508.4E1 - Communicable Disease Chart
508.4E1 - Communicable Disease ChartCONCISE DESCRIPTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
EXCLUSION OF CASES FROM SCHOOL
| 
 DISEASE *Immunization is available  | 
 Usual Interval Between Exposure and First Symptoms of Disease  | 
 MAIN SYMPTOMS  | 
 Minimum Exclusion From School  | 
| 
 CHICKENPOX*  | 
 13 to 17 days  | 
 Mild symptoms and fever. Pocks are "blistery." Develop scabs, most on covered parts of body.  | 
 7 days from onset of pocks or until pocks become dry  | 
| 
 CONJUNCTIVITIS (PINK EYE)  | 
 24 to 72 hours  | 
 Tearing, redness and puffy lids, eye discharge.  | 
 Until treatment begins or physician approves readmission.  | 
| 
 ERYTHEMIA INFECTIOSUM (5TH DISEASE)  | 
 4 to 20 days  | 
 Usual age 5 to 14 years – unusual in adults. Brief prodrome of low-grade fever followed by Erythemia (slapped cheek) appearance on cheeks, lace-like rash on extremities lasting a few days to 3 weeks. Rash seems to recur.  | 
 After diagnosis no exclusion from school.  | 
| 
 GERMAN MEASLES* (RUBELLA)  | 
 14 to 23 days  | 
 Usually mild. Enlarged glands in neck and behind ears. Brief red rash.  | 
 7 days from onset of rash. Keep away from pregnant women.  | 
| 
 HAEMOPHILUS MENINGITIS  | 
 2 to 4 days  | 
 Fever, vomiting, lethargy, stiff neck and back.  | 
 Until physician permits return.  | 
| 
 HEPATITIS A  | 
 Variable – 15 to 50 (average 28 to 30 days)  | 
 Abdominal pain, nausea, usually fever. Skin and eyes may or may not turn yellow.  | 
 14 days from onset of clinical disease and at least 7 days from onset of jaundice.  | 
| 
 IMPETIGO  | 
 1 to 3 days  | 
 Inflamed sores, with puss.  | 
 48 hours after antibiotic therapy started or until physician permits return  | 
| 
 MEASLES*  | 
 10 days to fever, 14 days to rash  | 
 Begins with fever, conjunctivitis, runny nose, cough, then blotchy red rash.  | 
 4 days from onset of rash.  | 
| 
 MENINGOCOCCAL MENINGITIS  | 
 2 to 10 days (commonly 3 to 4 days)  | 
 Headache, nausea, stiff neck, fever.  | 
 Until physician permits return.  | 
| 
 MUMPS*  | 
 12 to 25 (commonly 18) days  | 
 Fever, swelling and tenderness of glands at angle of jaw.  | 
 9 days after onset of swollen glands or until swelling disappears.  | 
| 
 PEDICULOSIS (HEAD/BODY LICE)  | 
 7 days for eggs to hatch  | 
 Lice and nits (eggs) in hair.  | 
 24 hours after adequate treatment to kill lice and nits.  | 
| 
 RINGWORM OF SCALP  | 
 10 to 14 days  | 
 Scaly patch, usually ring shaped, on scalp.  | 
 No exclusion from school. Exclude from gymnasium, swimming pools, contact sports.  | 
| 
 SCABIES  | 
 2 to 6 weeks initial exposure; 1 to 4 days reexposure  | 
 Tiny burrows in skin caused by mites.  | 
 Until 24 hours after treatment.  | 
| 
 SCARLET FEVER SCARLATINA STREP THROAT  | 
 1 to 3 days  | 
 Sudden onset, vomiting, sore throat, fever, later fine rash (not on face). Rash usually with first infection.  | 
 24 hours after antibiotics started and no fever.  | 
| 
 WHOOPING COUGH* (PERTUSSIS)  | 
 7 to 10 days  | 
 Head cold, slight fever, cough, characteristic whoop after 2 weeks.  | 
 5 days after start of antibiotic treatment.  |