Medical Information Handout
This handout has been produced from new guidelines from the Health Protection Agency. Communicable diseases are
diseases that spread easily throughout groups of people and can be harmful to our health. In order to prevent such diseases
spreading through the nursery ALL children and staff will be excluded from the nursery for the amount of time shown
below.
Diseases
Diarrhoea and vomiting
(All cases inc:
Food poisoning, medication,
Whooping cough
Recommended period to be kept off Comments
48 hours from last episode of diarrhoea Exclusion from swimming should be for
or vomiting. (48hr rule applies).
2 weeks following last episode of
diarrhoea.
5 days from commencing antibiotic
Preventable by vaccination. After
treatment or 21 days from onset of
treatment non-infectious coughing may
illness if no antibiotic treatment.
continue for many weeks.
5 days from onset of rash
Pregnant females seek advice.
Chicken pox
None
Treatment is recommended for the child
Threadworm
Child can return after first treatment
2 treatments; 1 week apart for cases.
Scabies
None
Treatment is recommended only in cases
Head Lice
where live lice have definitely been seen.
48 hours after commencing antibiotic
Antibiotic treatment by mouth may speed
Impetigo
treatment
healing and reduce infectious period.
None
Recommended eye drops.
Conjunctivitis
Meningitis is preventable by vaccination
Meningococcal Meningitis Until recovered
None
Exclusion may be considered in some
Hand, foot and mouth
circumstances
Until bacterial examination is clear
Preventable by vaccination.
Diphtheria
4 days from onset of rash
Preventable by vaccination (MMRx2).
Measles
5 days from the onset of swollen glands Preventable by vaccination (MMRx2 doses
Mumps
Preventable by immunisation (MMRx2
Rubella (German measles) 6 days from onset of rash
At the direction of the consultant in
Polio
Communicable disease control
7from onset days to due to risk to adults Good hygiene minimises risk of spreading
Hepatitis A
24 hours after commencing antibiotics Antibiotic treatment recommended for child
Scarlet Fever
None
Most cases are not infectious
Tonsillitis
None
Dangerous for pregnant women
Slapped cheek
Until recovered
‘Flu’ (influenza)
Treatment is recommended
Athletes foot/warts/verrucae None
Mild self –limiting disease
Cold sores (herpes simplex) None
Exclusion not usually required
Treatment is important and available at a
Ringworm
chemist
None
HIV is not infectious through casual contact
HIV/AIDS
None
Good hygiene minimises risk of spreading
MRSA
It is very important that you inform us if your child becomes ill with any of the above to prevent any
outbreak.