph. infection
so we can make any necessary adaptations at school.
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When and how is a person contagious with strep throat?
Strep throat is a bacterial infection. Symptoms include fever, sore throat,
and oozing and redness of tonsils and throat. It can only be diagnosed with a
laboratory throat culture. It is spread by inhaling respiratory droplets from
an ill person (coughing, sneezing), or indirect contact with hands or objects
that have been contaminated. After being exposed to strep., the symptoms
appear usually in 1-3 days. The infection can be passed for about 24 hours
after adequate treatment begins. Untreated persons remain infectious as long
as they are sick. Usually you can return to school or work twenty-four hours
after being on the antibiotic if you feel better.
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