Illness in Childcare
Importance of illness in childcare
• Children in group care are more susceptible to infections because their immune systems are still developing.
• Common illnesses include colds, influenza, stomach viruses, and hand-foot-mouth disease.
• Preventing illness reduces absenteeism, keeps routines stable, and protects vulnerable children.
• Staff play a key role: monitoring symptoms, maintaining hygiene practices, and following exclusion policies.
• Example: Encouraging children to wash hands before meals and after outdoor play reduces the spread of germs.
Observing a Childs behavior is much more important than taking the child temperatures, as behavior is usually much better of an indictor of illness ( CPS, 2015, P.169)
Toronto Public Health Support
• TPH guidance: Offers outbreak management protocols, immunization tracking, and strategies for infection prevention.
"Toronto Public Health supports illness management by providing clear procedures for identifying, reporting, and controlling infectious diseases in child care centres. Child care staff are required to monitor children for symptoms of illness and report suspected outbreaks or diseases of public health significance to TPH. Early identification of illness allows centres to take immediate action, such as isolating sick children, notifying families, and implementing infection control measures to prevent further spread. According to Toronto Public Health, early recognition of outbreaks and prompt reporting help ensure that infection prevention and control measures are quickly put in place to limit the spread of illness among children and staff (City of Toronto, Toronto Public Health)."
• Outbreak: Defined as “two or more children or staff in a childcare setting with the same illness within a specified period” (TPH, 2023).
Outbreak Steps
1. Notify Toronto Public Health immediately.
2. Isolate affected children/staff.
3. Communicate clearly with families.
4. Follow cleaning and disinfection protocols recommended by Toronto public health.
5. Monitor and document daily symptoms until the outbreak is resolved.
Create Your Own Website With Webador