Advice on illness

If your child shows signs of  being unwell, please keep them at home until they are well enough to return to school.  We have attached for your information the NHS guidance on periods of absence for different ailments.

If you are in doubt about your child’s symptoms, please contact your GP surgery the School Nurse or after hours NHS 24.

Communicable diseases

Virus/Infection	Impetigo
How it is passed on	Direct or indirect contact with pus or blister
Incubation Period	1 to 3 days
Infectious Period	As long as pus is present
Exclusion	Until the sores have healed for 48 hours or antibiotics have been taken for 48 hours
	Diarrhoea & Vomiting
How it is passed on	Through poor hygiene e.g. lack of hand washing or virally.
Incubation Period	Usually 3 – 5 days
Infectious Period	Throughout the course of infection, often several days into weeks.
Exclusion	May return after 48 hours from the last episode of vomiting or diarrhoea.
	Influenza
How it is passed on	Respiratory droplets & airborne spread.
Incubation Period	1 – 5 days
Infectious Period	3 to 5 days from the onset
Exclusion	Until clinically well
	Conjunctivitis
How it is passed on	Contact with discharges from infected persons, clothing or other articles
Incubation Period	24 – 72 hours
Infectious Period	During the course of active infection.
Exclusion	In the acute stage and after symptoms are resolving or as directed by your GP
	Scarlet Fever (Scarletina)
Description	Acute tonsillitis, fine reddish rash over most of the body, tongue resembling a strawberry
How passed on	Direct and indirect contact with cases or carriers.
Incubation Period	1 – 3 days
Infectious Period	While the organism is present in the throat or nose
Exclusion	48 hours after antibiotics are started.

 

	Chicken Pox
Description	Mild fever, rash like for a few hours, blisters for 3 to 4 days and leaves a scab when dry
How passed on	Person to person by direct contact is also airbourne. The scabs are not infectious
Incubation Period.	From 2 – 3 weeks, commonly 15 – 18 days
Infectious Period	Can be 5 days, usually 1 – 2 days before the onset of the rash but not more than 5 days after its appearance
Exclusion	For 5 days from the onset of the rash or until vesicles become dry, whichever is longer
	Tonsillitis
	Pain in the throat and trouble swallowing, as this is a viral infection antibiotics are not required except in streptococcal infection where antibiotics are recommended. Symptoms get worse over 2 – 3 days then gradually go within 1 week.
How passed on	Airbourne droplets, hand contact or kissing
Incubation Period	Depends on the cause
Infectious Period	Depends on the cause
Exclusion	None, but the child may be too unwell to attend.
	Head Lice (Pediculosis)
Description	Infestation of the head with lice, larvae, and nits (eggs) causing severe itching.
How passed on	Direct contact or indirect contact with shared clothing or combs and brushes
Incubation Period	Eggs hatch in 7 10 days and are sexually mature in 12 days.
Infectious Period	As long as the eggs or lice remain alive
Exclusion	None: treat with an appropriate preparation (chemical)
	German Measles (Rubella)
Description	Mild fever, pinpoint red spots, enlarged lymph nodes behind the ears.
How passed on	Direct person to person contact by respiratory droplets.
	Incubation Period
	Most commonly 16 – 18 days
	Infectious Period
	1 week before onset of rash and at least 4 days after rash appears
	Exclusion
	For 5 days after onset of rash.
	Meningitis
Description	Fever, stiff neck, headache, flu like symptoms. A rash resembling German Measles can occur. This is a very serious illness and must be dealt with quickly.
How passed on	Not usually transmissible from person to person except for Haemophilus type b and Meningococcal
Incubation Period	Variable, depending on organism
Infectious Period	Dependent on organism
Exclusion	Until clinically well.