Infectious diseases and how to control them
Infection control in schools and childcare settings focuses on specific actions to stop the spread of germs and illnesses among children and staff.
This page offers practical advice on handling different diseases/illnesses as they present and are reported in schools and other childcare settings, including steps to take and who to contact for support. It also includes general information on how infections spread, how to reduce the risk of infections within school settings and provides useful links to additional resources for more information.
The document below is your one-stop guide to what to do and know about infectious diseases that may appear in your school / childcare setting.
Don’t know what to do about an infectious disease reported in your childcare setting?
Managing specific infectious diseases: A to Z - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
The UKHSA have created a useful A-Z list that provides advice on how settings can manage specific infectious diseases by themselves (previously the ‘Spotty Book’) - and helps you to know when you need to contact the Southwest Health Protection Team (SWHPT). Most infections you see in your settings can be safely and effective managed by the setting themselves, so it is highly recommend that you refer to this guidance before contacting the SWHPT.
Take Action: Infection Prevention Checklist
This checklist is designed to support educational and childcare settings with meeting the required standards to protect all staff and children within the setting and to inform of whole site risk assessment. All childcare settings are encouraged to complete the checklist at the beginning of term and repeat on a regular basis to help ensure that all measures remain in place.
Key messages:
- Hand Hygiene Matters: Regular and thorough hand washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs.
- Educate & Empower: Providing education on health practices equips children and staff to make informed decisions about their health.
- Stay Informed: Knowledge about infectious disease and preventive measures is essential for maintaining a safe school environment.
- Prevent Infection: Understanding how infections spread is vital to protecting yourself and others.
What are infections and how are they spread?
Microbes – including bacteria, viruses, and fungi – are all around us. While many of them are harmless or even beneficial, some can lead to infections that bring symptoms like fever and illness. Infections spread through various routes, with the most common being:
- Respiratory: This occurs when someone comes into contact with respiratory droplets from a cough or other secretions from an infected person. This can happen by breathing in the droplets if near the infected person or by touching contaminated items, such as used tissues, and then touching your face. Some respiratory infections, like flu, can spread through airborne particles without direct contact.
- Direct contact: Infections can spread through direct skin contact, such as during sports or in gym environments, e.g. impetigo and staphylococcal infections.
- Gastrointestinal: This occurs through contact with contaminated food or water (e.g., hepatitis A) or through exposure to infected faeces or unwashed hands after using the toilet (e.g., norovirus).
- Bloodborne: Infections can spread through exposure to infected blood or bodily fluids, such as when assisting an injured person or handling used needles (e.g., hepatitis B). Since the human mouth contains various organisms, bites that break the skin can also transmit bloodborne infections, so prompt care for any human bite wound is crucial.
To find out more, visit the UKHSA’s What infections are, how they are transmitted and those at higher risk of infection - GOV.UK.
What is UKHSA?
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a government organisation that helps protect people’s health by preventing and controlling infectious diseases and responding to health emergencies. They monitor health threats, provide guidance on health protection, and support vaccination programs.
UKHSA has dedicated teams across each region in the UK, ensuring that local communities receive tailored support and resources to keep everyone safe and healthy.
For outbreaks or advice, you can contact the UKHSA Southwest Centre Health Protection Team (HPT) on 0300 3038162 or email swhpt@ukhsa.gov.uk.
Teaching Resources
- https://www.e-bug.eu/home - The e-Bug programme is a health education programme to support infection prevention and control efforts an international partnership where partners share the aim of reaching every child in every community with information on infection prevention and control, and antimicrobial resistance. e-Bug provides free resources for educators.
- uob_childrens-cough_pdf-leaflet_a4.pdf - Download and print this leaflet to guide how to care for children with a cough.
- Join Us On A Germ’s Journey | A Germ’s Journey (germsjourney.com) - This tool allows you to explore a germ’s journey and the importance of handwashing, through games, activities and informational tools.
Further Resources:
Health protection in children and young people settings, including education - GOV.UK
Children and young people settings: tools and resources - GOV.UK