Health protection for children focuses on preventing illness, reducing exposure to health hazards and supporting healthy development from pregnancy through to adulthood.
Children can be particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases, environmental hazards and the impacts of emergencies and severe weather. Health protection helps ensure that children and young people have the best start in life and are protected from avoidable harm.
A range of organisations work together to protect the health of children and young people in North Yorkshire, including the UK Health Security Agency, North Yorkshire Council, NHS organisations, education settings and early years providers.
An overview of health protection in children and young people’s settings is available here: Health protection in children and young people's settings, including education - GOV.UK.
Whilst infections can occur at any time, we commonly see increases (particularly for respiratory illnesses such as seasonal flu) over autumn/winter. Following basic infection prevention precautions can help prevent against transmission of a range of infections.
Maintaining good indoor air quality is key to preventing the spread of airborne infections such as COVID-19 and flu (please see our guidance , particularly on ventilation). External support resources for schools are also available, for example through CoSchools and SAMHE. Practicing good respiratory hygiene (i.e. ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it’) will also help reduce transmission.
We would like to thank settings for their support to Vaccinations UK (the new School Age Immunisations Service provider) during the autumn flu campaign; vaccinations continue to be a vital component to preventing many infectious diseases. Any staff who are eligible for flu vaccinations can continue to access these through local pharmacies until the end of March.
Handwashing remains important, particularly around norovirus, although note that hand sanitiser is ineffective against norovirus (handwashing with soap and water is required).
Please see our guidance below for more information, including information on managing specific infectious diseases.
Infectious Diseases
Flu
Very infectious respiratory illness which spreads quickly in crowded population and enclosed spaces
Adults and children with symptoms of flu are advised to remain at home until they have recovered.
Flu vaccine for eligible people should be encouraged.
Respiratory infections, including Flu
range of symptoms including runny nose, high temperature, cough and sore throat.
Children with mild symptoms can continue attending the setting.
Children with a high temperature should stay at home.
Scarlet Fever
Bacterial illness caused by group A streptococcus
Children need antibiotics for scarlet fever
They can return to their education setting 24 hours after commencing appropriate antibiotic treatment.
If there is an outbreak of scarlet fever within the education/childcare setting, your UKHSA Health Protection Team (UKHSAHPT) should be informed. You should also inform the UKHSAHPT if there is chickenpox circulating at the same time.
Chickenpox and Shingles
Normally circulates between March and May
Children with chickenpox should be sent home until all blisters have crusted over
Inform the UKHSA Health Protection Team if you have scarlet fever circulating at the same time as chickenpox
Diarrhoea and Vomiting (D&V)
All cases of D&V should be regarded as potentially infectious
People with D&V should be excluded until 48 hours after D&V symptoms have stopped
You should emphasise the need for good handwashing practices in the setting
More information on these and other infectious diseases and their management here:
Health protection in children and young people settings, including education - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Managing specific infectious diseases: A to Z - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Dealing with outbreaks and incidents
Advice for all outbreaks
Many infectious diseases can be managed by reinforcing the Infection Prevention Control (IPC) measures outlined on the next page and by:
- encouraging all children, young people and staff who are unwell not to attend the setting or remain separate from others, wherever possible - further guidance on exclusion periods is available for specific infectious diseases
- ensuring all eligible groups are enabled and supported to take up the offer of immunisation programmes including coronavirus (COVID-19) and flu
- ensuring occupied spaces are well ventilated and let fresh air in
- reinforcing good hygiene practices such as frequent cleaning and hand hygiene
- requesting that parents or carers inform the education or childcare setting of a diagnosis of any infectious disease
During an outbreak or incident, when there are either several cases, or indications of more serious disease, additional measures may be required.
These could include:
- considering communications to raise awareness among parents and carers (ensuring this is accessible for those who speak other languages or with lower levels of literacy)
- reinforcing key messages amongst children and young people, including the importance of hand and respiratory hygiene measures using materials such as the
- discussing with health visitors (childcare settings) or school nurses about the support they can offer, particularly where a child, young person or staff member may face barriers to accessing health care
- temporarily reduce mixing within the setting to reduce the spread of the disease
- postpone events to prevent spread outside of the setting and reduce visitors to the site
When to seek advice from your UKHSA health protection team
UKHSA has developed a suite of resources to support a consistent approach to managing infectious diseases in children and young people settings.
The resource package includes: CYP Action Cards, Template letters for parents and carers, and Parent factsheets
Resources are currently available for: Acute Respiratory Infection, Chickenpox, Diarrhoea & Vomiting , Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease and Scarlet fever.
These resources have been added to the Yorkshire and Humber Public Health Network website which can be found here: Yorkshire and Humber Health Protection Team (Y&H HPT) (under the Schools information and resources tile.)
Education settings can also report outbreaks via the online tool within the website, where they will receive an email containing links to the above resources as well as guidance on the GOV website.
Contact information for Health Protection Teams
UKHSA HPT – The contact details for the Yorkshire and Humber HPT are:
- Phone: 0300 3030 234
OR
- Complete the webform available at https://www.yhphnetwork.co.uk/links-and-resources/yh-health-protection-team/yorkshire-humber-hpt-response-cell/
If you have any further queries, please use the email address below:
dph@northyorks.gov.uk (please note this inbox is monitored Monday to Friday between the hours of 8.30am – 5.00pm)
