Paediatric Infections – School Exclusion/Isolation
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April 26, 2023
Prevent the spread of infections by ensuring: routine immunisation, high standards of personal hygiene and practice, particularly hand-washing, and maintaining a clean environment. However, Public Health England recommend exclusion in some conditions.
| Infection | Exclusion/Isolation Guidance | Notifiable* | Additional advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athlete’s foot | None needed | Treatment recommended. Avoid being barefoot. | |
| Chickenpox | Until all lesions crusted over | Pregnant contacts should consult GP/midwife | |
| Cold sores | None needed | Avoid direct contact | |
| Conjunctivitis | None needed | Outbreak=Consult local health protection team (HPT) | |
| COVID 19 | Exclude in high temperature and unwell | ||
| Positive COVID-19 test: exclude for 3 days after the day of test | Can continue to attend with mild symptoms e.g. runny nose and headache | ||
| Diarrhoea and vomiting | Until symptoms have settled for 48 hours | If Ecoli 157 STEC/Typhoid/Shigella/ Cryptosporidiosis | If notifiable cause consult HPT for further advice |
| Diptheria | Must be excluded | Yes | Always consult HPT for advice |
| EBV | None needed | ||
| Fifth disease (Slapped cheek) | None needed | Pregnant contacts should consult GP/midwife | |
| Hand foot and mouth | None needed usually | Contact HPT if a large number of children | |
| affected | |||
| Head lice | None needed/Until first treatment given | Treatment indicated only when live lice are seen | |
| Impetigo | Until lesions are crusted and healed/48 hours after starting antibiotics | ||
| Infectious Mononucleosis | None needed | ||
| Influenza | Until recovered | Report outbreaks to HPT | |
| Hep A | Exclude until 7 days after onset of symptoms/jaundice | HPT will advise protection measures in outbreaks | |
| Hep B/C/HIV | None needed | Not infectious through casual contact | |
| Measles | 4 days from onset of rash | Yes | Pregnant contacts must consult GP/midwife immediately |
| Meningitis | Until recovered/ Viral=none | Viral=No/Other=Yes | Contact HPT for more advice |
| Molluscum Contagiosum | None needed | ||
| Mumps | 5 days from onset of swollen glands | Yes | |
| MRSA | None needed | Good hygiene e,g handwashing, environmental cleaning, help minimise spread | |
| Respiratory infections | Exclude in high temperature and unwell | Can continue to attend with mild symptoms e.g. runny nose and headache | |
| Ringworm | Not usually required but must treat | ||
| Roseola | None needed | ||
| Rubella | 4 days from onset of rash | Yes | Pregnant contacts must consult GP/midwife immediately |
| Scabies | Until first treatment given | Close contacts should be treated at same time | |
| Scarlet fever | 24 hours after starting antibiotics | Yes | If no antibiotics, exclude until symptoms recover |
| Threadworms | None needed | Treat child and close contacts | |
| TB | Until 2 weeks after starting treatment | Yes | Only pulmonary TB is infectious and needs prolonged close contact to spread. |
| HPT will contact trace | |||
| Warts/verrucae | None needed | Cover in swimming pools and gymnasium | |
| Whooping cough | 2 days after starting antibiotics/21 days after symptom onset if no antibiotics | Yes | Non-infectious coughing may continue for weeks |
*Registered medical practitioners in England and Wales have a statutory duty to notify their local authority or UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) HPT of suspected cases of certain infectious diseases.
Yorkshire and the Humber HPT – Find your HPT
- Blenheim House, West One Duncombe Street, Leeds, LS1 4PL
- Phone: 0113 386 0300
- Out of hours advice: 0151 9091219
Reference
- Public Health England – School exclusion
- Notifiable diseases – how to
Created by Dr Euan Ballantyne