Frequently Asked Questions
- Tuberculosis (TB) Testing
- Head Lice
- Strep Throat
- Foreign Travel - En Espaņol
- Infectious Disease in Day Care
- Chronic Disease of Family Members
Anyone with itching on the scalp or neck or who has been in close contact with someone else who has head lice, should be checked for head lice. The diagnosis of head lice is easily confirmed by finding the lice or their eggs (nits). The nits are most often found behind the ears and on the back of the neck. If you find nits, you must treat the scalp with a special shampoo. For further information, call the Madison Department of Public Health at 266-4821. Ask for the Intake Nurse.
Where can I get lice shampoo?
You can purchase a special shampoo from any pharmacy. If you do not have the resources, call the Intake Nurse at Madison Department of Public Health (266-4821) to discuss further.
We have thoroughly cleaned up (used special shampoo, removed nits from hair, cleaned environment several times), but still cannot get rid of the head lice. What should we do?
Call the Intake Nurse at 266-4821 to discuss further.
Ways to avoid head lice:
Do not borrow another person's comb, brush, scarf, cap or any item that comes in contact with the head. Never loan these items to other people. This practice applies to everyone, including members of the same family. If one person in the house has head lice, everyone should be treated.
What is a strep throat?A strep throat is an infection caused by a bacteria (Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus). The symptoms usually include:
- A fever greater than 101 F
- A very sore throat that is bright red
- Difficulty swallowing
- Enlarged and tender lymph nodes in the neck
A throat culture can determine if a sore throat is a strep throat.
Who should get a strep throat culture?
People with the symptoms of strep throat should get cultured. Since many sore throats are caused by viruses, it is important to decide that the illness is caused by strep. Antibiotics do nothing for sore throats caused by viruses.
Where can I go to get a strep throat culture?
If you are a City of Madison resident and you have the symptoms listed above, call the Madison Department of Public Health at 266-4821. Ask for the Intake Nurse to schedule an appointment to have a throat culture taken.
If the throat culture is positive, where do I go for treatment?
Contact your physician. If you do not have a physician or resources, call the Intake Nurse at 266-4821 to discuss the situation.
FOREIGN
TRAVEL
En
Espaņol
Would you like to know what shots & information you need for traveling abroad?
If you are a City of Madison resident and your doctor or clinic does not have travelers information, call the Intake Nurse at 266-4821. The Intake Nurse can provide suggestions for which shots you need and for decreasing your risks of diarrheal illnesses or insect borne infections. Planning one to two months ahead can help you enjoy a healthy trip.
For more information from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) travel page, click here. You can also contact the following local travel clinics to get recommended shots and travel information.
|
Local Travel Clinics |
| Dean Clinic 1313 Fish Hatchery Rd. 252-8109 and ask for the travel service |
| Group Health Cooperative 675 W. Washington Ave (GHC members only) Contact - Terry Galka at 257-9700 (calls go through acute care) |
| University Hospital Internal Medicine Clinic 2880 University Ave, 3rd Floor Contact - Elaine Rosenblatt at 263-7500 |
| UW Health-Physicians Plus Travel clinic 20 South Park St., Suite 405 Contact - Sheng at 287-2435 or 287-2449 to leave a message |
| UW Health Service (UW students only) 1552 University Ave. Contact - Joan Culkins at 262-7991 |
INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN DAY CARE
Question: We have a child in day care with a communicable disease, such as conjunctivitis, diarrheal disease, cold, etc.What are the common signs and symptoms of this disease? What steps should we take to isolate from the other kids? When is it ok for them to return to the day care center?
Exclusion of sick children should be part of your day care policy and understood by the parents. Day care staff need to encourage parents to either stay home with their ill child or make other arrangements for the child. Parents also need to arrive promptly at the center after being notified that their child is ill.
The Signs and Symptoms Table lists the causes for a child's exclusion to their health care provider.
A very useful resource manual for child caregivers, 'Healthy Children Manual' is available from the Madison Department of Public Health for a small price. This manual contains informative fact sheets on several communicable diseases.
Day care centers in Wisconsin are required to report certain important communicable diseases to their local public health agency, as soon as a case of such an illness is suspected or confirmed. Below is a summary of relevant information pertaining to:
Reporting Communicable Diseases.
CHRONIC DISEASE OF FAMILY MEMBERS
Where can I find out about support services for such diseases as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer, diabetes, epilepsy, etc?
The Madison Department of Public Health has a number of resource directories that list local support groups. Call the Intake Nurse at 266-4821 for information.