Communicable Diseases
Disease
Incubation
period
Infectiousness
Exclusion period
Notes
Sickness &
Diarrhoea
Varies from a few
hours to a few
days
Whilst sickness &
diarrhoea is still
present
Strict personal hygiene, i.e.
wash hands with warm
soapy water after going to
the toilet
Chicken Pox
14 to 21 days
1 to 2 days before,
to 5 days after rash
Until well and 48
hours after last
episode of
sickness &
diarrhoea
5 days from onset
of rash and until
spots healed or
crusted.
Until symptoms
cleared
None
Conjunctivitis
Whilst symptoms
persist
Mainly a few days
before appearance
of rash
Fifths Disease
(slapped cheek
syndrome)
6 to 14 days
Headlice
Measles
Lice eggs hatch in
a week and reach
maturity in 8 to
10 days
4 to 10 days but
can occur after
several months
10 to 15 days
Mumps
12 to 25 days
Norovirus
24-48 hours
Ringworm
(feet, scalp,
body)
Threadworms
Up to 14 days
2 to 6 weeks
Until worms treated
Verrucae
Several months
As long as lesions
visible
Impetigo
As long as eggs or
lice remain alive
As long as lesions
persist
Just before onset of
symptoms until 5
days after rash
From a few days
before onset of
symptoms to
subsidence of
swelling (often 10
days)
Infectivity lasts for
48 hrs after
resolution of
symptoms
As long as lesions
are present
Not necessary but
treatment or wet
combing should
be started
Until lesions
healed or crusted
Pregnant women in contact
with someone with chicken
pox, should seek medical
advice
Pregnant women in contact
with someone with Fifths
Disease, should seek
medical advise
Family and contacts should
undertake detection
combing and treat only if
live lice are found
5 days from onset
of rash
5 days from the
onset of swollen
glands
48 hrs from
cessation of
symptoms
None.
Treatment is
available
None
Not necessary.
There is no
evidence that
verruca socks
during swimming
prevent
transmission
Family members also
require treatment