Any other disease which is unusual in incidence, occur in unusual numbers of circumstances or appear to be of public health concern, i.e.,  epidemic diarrhea, food or waterborne outbreaks, acute respiratory illness should also be reported.

AIDS/ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME

The following guidelines will be used with regard to students diagnosed as having AIDS/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome:

1. Routine screening of students for AIDS associated virus (HTLV-III/LAV) is not recommended.  Screening will not be a requirement for school entry.
2. Children diagnosed as having AIDS, or with laboratory evidence of infection with the AIDS associated virus (HTLV-III/LAV), and receiving medical attention are able to attend classes in an unrestricted educational setting.
3.  An appropriate alternative educational plan may include that a more restricted environment should be provided for the child diagnosed as having AIDS or laboratory evidence of infection with the HTLV-III/LAV virus if:
1. Cutaneous (skin) eruptions or weeping lesions that cannot be medically covered are present
2. Inappropriate behavior which increases the likelihood of transmission (i.e., biting or incontinence) is exhibite
3. The child is too ill to attend school
4. Decisions as to educational management should be shared utilizing expertise of the physician, parent or guardian, public health personnel and those associated with the educational setting.
1. Notification of the school will be through the school nurse or person responsible for school health who will notify only those necessary to assure optimal management.
2. Notification will be by a process that would maximally provide patient confidentiality.
3. If school authorities believe that a child diagnosed as having AIDS or with laboratory evidence of infection with the AIDS associated virus (HTLV-III/LAV) has evidence of conditions described in #3 above, then the school authorities can dismiss the child from the class and request authorization from the child’s personal physician so that class attendance is within compliance with the school policy.
4. If a conflict arises as to the child’s management, the case should be referred to the State Department of Health for review to determine the permissibility of attendance.
5. Since the child diagnosed as having AIDS or with laboratory evidence of infection with the AIDS associated virus (HTLV-III/LAV) has a somewhat greater risk of encountering infections in the school setting, the child should be excluded from school if there is an outbreak of threatening communicable disease such as chicken pox or measles until he/she is properly treated and/or the outbreak is no longer a threat to the child.
6. Blood or any other body fluids including vomitus and fecal or urinary incontinence in any child should be treated appropriately.  Gloves shall be worn when cleaning up any body fluids.
7. Inservice education of appropriate school personnel should ensure that proper medical and current information about AIDS is available.

The herpes simplex virus and cytomegalovirus are ubiquitous agents infecting most of the population.  It is not possible with present medical knowledge and skills to totally prevent their transmission.  Under ordinary circumstances it is not reasonable to exclude infected individuals from school unless those infected are too ill to attend.  Infection control is best accomplished by maintaining appropriate hygienic practices such as avoiding other people’s secretions and careful washing of contaminated hands.  Under special circumstances when secretions cannot be adequately controlled because of individual behavior, it might be advisable to provide an alternative education plan until the problem is solved.

505-03_Communicable_Disease_Chart

Approved: ____1/25/87______  Reviewed: ____10/11/10____  Revised:     10/25/99___