Childhood Infections: Recommended exclusion periods for childhood infections DISEASE INCUBATION PERIOD EXCLUSION PERIOD OF EXCLUSION OF PERIOD WHEN INFECTED PERSON CONTACTS INFECTIOUS Athletes Foot Unknown active Chicken Pox 11 21 days 1 to 2 days before to 5 spots develop No exclusion but treatment recommended For 5 days from onset of *Female staff Conjunctivitis Varies No exclusion but treatment is recommended Cytomegalovirus 3 8 weeks Someone (CMV) with CMV infection may shed the virus in body fluid secretions for years Diarrhoea & Varies Until symptom free for Vomiting having 48 hours symptoms of diarrhoea and/or vomiting Diphtheria 2 5 days Variable but usually 2 weeks or less E. coli 0157 1 6 days May be up to 3 weeks in children Glandular Fever 4 6 weeks virus is in the saliva Until advised clear to return Hand, Foot & 3 5 days From 2 3 but contact HPU if
Mouth Disease large numbers (The to a few days presence of a does not indicate infectivity) of Head lice Eggs hatch lice or. Parents should be but contacts in 7 10 eggs remain advised to treat their should be checked days alive on host child Hepatitis A 2 6 weeks From 14 to 7 days of first symptoms Until 7 days from onset of jaundice and the person feels well Hepatitis B 6 weeks to 6 One month months before symptoms to 1 3 months after, however it is not infectious under normal nursery conditions (universal precautions should be adhered to) Hepatitis C 2 weeks to 6 As Hepatitis months B Herpes Simplex (cold sore) 2 20 days HIV 1 12 weeks Not infectious under normal nursery conditions (universal
precautions should be adhered to) Impetigo 4 10 days Influenza 1 3 days Adults 1 day before until 5 onset Children 3 until 9 days after onset Measles 7 14 days From a few to 4 days of the Until crusted/healed or 48 hours after starting antibiotics Until recovered 5 days from onset of *Female staff Meningitis (Viral) Varies Depends on guidance Meningococcal Varies Infection organism (Meningitis and remains in Septicaemia) nose or throat. Most cases of infection are acquired from carriers rather than cases Molluscum 19-50 days Contagiosum are Mumps 12 25 days From 6 days 5 days from onset of (average 18) before to 9 swollen glands onset of illness
Poliomyelitis 3 35 days As advised by HPU (average 7 organism is 14) in the stools Ringworm 2 4 weeks active Exclusion is not (scalp/body) required but it is recommended that treatment is commenced before return to school/nursery/childcare setting (Symptomatic pets should also be treated) Rubella (German 14 21 days 7 days 6 days from onset of *Female staff Measles) before to 6 onset of Scabies Few days to mites Until 1st treatment Treat contacts 6 weeks remain alive completed on the host Scarlet Fever 1 3 days Day sore throat starts to 24 hours after commencing antibiotics Shingles Reactivation Until 7 days after appears 24 hours from commencing antibiotics Exclude only if weeping and cannot be covered (Can lead to chicken pox in susceptible children) Slapped Cheek 4 20 days Before the Until clinically well *Female staff (Parvovirus/Fifth appears Disease) (but probably not afterwards) Threadworms 2 6 weeks eggs still being produced (Eggs can survive for 2 weeks in the Treatment advised Treatment advised
environment) Tuberculosis 2 10 weeks Only when. Close contacts sputum and 2 weeks after may be screened contains treatment started bacteria (Contact HPU for advice) Warts and 2 3 months warts Verrucae are Whooping 7 10 days 2 4 days 5 days from Cough before until commencing antibiotic (Pertussis) 21 treatment start of coughing