Medical Exclusion Table
Health Protection for schools, nurseries and other childcare facilities
Exclusion table Infection |
Exclusion period |
Comments |
Athlete’s foot |
None |
Athlete’s foot is not a serious condition. Treatment is recommended. |
Chicken pox |
Five days from onset of rash and all the lesions have crusted over |
|
Cold sores (herpes simplex) |
None |
Avoid kissing and contact with the sores. Cold sores are generally mild and heal without treatment |
Conjunctivitis |
None |
If an outbreak/cluster occurs, consult your local HPT |
Diarrhoea and vomiting |
Whilst symptomatic and 48 hours after the last symptoms. |
|
Diphtheria * |
Exclusion is essential. Always consult with your local HPT |
Preventable by vaccination. Family contacts must be excluded until cleared to return by your local HPT |
Flu (influenza) |
Until recovered |
Report outbreaks to your local HPT. |
Glandular fever |
None |
|
Hand foot and mouth |
None |
Contact your local HPT if a large numbers of children are affected. Exclusion may be considered in some circumstances |
Head lice |
None |
Treatment recommended only when live lice seen |
Hepatitis A* |
Exclude until seven days after onset of jaundice (or 7 days after symptom onset if no jaundice) |
In an outbreak of hepatitis A, your local HPT will advise on control measures |
Hepatitis B*, C*, HIV |
None |
Hepatitis B and C and HIV are blood borne viruses that are not infectious through casual contact. Contact your local HPT for more advice |
Impetigo |
Until lesions are crusted /healed or 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment |
Antibiotic treatment speeds healing and reduces the infectious period. |
Measles* |
Four days from onset of rash and recovered |
Preventable by vaccination (2 doses of MMR). Promote MMR for all pupils and staff. Pregnant staff contacts should seek prompt advice from their GP or midwife |
Meningococcal meningitis*/ septicaemia* |
Until recovered |
Meningitis ACWY and B are preventable by vaccination (see national schedule @ www.nhs.uk). Your local HPT will advise on any action needed |
Meningitis* due to other bacteria |
Until recovered |
Hib and pneumococcal meningitis are preventable by vaccination (see national schedule @ www.nhs.uk) Your local HPT will advise on any action needed |
Meningitis viral* |
None |
Milder illness than bacterial meningitis. Siblings and other close contacts of a case need not be excluded. |
MRSA |
None |
Good hygiene, in particular handwashing and environmental cleaning, are important to minimise spread. Contact your local HPT for more information |
Mumps* |
Five days after onset of swelling |
Preventable by vaccination with 2 doses of MMR (see national schedule @ www.nhs.uk). Promote MMR for all pupils and staff. |
Ringworm |
Not usually required. |
Treatment is needed. |
Rubella (German measles) |
Four days from onset of rash |
Preventable by vaccination with 2 doses of MMR (see national schedule @ www.nhs.uk). Promote MMR for all pupils and staff. Pregnant staff contacts should seek prompt advice from their GP or midwife |
Scarlet fever |
Exclude until 24hrs of appropriate antibiotic treatment completed |
A person is infectious for 2-3 weeks if antibiotics are not administered. In the event of two or more suspected cases, please contact local health protection team. |
Scabies |
Can return after first treatment |
Household and close contacts require treatment at the same time. |
Slapped cheek /Fifth disease/Parvo virus B19 |
None (once rash has developed) |
Pregnant contacts of case should consult with their GP or midwife. |
Threadworms |
None |
Treatment recommended for child & household contacts |
Tonsillitis |
None |
There are many causes, but most cases are due to viruses and do not need an antibiotic treatment |
Tuberculosis (TB) |
Always consult your local HPT BEFORE disseminating information to staff/parents/carers |
Only pulmonary (lung) TB is infectious to others. Needs close, prolonged contact to spread |
Warts and verrucae |
None |
Verrucae should be covered in swimming pools, gyms and changing rooms |
Whooping cough (pertussis)* |
Two days from starting antibiotic treatment, or 21 days from onset of symptoms if no antibiotics |
Preventable by vaccination. After treatment, non-infectious coughing may continue for many weeks. Your local HPT will organise any contact tracing |
*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).
Health Protection Agency (2010) Guidance on Infection Control in Schools and other Child
Care Settings. HPA: London.