Athlete with a mild communicable disease

[ohiobobcat]

I just had a parent call me and tell me her son (who is a football player) has been diagnosed with Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease and has probably had it for a while.

So do I let the whole team know that they have possibly exposed to this? What about other students in the school?

I dealt with a chicken pox outbreak last year and I knew what to do with that since it is a reportable disease (in my state) but I'm not sure where to go with a fairly benign virus like hand, foot and mouth disease with a general school/sports team population (not immunocompromised). What would you do?

[huffmannurse]

I use this reference to determine how to handle these types of situations. http://health.mo.gov/living/families/schoolhealth/pdf/Communicable_Disease.pdf

Good luck.

[GatezRN]

Talk to the coach. Make sure kids are not sharing water bottles.

[ohiobobcat]

I sent an email to the coach and athletic trainer (with a cc to the principal and AD) encouraging no sharing of water bottles, hand hygiene when possible and to refer athletes exhibiting symptoms to me or their family physician. Hopefully that will cover it. I think it's overkill to let parents know at this point, unless it becomes a massive outbreak.

Thanks!! Huff- I dig that link you posted. That's a great resource!

[kidzcare]

Yes, thank you for that link! I'm gonna start a folder for links like this one and the international vaccination one in the other thread! Thanks guys!

[ohiobobcat]

I actually spoke with my state CDC about the Hand Foot and Mouth (I had to call them about a possible varicella case anyways). I handled it appropriately. Woo!

[Wave Watcher]

I use this reference to determine how to handle these types of situations. http://health.mo.gov/living/families/schoolhealth/pdf/Communicable_Disease.pdf

Good luck.

Awesome info, thanks!

[NanaPoo]

Awesome link, Huffman. I bookmarked it : )

[Farawyn]

Thank you! I snagged it as well.