DISEASES IN SCHOOLS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 328, 15 September 1932, Page 6

DISEASES IN SCHOOLS

LITTLE ALTERATION PROVIDED FOR IN RECENT REGUL ATION S. PERIODS OF ISOLATION. Amendments in the regulations governing the exelusion from school of children suffering from infectious j disv'ases or coming from homes ir. j which infectious diseases have been reported came into effect with the commencement of the third term. Practically the only alteration from the exisiing regulations, however, is the reduction of the minimum period oi' absence from school from six weeks to four weeks in the case of scarlet fever, but a certifieate has to he furnished by the medical attendant before ihe child can return to school. The regulations, contained in an OrJex--in-Council dated May 20, 1932, practically duplicate the existing regulations in regard to other diseases for which isolation may be necessary. In casas of diphtheria a period of isolation of three weeks is required, and in the case of enteric fever the period is six weeks. In cases of diphLheria and scarlet fevei% children exposed to infection must stay away irom school until a clearance has been given by a health inspector, while children liable to enteric are not excluded irom schools unless the medical offieer of health directs that this course should ne adopted. Ihe isolation preiod for meningitis is four weeks, and children exposed to infection are required to reniain away from school until disinfection of their homes has been carried out, or if the patient is removed to hospital, for 10 days aftrr disinfection, while in either case a certifieate of clearance is required. The isolation period for infantile paralysis is fixed at six weeks, and other children in the home must not go to school until the house has been disinfected, or, if the patient is taken zo hospital, for 14 days after disiniection. A certifieate of clearance is also required. Isolation in the case of measles is at least two weeks from the date oi appearance of the rash and until convalescence is commenced. If the dis~ase is not epidemic when the first cases occur, children from the affected home are excluded from school for 16 days from the occurrence of the outoreak. In the case of German meas1 s, where isolation is two weeks, children are not required to b'2 excluded unless directed by the medical oliicer of health. In the case of mumps, isolation is iixed at two wexks from the commencement, providing that a clear week has elapsed since the subsidence of the swelling. Children expos?d to infection need not stay from school unless so directed. Where whooping rough occurs, isolation continues for two weeks after the cough has ceascd, or, in cases of persistent whoopng, for not less than six weeks after Ihe commencement of the complaint. If the disease is not epidemic, children from the infected home are compeiled to remain away. from school for 21 days from the occurrence of the last case in the home.