Pneumonia

Your child is required to remain at home.

Pneumonia is a general term for lung infections that can be caused by a variety of germs (viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites). Most cases, though, are caused by viruses, including adenoviruses, rhinovirus, influenza virus (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus, and parainfluenza virus (which causes croup).

Duration

• With treatment, most types of bacterial pneumonia can be cured within 1 to 2 weeks, although walking pneumonia may take 4 to 6 weeks to go away completely
  
• Viral pneumonia may last longer
  

Contagiousness

• The viruses and bacteria that cause pneumonia are contagious
  
• They're usually found in fluid from the mouth or nose of someone who's infected, so that person can spread the illness by coughing or sneezing
  
• Sharing drinking glasses and eating utensils, and touching the used tissues or handkerchiefs of an infected person also can spread pneumonia
  

We can discuss your child's return to daycare, once all the following criteria have been met:

• 72 after starting antibiotic treatment
  
• Child is no longer in any pain
  
• Child no longer has shaking chills
  
• Child is breathing normally
  
• Your child can eat and drink normally
  
• Your child can participate in all daycare activities
  
• The daycare fever policy has been followed
  
• The daycare vomiting policy has been followed
  
• With Treatment - At least 4 days have passed since the onset of symptoms/diagnosis
  
• Without Treatment - At least 20 days have passed since the onset of symptoms/diagnosis
  
• Without Treatment - A doctors note is required stating your child is no longer contagious
  

With Treatment - Your child is required to remain home for at least four (4) days, if not longer.
Without Treatment - Your child is required to remain home for at least twenty (20) days, if not longer.