18.3 EXCLUSION PROCEDURE FOR ILLNESS/
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
Minimum Periods of Exclusion from Nursery
Disease/Illness
Minimal Exclusion Period
Antibiotics prescribed
First 24 hours at home
Athlete’s foot
None
Chickenpox
Until all vesicles have crusted over
Conjunctivitis
Eyes need to be treated
Cold sores (Herpes simplex)
None
Cryptosporidiosis
Exclude from last episode of diarrhoea
Diarrhoea/Vomiting
48 hours from last episode
Diphtheria *
Exclude and consult local HPT
E. coli O157 VTEC Typhoid *
Excluded until there is evidence of microbiological
clearance.
German measles (rubella)*
4 days from onset of rash
Gastro-enteritis, food poisoning,
salmonellas and dysentery
Until authorised by District Community Physician
Glandular Fever
None
Head lice
Treatment needed
Hand, foot and mouth
None
Hepatitis A *
7 days
Hepatitis B * C*
Impetigo
None
Measles*
4 days from appearance of the rash
Molluscum contagiosum
None
Meningococcal meningitis/
septicaemia *
Until recovered from the illness
Meningitis due to other bacteria *
Until recovered
Meningitus viral *
None
Mumps *
Until the swelling has subsided and in no case less
than 5 days from onset of illness
MRSA
None
Poliomyelitis
Until declared free from infection by District
Community Physician
Roseola (infantum)
None
Until lesions are crusted or healed or 48 hours after
starting antibiotic treatment
Ringworm
Seldom necessary to exclude provided treatment is
being given
Scarlet fever and streptococcal
infection of the throat *
24 hours after starting appropriate antibiotic treatment
Scabies
Need not be excluded once first treatment has been
given
Slapped cheek/fifth disease
Parvovirus B19
None (once rash is developed)
Shingles
Exclude only if rash is weeping or can not be covered
Tuberculosis *
Until declared free from infection by the District
Community Physician
Typhoid fever
Until declared free from infection by the District
Community Physician
Threadworms
None
Tonsilitus
None
Plantar warts
No exclusion. Should be treated and covered
Warts and verrucae
None
Whooping cough – Pertussis *
21 days from the onset of paroxysmal cough or 5 days
from starting antibiotic treatment
* denotes a notifiable disease. It is a statutory requirement that doctors report a notifiable
disease to the proper officer of the local authority (usually a consultant in communicable
disease control). In addition, organisations may be required via locally agreed
arrangements to inform their local PHE centre. Regulating bodies (for example, Office
for Standards in Education (OFSTED)/Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI))
may wish to be informed – please refer to local policy.