You are here

507.3E1 Communicable Disease Chart

COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CHART

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 (Varicella)

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.

Cover lesions when attending school.

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.

5 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.

No exclusion from school - recommended - 24 hours after adequate treatment to kill lice and nits.

RINGWORM

4 to 10 days

Scaly patch, usually round shaped.

No exclusion from school.  Exclude from gymnasium, swimming pools, contact sports.

SCABIES

2 to 6 weeks initial exposure; 1 to 4 days reexposure

Tinny burrows in skin caused by mites.

Until 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)

6 to 20 days

Head cold, slight fever, cough, characteristic whoop after 2 weeks.

5 days after start of antibiotic treatment or has coughed for 21 days

Readmission to School – It is advisable that school authorities require written permission from the health officer, school physician or attending physician before any pupil is readmitted to class following any disease which requires exclusion, not mere absence, from school.