Common Childhood Illnesses and Exclusion
The following chart will help you know if your child should stay home when they are ill.
| Illness | Exclusion |
| Chicken Pox (Varicella virus) |
No exclusion required if well enough to participate in regular activities and does not have a fever. Non-immune pregnant women should contact their physician. |
| Diarrhea or vomiting | Exclude until 48 hours symptom free. |
| Fifth Disease (Parvovirus B19) | No exclusion required if well enough to participate in regular activities. Pregnant women who are not immune should contact their physician. |
| Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (Coxsackie virus) | No exclusion required if well enough to participate in regular activities. |
| Impetigo (Staphylococcus or Streptococcus) | Exclude until 24 hours after antibiotic treatment begins or until blisters are healed. |
| Influenza | Exclude until well enough to participate and free of fever for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medications. |
| Measles | Exclude for four days after onset of rash. |
| Meningitis - Bacterial or Viral | Exclude according to advice from KFL&A Public Health. |
| Meningococcal Disease (Neisseria meningitidis) | Exclude according to advice from KFL&A Public Health. |
| Mumps | Exclude until five days after onset of swollen glands. |
| Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) | Exclude until 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment for bacterial conjunctivitis. |
| Rubella (German measles) | Exclude for seven days after onset of rash; pregnant women should contact their physician. |
| RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) | No exclusion required if well enough to participate in regular activities. |
| Strep Throat or Scarlet Fever (Group A streptococcus) | Exclude until 24 hours after start of antibiotics, if untreated, exclude for 21 days. |
| Whooping cough (Bordetella pertussis) | Exclude until 5 days of antibiotic treatment has been completed; if untreated exclude for 21 days. Infants less than 1 year, pregnant women in the third trimester, and their families who have had exposure may receive antibiotics for prevention. |
This is intended as a general guide. Consult a health care provider for diagnosis and recommendations for individual cases. For more information visit Caring for Kids.
Help your child prevent the spread of illness by following these suggestions:
- Keep children home when they are ill to prevent the spread of germs to other children.
- Remind children to clean their hands regularly using soap and water or hand sanitizer.
- Make sure children always clean hands after:
- using the toilet,
- touching pets,
- playing outdoors,
- coming home from school, daycare, or activities,
- coughing, sneezing, blowing or wiping their nose.
- Clean shared surfaces such as door knobs, light switches, and bathroom taps.
- Increase cleaning when someone in the house is ill.
- Keep vaccinations up-to-date. Follow the schedule for vaccines as closely as possible. Notify KFL&A Public Health when your child receives an immunization to keep their record current.
Contact us for questions regarding childhood illnesses.