health guide which includes how long children should stay off

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GUIDE TO COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Disease and incubation period

Bronchiolitis: 5-8 days

Chickenpox and Shingles: 13-21 days

Conjunctivitis: 12-72 hours

Diarrhoea and vomiting

Varies few hours to few days

Fifth Disease (Parvovirus) : Variable 4-20 days.

Glandular Fever : Possibly 4-6 weeks.

Hand, foot and mouth disease: 3-5 days.

Head and body lice: Eggs hatch in 1 week

Hepatitis A: 2-6 weeks.

Herpes simplex : 2-21 days.

HIV infection: Variable

Impetigo 4-10 days

Measles : 7-14 days

Meningitis: 2-10 days depending on cause

Period when infectious

During acute stage

1-2 days before to 5 days after spots develop.

During active infection

As long as eggs or lice remain.

Several days before first symptom to 7 days after onset of jaundice

During infection

Period of exclusion

Until person feels well

Until spots have crusted over and child feels well.

Until eye no longer appears infected

While having symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting. Until symptom free for 48 hours and person feels well

Infectious before onset of the rash

While virus present in saliva

During acute stage

Until the child feels well.

Until person feels well

Until person feels well.

None if treated

Until 7 days after onset of jaundice.

Not infectious under normal school conditions

As long as septic spots are discharging pus

None

None

Until responding to treatment and spots have dried up

Until 4 days after onset of rash 1 day before first symptom until 4 days after onset of rash

Clinical cases are rarely infectious Until the person feels well

Mumps: 12-25 days

Ringworm on body: 4-10 days

Rubella: 16-18 days

7 days before and up to 9 days after onset of swelling

As long as rash is present

1 week before and at least 4 days after onset of rash

Until the person feels well

None once under treatment

Until the person feels well

Scabies: Few days - 6 weeks

Scarlet Fever and Streptococcal sore throat

Infection 1-3 days

Until mites and eggs are destroyed by treatment Until day after treatment

Day sore throat starts until 24 hours after antibiotics started

Threadworms: 2-6 weeks for life cycle to complete When eggs are shed in faeces

Until person feels well

None after treatment has started

Tuberculosis: Usually 4-6 weeks

Verrucae: 2-3 months

Whooping Cough: 7-10 days None

Only when sputum contains the bacteria

As long as wart is present

2-4 days before until 21 days after start of coughing.

Until the person feels well

None

If treated with antibiotic, 5 days after starting course

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