507.3E1 - Communicable Disease Chart

DISEASE

* Immunization is available

Usual interval between exposure & first symtoms of disease

MAIN SYMTOMS

Minimum exclusion

from school

CHICKENPOX

13 to 17 days

Mild symptoms and fever.  Pocks are “blistery.”  Develop scabs, most on covered parts of body.

7 days from onset of pock or until pocks become dry.

CONJUNCTIVITIS

(Pink Eye)

24 to 72 hours

Tearing, redness and puffy lids, eye discharge.

Until treatment begins or physician approves readmission.

ERYTHEMIA INFECTIOSUM

(5th Disease)

4 to 20 days

Usual age 5 to 14 years - unusual in adults.  Brief prodrome of low-grade fever followed by Erythemia (slapped cheek) appearance on cheeks, lace-like rash on extremities lasting a few days to 3 weeks.  Rash seems to recur.

After diagnosis no exclusion from school.

GERMAN MEASLES*

(Rubella)

14 to 23 days

Usually mild.  Enlarged glands in neck and behind ears.  Brief red rash.

7 days from onset of rash, keep away from pregnant women.

HAEMOPHILUS MENINGITIS

2 to 4 days

Fever, vomiting, lethargy, stiff neck and back.

Until physician permits return.

HEPATITIS A

Variable - 15 to 50 days

(avg. 28 to 30 days)

Abdominal pain, nausea, usually fever, skin and eyes may or may not turn yellow.

14 days from onset of clinical disease and at least 7 days from onset of jaundice.

IMPETIGO

1 to 3 days

Inflamed sores, with pus.

48 hours after antibiotic therapy started or until physician permits return.

MEASLES*

10 days to fever

14 days to rash

Begins with fever, conjunctivitis, runny nose, cough, then blotchy red rash.

4 days from onset of rash.

MENINGOCOCCAL MENINGITIS

2 to 10 (commonly 3 to 4) days

Headache, nausea, stiff neck, fever.

Until physician permits return.

MUMPS*

12 to 25 (commonly 18) days

Fever, swelling and tenderness of glands at angle of jaw.

9 days after onset of swollen glands or until swelling disappears.

PEDICULOSIS

(Head/Body Lice)

7 days for eggs to hatch

Lice and nits (eggs) in hair.

24 hours after adequate treatment to kill lice and nits.

RINGWORM OF SCALP

10 to 14 days

Scaly patch, usually ring shaped, on scalp.

No exclusion from school.  Exclude from PE, swimming, contact sports.

SCABIES

2 to 6 weeks initial exposure; 1 to 4 days reexposure

Tiny burrows in skin caused by mites.

Until 24 hours after treatment.

SCARLET FEVER SCARLATINA

STREP THROAT

1 to 3 days

Sudden onset, vomiting, sore throat, fever, later fine rash (not on face).  Rash usually only with first infection.

24 hours after antibiotics started and no fever.

WHOOPING COUGH*

(Pertussis)

7 to 10 days

Head cold, slight fever, cough, characteristic whoop after about 2 weeks.

5 days after starts of antibiotic treatment.