Infectious Diseases
The best place for an ill child is at home or with a carer. If your child has symptoms such as vomiting, eye, ear or nose discharge, fever and rash please keep them home until they are well rather than putting others at risk of infection. The WA Public Health website states a child needs to be symptom free for 24 hours or be given clearance from a health professional such as your GP.
Condition
Exclusion
Exclusion of Contacts
Chicken pox
Exclude for at least 5 days after vesicles (rash) appear and until vesicles have formed crusts. Note that crusts alone do not warrant exclusion.
Refer any immunosuppressed children (e.g. leukaemia patients) to their doctor. Do not exclude other contacts.
Conjunctivitis
Exclude until discharge from eyes has ceased
Do not exclude.
Diarrhoea
Exclude until diarrhoea has ceased for 24 hours.
Do not exclude.
Hand, Foot and Mouth disease
Exclude until vesicles have formed crusts that are dry.
Do not exclude.
Head Lice
Exclude until after treatment has commenced and live lice removed.
Do not exclude.
Hepatitis A
Exclude until 14 days after onset of illness or 7 days after jaundice appears.
Do not exclude. Contact management will be coordinated by Department of Health staff.
Herpes simplex “Cold Sores”
Young children unable to comply with good oral hygiene practices should be excluded if lesions are uncovered and weeping.
Do not exclude.
Impetigo
Exclude for 24 hours after antibiotic treatment commenced. Lesions on exposed skin surfaces should be covered with a waterproof dressing. Young children unable to comply with good hygiene practices should be excluded until the sores are dry
Do not exclude.
Measles
Exclude for 4 days after the onset of the rash, in consultation with public health unit staff
Do not exclude vaccinated or previously infected contacts. All other contacts should be excluded until 14 days after the onset of the rash in the last case. If susceptible contacts are vaccinated within 72 hours of their first contact with the first case they may return to school following vaccination. Contact management will be coordinated by Department of Health staff.
Meningococcal disease
Exclude until antibiotic treatment has been completed.
Do not exclude. Contact management will be coordinated by public health unit staff.
Molluscum contagiosum
Do not exclude.
Do not exclude.
Mumps
Exclude for 5 days after onset of symptoms. Consult with your public health unit staff
Do not exclude.
Parvovirus (B19 erythema infectiousm, fifth disease)
Do not exclude.
Pregnant women who have been exposed to parvovirus B19 should consult their doctor.
Ringworm
Exclude until person has received anti-fungal treatment for 24 hours.
Do not exclude.
Rubella (german measles)
Exclude for 4 days after onset of rash.
Do not exclude. Refer pregnant contacts to their doctor.
Scabies
Exclude until the day after treatment has commenced
Do not exclude. Family contacts should be treated
Whooping cough (pertussis)
Exclude until 5 days after an appropriate antibiotic treatment or for 21 days from the onset of coughing.
Contact management will be coordinated by Public Health Unit Staff.
Worms (intestinal)
Do not exclude.
Do not exclude.