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.