Gastro exclusion period

Are you aware of this change?

Earlier this year the Department of Health and Humans Services [DHHS] provided an update in regards to the exclusion periods for gastroenteritis.

This change was as a result of returning to care and education following lockdowns and the spike in gastro cases.

The new guidance requires all who attend an Early Childhood service and/or Education setting, which includes infants, children, or staff, who develop vomiting or diarrhoea to stay at home until at least 48 hours after their symptoms have stopped.

Previously this has been a required 24 hour period from when symptoms have ceased.

If a child is presenting with gastro illness or illness type symptoms, or parents or staff have advised of illness, the 48-hour exclusion time frame applies.

A notification to the department that the service may have a gastro outbreak is required.

As a result of the change it will require a review of the service policy to reflect the change, as well as clear communication to parents in regards to the changes of the policy within the service.

Gastroenteritis is highly infectious. It generally tends to spread rapidly.

Symptoms of viral gastroenteritis include:

• Nausea,
• Vomiting,
• Diarrhoea,
• Fever,
• Abdominal pain,
• Headache
• Muscle aches.

It is vital that all services maintain their regular daily cleaning.

Reinforcing the basic hygiene measures to be followed can also play a part in prevention of an outbreak. Basic hygiene measures such as:

• Regular hand washing (paying particular attention to hand washing after attending to nappy changes),
• Supervision of children when handwashing to ensure they are practising correct handwashing procedures. Supervision offers the opportunity to model and correct any potential gaps a child may have when handwashing. It will help staff to remind children of all the processes including drying hands correctly.
• Cleaning all hard surfaces,
• Providing education to help prevent the spread of infections,
• Staff continuing to wear gloves when cleaning up bodily fluids, including vomit, when symptoms occur at the centre. Disinfect surfaces once fluids are cleaned and throughly wash hands.