Children's Corner Health Policies fro Diarrhea and Colds

• DIARRHEA (frequent watery, loose, or mucousy bowel movements):

  All cases of diarrhea must be reported to the center and cause explained. Diarrhea has more serious consequences than catching a cold. Sever dehydration can lead to hospitalization. The risks of spreading serious intestinal illness associated with diarrhea are more serious than the risk of spreading colds.

  Child can come to the center: if diarrhea is caused from diet changes, or from an allergy, or one loose b.m. occurs before coming to the center without other physical symptoms.

  Criteria for child staying home: Diarrhea with additional signs of child being sick (fever, runny nose, vomiting, irritability, lack of appetite), or diarrhea not due to diet change or allergy, even without other physical symptoms.

• COLDS AND RUNNY NOSE: Child can come to the center: if clear runny nose with no other symptoms, or clear runny nose caused by teething, allergy, or yellow or green runny nose by itself for up to a week.
  Criteria for child staying home: Runny nose with fever, lack of appetite, lethargy, irritability, or runny nose which is yellow or green for more than a week, or runny nose plus other signs of illness, or a very runny nose, which the child is unable to manage wiping.
  

Any symptoms that persist for two or more weeks usually require medical attention.