Guidelines for excluding your child from school due to illness. Print this guide out and store it for easy reference!
| Condition | Does my child need to stay away? | Does my child need to stay away if they have been in contact with an infected person? |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken pox (varicella and herpes zoster) | Yes, until fully recovered, or until at least five days after the spots first appear (some remaining scabs are OK) | No, unless he/she has immune system problems, such as leukaemia, or is receiving chemotherapy |
| Conjunctivitis (acute infectious) | Yes, until the discharge from the eyes has stopped | No |
| Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection | No | No |
| Diarrhoea (caused by infection from rotavirus, shigella, giardia, salmonella, campylobacter) | Yes, until diarrhoea has stopped | No |
| Glandular fever | No | No |
| Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) | Yes, until your doctor signs a medical certificate stating your child has recovered | No |
| Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) | Yes, until all blisters have dried* | No |
| Hepatitis A | Yes, until at least seven days after jaundice begins. After that, your doctor will need to provide a certificate confirming recovery. | No |
| Hepatitis B | No | No |
| Hepatitis C | No | No |
| Herpes (‘cold sores’) | If your young child isn’t able to follow hygiene practices. while the cold sore is weeping, then he or she should stay away until it has healed. Cover cold sores with dressings if possible | No |
| Hookworm | No | No |
| Human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) | No, unless your child has another infection as well as the HIV | No |
| Impetigo (school sores) | Yes, until treatment has begun. Sores on exposed surfaces must be covered with a water tight dressing | No |
| Influenza and influenza-like illnesses | Yes, until he or she is well | No |
| Measles | Yes, until at least four days after the rash begins | Not if immunised. Not if he or she is immunised within 72 hours of contact with an infected person. If not immunised, he/she should stay away until 14 days after the appearance of a rash in the last person to be infected |
| Meningitis (bacterial) | Yes, until well | No |
| Meningococcal infection | Yes, until treatment is finished | Yes, unless he/she is currently receiving the antibiotic rifampicin (brand names Rifadin, Rimycin) |
| Molluscum contagiosum (skin infection) | No | No |
| Mumps | Yes, for nine days or until the swelling goes down, whichever is sooner | No |
| Parvovirus (erythema infectiosum [‘fifth disease, ‘slapped cheek’]) | No | No |
| Ringworm, scabies, pediculosis (lice), trachoma (eye infection) | Can return to school the day after treatment has begun | No |
| Rubella (German measles) | Yes, until fully recovered or can go back four days after rash started | No (women of childbearing age working at school should ensure they are immune or vaccinated) |
| Streptococcal infection (including scarlet fever) | Yes, until your child has had antibiotics for at least 24 hours, and feels well | No |
| Whooping cough (pertussis) | Yes, until five days after antibiotic treatment has begun | Yes, other children in the house aged under seven years must stay away if they are not immunised for 14 days after the last exposure to infection, or until they have taken five days of a 14 day course of antibiotics |
| Works (intestinal) | Yes, if diarrhoea is present | No |