Communicable Diseases

Communicable disease means an illness caused by an infectious agent or its toxins that occurs through the direct or indirect transmission of the infectious agent or its products from an infected individual or via an animal, vector or the inanimate environment to a susceptible animal or human host (CDC definition of Communicable Diseases.

DSHS Communicable Diseases chart with rules of school exclusion. CLICK HERE for Chart and Notes (PDF)

Our CHISD Policy:

Your CHISD Nursing Team follows the guidelines specifically outlined by the DSHS rules for exclusion, treatment and follow-up for all possible and confirmed communicable diseases. For all additional clarification and guidance for specific health concerns, your Nursing Team has direct contact with our Regional Epidemiologist.  

Please see the most current DSHS chart link above. 

DSHS Communicable Disease footnotes:

1. Fever is defined as 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

2. The student or faculty must be fever free for 24 hours, without the use of fever reducing medications prior to returning to our CHISD campus.

3. Diarrhea is defined as 3 or more loose stools in a 24 hour period.

4. The student or faculty must be free of diarrhea for 24 hours without the use of diarrhea suppressing medications prior to returning to our CHISD campus.

DSHS information about Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) - Texas Department of State Health Services

CHISD Policy for Pediculosis - Live Head Lice 

DSHS information about Head Lice  CLICK HERE Managing Head Lice (Pediculosis) in School/Home Settings

Our CHISD Policy:

According to the DSHS exclusion policy for Communicable Diseases, the day pediculosis is found on a student, the student does not have to be sent home that day after the parent/guardian is updated. The student is to be made aware of the diagnosis. Educating the student on the importance of ​not ​sharing headphones, hair bows, hats, headbands, brush/combs, running fingers through hair, shaking head, and hugging or close contact with other students/teacher is conducted by the school nurse. 

Teachers are privately updated on the active pediculosis case by the school nurse. Teachers are offered OFF with deet as a possible personal preventative measure. Lounging or close contact group activities in the classroom are discouraged for Day 1.

A general lice information sheet is to be sent home in the folder of every child in the same class as the student with known pediculosis on the day of diagnosis. No name/s are given on any information shared with other students.

DAY 2:

1. Proof of actual FDA approved lice shampoo bottle is required to be brought to the school to be visualized by the school nurse on the morning of return to CHISD.

2. Hair is to be rechecked for any live lice.

3. If no live lice, the student may stay at school on Day 2, with a note of clearance to the teacher.

4. If live lice are found, the student is to be sent home. 

• Physician awareness by the parent/guardian is
  recommended. 

• Day 2 policy for Day 3, Day 4, etc..., with possible prescription strength lice shampoo treatment bottle visualized and/or physician order received.

FOLLOW UP:

1. Students are encouraged to come to the nursing office for head checks for recurrent itching scalp.

2. Teachers are encouraged to send students to nursing office for all itching scalp concerns.

3. The school nurse may recheck students at any time during the school year to help ensure the student maintains lice free hair.