CONCISE 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. |
