Exclusion Periods for Sickness & Communicable Diseases
Compiled with reference to Public Health England’s (PHE) ‘Guidance on infection control in schools and other childcare settings’
Disease/Illness
Minimal Exclusion Period
Antibiotics prescribed
First dose of medicine at home, must be off for 24 hours
Chickenpox
Until all vesicles have crusted over
Conjunctivitis
Until treatment has commenced
Diarrhoea and/or Vomiting
48 hours or until 3 clear nappies
Diphtheria
All family members excluded until cleared by PHE Centre
E. coli 0157 VTEC Typhoid
48 hours from last episode of diarrhoea
Gastro-enteritis, food poisoning,
salmonellosis and dysentery
48 hours after last episode of diarrhoea
German measles (rubella)
4 days from onset of rash
Hand foot and mouth
None
Head lice
None providing treatment has commenced
Hepatitis A
7 days after onset of jaundice (or after onset of symptoms)
Hepatitis B/C
None
Impetigo
Until the lesions are crusted and healed, or 48 hours after
starting antibiotic treatment
Measles
4 days from appearance of the rash
Meningococcal infection (meningitis)
Until recovered from the illness
Mumps
5 days after onset of swelling
Ringworm
None providing treatment has commenced
Scabies
None providing treatment has commenced
Scarlet fever
24 hours after antibiotic treatment has started
Shingles
Excluded only if rash is weeping and cannot be covered.
Slapped check/fifth disease
None
Temperature
If sent home ill, child must be off for 24 hours
Threadworms
None. Treatment is recommended
Tonsillitis
None
Tuberculosis
Until cleared by PHE Centre
Typhoid fever
Until cleared by PHE Centre
Warts and Verrucae
None. Should be treated and covered
Whooping cough (pertussis)
5 days after starting antibiotic treatment or 21 days from the
onset of cough if no antibiotic treatment
Red denotes a notifiable diseases
Greater Manchester PHE Centre, 5th Floor, 3 Piccadilly Place. London Road, Manchester, M1 3BN. 0344 225 0562
Reviewed March 2015
Greater Manchester PHE Centre, 5th Floor, 3 Piccadilly Place. London Road, Manchester, M1 3BN. 0344 225 0562