Exclusion times from school due to infectious disease
|
Disease |
Usual Incubation period (days) |
Infectious period (days) |
Min period of exclusion of patients from school, day nursary etc |
Exclusion of family contacts who attend school, day nursary etc |
|
Camylobacter |
3-5 |
Whilst organism is in stools (<7 weeks) but mainly whilst diarrhoea is present |
Until clinically fit with no diarrhoea for 48 hours |
None |
|
Chicken pox |
13-21 |
From 1-2 days before, to 5 days after appearence of rash |
5 days from onset of rash |
None |
|
Shingles |
Usually years after chicken pox |
Blisters contain Chicken pox virus (Varicella Zoster) |
5 days from onset of rash |
None |
|
Colds/Flu |
1-3 days |
While symptoms persist |
While child unwell |
None |
|
Conjuctivitis |
2-3 days |
During active infection (with pus and crusting) |
Until infection cleared |
None |
|
Cryptosporidium |
3-11 |
Whilst cysts are present in stools (several weeks) but mainly whilst diarrhoea is present |
Until clinically fit with no diarrhoea for 48 hours |
None |
|
Diphtheria |
2-5 |
Whilst the organism is present in nose and throat |
Until clinically fit and bacteriological examination is clear |
7 days and until bacteriological result is negative |
|
Disease |
Usual Incubation period (days) |
Infectious period (days) |
Min period of exclusion of patients from school, day nursary etc |
Exclusion of family contacts who attend school, day nursary etc |
|
Ear infections /Sticky ears |
May be chronic |
Usually not infectious |
None |
None |
|
Fifth Disease (slapped cheek) |
4-20 |
1 week + before the rash develops |
Until clinically well. Presence of rash does not indicate infectivity |
None |
|
Food poisoning (inc salmonellosis and shigella sonnei but NOT E coli 0157- seek further advice) |
Varies according to cause |
Varies according to cause - usually whist symptomatic (may need to consult CCDC) |
Until clinically fit with no diarrhoea or vomiting for 24 hours (48 hours for everyone or unable to maintain good personal hygiene, and during outbreaks) |
None |
|
German measles (Rubella) |
14-21 |
From 7 days before to 5 days after onset of rash |
5 days from appearence of rash |
None |
|
Giardia Lamblia |
7-28 |
Whilst cysts are present in stools but mainly whilst diarrhoea is present |
Until clinically fit with no diarrhoea after treatment |
None |
|
Glandular fever |
4-6 weeks |
Once symptons have cleared risk is small apart from very close contact E.G kissing |
Until clinical recovery |
None |
|
Hand, foot and mouth disease |
3-5 |
Probably from 2-3 days before and up to several weeks after onset of symptoms (virus in stools) |
Until clinically well. Presence of rash does not indicate infectivity |
None |
|
Disease |
Usual Incubation period (days) |
Infectious period (days) |
Min period of exclusion of patients from school, day nursary etc |
Exclusion of family contacts who attend school, day nursary etc |
|
Head and body lice |
Eggs hatch in 1 week |
As long as live lice or eggs |
None: Treatment should be started on day head lice are found. No need to send child home |
None. Others affected in household should be treated at same time |
|
Hepatitis A |
2-6 weeks |
From 7-14 days before to 7 days after onset of jaundice |
7 days from onset of jaundice |
Adults in family should discuss prophylaxis with GP |
|
Hepatitis B (see text) |
2 weeks to 6 months |
Not infectious under normal conditions |
Until the child feels well |
None |
|
Herpes Simplex (cold sore) |
1-12 days |
During infection |
None |
None |
|
HIV infection (see text) |
Variable |
Not infectious under normal conditions |
None |
None |
|
Impetigo /Erysipelas |
Impetigo: 4-10 days Erysipelas : 1-3 days |
As long as lesions are wet and pus is present |
Until lesions are crusted or healed |
None |
|
Measles |
7-14 days |
From a few days before to 5 days after onset of rash |
5 days from onset of rash |
None |
|
Disease |
Usual Incubation period (days) |
Infectious period (days) |
Min period of exclusion of patients from school, day nursary etc |
Exclusion of family contacts who attend school, day nursary etc |
|
Meningitis (see text) |
Varies, depending on cause (meningococcal is less than 7 days- usually 3-4 days) |
See text |
Until clinical recovery |
None |
|
Molluscum Contagiosum |
2-7 weeks |
As long as lesions persist |
None |
None |
|
Mumps |
12-21 commonly 18 days |
2 days before onset of swelling to 5 days after |
Until swelling has subsided (5 days minimum) |
None |
|
Poliomyelitis |
3-21 |
Whilst virus is present in stools |
Until clinical recovery. At the discretion of CCDC |
At the discretion of CCDC |
|
Ringworm: Tinea Captitis (head), Tinea Corporis (body), Athletes foot |
4-10 days |
As long as rash present |
None (treatment recomended) |
None |
|
Scabies |
Few days to 6 weeks |
Until mites and eggs are destroyed by treatment |
Day of treatment |
None. Household should be treated at the same time |
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Disease |
Usual incubation period (days) |
Infectious period (days) |
Minimum period of exclusion of patients from school, day nursary etc |
Exclusion of family contacts who attend school, day nursary etc |
|
Scarlet fever and other Streptococcal infections |
2-5 |
Whilst organism is present in the nose and throat or skin lesion |
Until clinical recovery or completed course of antibiotics |
None |
|
Threadworms |
2-6 weeks to complete life cycle |
When eggs are shed in faeces |
None once treated |
None. Household should be treated at same time |
|
Tuberculosis |
4-6 weeks |
Whilst organism is present in sputum |
For 2 weeks following start of treatment |
None. Close contacts may need to be screened |
|
Typhoid and Paratyphoid Fever |
Typhoid:7-21 Paratyphoid Fever: 1-10 days |
Whilst organism is present in stools or urine |
At the discretion of the CCDC |
At the discretion of the CCDC |
|
Verrucae (plantar warts) |
2-3 months |
As long as wart present |
None |
None |
|
Whooping cough |
7-10 |
From 7 days after exposure to 21 days after onset of severe coughing fits |
Until clinically recovered |
Non e |
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