The most common cause of school absenteeism is communicable disease and illness. The goal of educators, families, public health officials, and health professionals is to keep children and the adults who care for them healthy (Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools, American Academy of Pediatrics, 2013).

Germ is a common term for a large variety of microbial agents that can grow in or on people. Many germs are present in the environment. Some germs are harmless, some germs cause disease, and other germs keep the harmful germs in check. Contagious diseases can be spread through respiratory droplets, fecal-oral transmissions, direct contact with infectious wounds, and through blood and bodily fluids (Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools, American Academy of Pediatrics, 2013).

Schools are required to exclude students with certain illnesses for periods as identified in state rules. The district is also required to report certain contagious diseases or illnesses to the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) or the local/regional health authority. Your school nurse can provide information from TDSHS on these notifiable conditions.