504.2-E1 - Communicable Diseases Chart

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Concise descriptions and recommendations for exclusion of cases from school.
Source: Iowa Department of Health & Human Services

Disease
*Immunization
Available

Usual Interval
Between Exposure
and First Symptoms
Main
Symptoms
Minimum Exclusion
from School
*Chickenpox

10-21 Days
[Average 14-16 Days]

Mild symptoms and fever, pocks are blistery, and scabs develop for most on covered parts
of the body
Seven days from onset of rash until all blisters have crusted
Conjunctivitis
[Pink Eye]
24-72 Hours Tearing, redness, puffy lids, and discharge Until treatment begins or physician approves return
COVID-19
{SARS-CoV-2}
2-14 Days Fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea Five days after symptoms start and 24 hours with no fever and improved symptoms 
Erythema Infectiosum
[5th Disease]
4-20 Days Usual age is 5-14 years, unusual in adults, brief prodrome or low grade fever followed by erythema (slapped appearance on cheeks), lace-like rash on extremities lasting a few days to three weeks, and rash seems to recur After diagnosis; no exclusion
from school
*German Measles
[Rubella]
14-21 Days Usually mild, enlarged glands in neck and behind ears, and brief rash Seven days from onset of rash; keep away from pregnant women
*Haemophilus Meningitis 2-4 Days Fever, vomiting, lethargy, and stiff
neck and back
Until physician approves return
*Hepatitis A

Varies from 15-50 Days
[Average 28-30 Days]

Abdominal pain, nausea, fever, and skin/eyes may or may not turn yellow Fourteen days from onset of clinical disease and at least seven days from onset of jaundice
Impetigo 4-10 Days Inflamed sores with pus Twenty-four hours after antibiotic therapy has started or until physician approves return; avoid contact with drainage from lesions and cover lesions when attending school
*Measles 10 Days to Fever
14 Days to Rash
Begins with fever, conjunctivitis, runny nose, cough, and then blotchy red rash Four days from onset of rash
Meningococcal Meningitis

2-10 Days
[Commonly 3-4 Days]

Headache, nausea, stiff neck, and fever

Until physician approves return
*Mumps

12-25 Days
[Average 16-18 Days]

Fever, swelling, and tenderness of glands
at angle of jaw
Five days after onset or until symptoms have resolved

Pediculosis
[Head/Body Lice]

7 Days for Eggs to Hatch Lice and nits (eggs) in hair No need to send home upon diagnosis and return to school after initial treatment; no-nit policy is recommended
Ringworm  4-10 Days Scaly red patch; usually ring shaped

No exclusion from school; exclude from gymnasiums, pools, and contact sports

Scabies

2-6 Weeks for Initial Exposure
1-4 Days After Re-Exposure

Tiny burrows in skin caused by mites Until 24 hours after treatment
Scarlet Fever Scarlantina
Strep Throat
1-3 Days Sudden onset, vomiting, fever, later a fine rash (not on face), and rash usually only with first infections Twenty-four hours after antibiotics started and no fever

*Whooping Cough [Pertussis]

6-20 Days
[Average 9-10 Days]

Head cold, slight fever, cough, and characteristic whoop after two weeks

Five days after start of
antibiotic treatment

READMISSION TO SCHOOL
It is advisable that school authorities require written permission from the health officer, school physician, or attending physician before any student is readmitted to school following any disease which requires exclusion, not mere absence, from school.


Reviewed: 7/13; 11/17; 12/20
Revised: 4/11; 10/14; 4/18; 8/21; 10/23