Meningitis

Your child is required to remain home.

Cause/Symptoms:

• Bacteria or virus.
  
• Young children may show a cluster of symptoms such as irritability, poor feeding, vomiting, fever, rash and excessive high-pitched crying.
• Older children and adults may experience severe persistent headache

Transmission:

• Varies depending on cause of meningitis.
  

Incubation:

• Varies depending on cause of meningitis.
  

Period of Communicability:

• Varies depending on cause of meningitis.
  

Your child can return to daycare once all the following criteria has been meet:

• Your case has been discussed with Ottawa Public Health.
  
• A letter from Ottawa Public Health stating your child can return to daycare is required.
  
• Your child is eating and drinking normally
  
• Your child can participate in all daycare activities
• At least 24 hrs after rash is gone
• Once your child is no-longer doing the excessive high-pitched cry.

Vomiting

• 48 hours from the time the vomit reducing medication (such as, Gravel) are out of your child system (8 to 10 hours after taking last dose) and vomiting has not restarted
• 48 hours free of any vomit reducing medication or any other medication that can mask symptoms of illness.
• If no medication is given: 48 hours starting one (1) hour after the last time your child vomited.

Fever

• 48 hours from the time the fever reducing medication are out of your child system (8 to 10 hours after taking last dose) and fever has not returned
• 48 hours free of any fever reducing medication or any other medication that can mask symptoms of illness.
• If no medication is given: 48 hours starting one (1) hour after you discover your child’s fever has broken

The length of time your child is required to remain home will depend on the type of Meningitis they have and how long it takes Ottawa Public Health to clear your child for daycare.