Disease

Immunization Available

Usual Interval Between Exposure and First Symptoms

Main Symptoms

Minimum Exclusion From School

Chickenpox

No

13 to 17 days

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

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

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

No

24 to 72 hours

Tearing, redness and puffy lids, eye discharge.

Until treatment begins or physician approves readmission.

Erythemia Infectiosum

No

4 to 20 days

Usual age 5 to 14 years – unusual in adults. Starts with a 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)

Yes

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

Yes

2 to 4 days

Fever, vomiting, lethargy, stiff neck and back.

Until physician permits return.

Hepatitis A

Yes

Variable-15 to 50 (average 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

No

1 to 3 days

Inflamed sores, with pus

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

Measles*

Yes

10 days to fever; 14 days to rash

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

4 days from onset of rash.

Meningococcal Meningitis

Yes

2 to 10 (commonly 3 to 4) days

Headache, nausea, stiff neck, fever.

Until physician permits return.

Mumps*

Yes

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)

No

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

No

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.

Scabies

No

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

No

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)

Yes

7 to 10 days

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

5 days after start of antibiotic treatme