What are common causes of diarrheal diseases in day cares and schools?
Two common causes of diarrheal disease in child care facilities and schools are the infectious agents shigella and salmonella. These agents cause diseases (shigellosis and salmonellosis, respectively) characterized by fever, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. Typically, stools are watery and may contain blood and mucus. Mild and asymptomatic (not showing symptoms) infections occur, and the severity of illness will depend on the age of the child, the child’s nutritional status, and the virulence of bacteria causing the disease. Usually the disease is self-limiting, lasting between 4-to-7 days; however, these diseases can potentially lead to death and severe complications in rare cases. Secondary attack rates in households with a case of these diseases can be as high as 40 percent. How are these diseases transmitted? Both diseases are primarily transmitted via fecal-oral transmission. Failure to thoroughly clean the hands after using the bathroom is a major means of transmitting bot
