Communicable Diseases

Communicable Diseases in the School Setting

• Bacterial Meningitis- student may return to school 24 hours after beginning antibiotic treatment.
• Bed Bugs - student may return to school after visual inspection.
• Chicken Pox (Varicella)- student may return to school when all lesions are dry, usually 5-7 days.
• Conjunctivitis (bacterial pink-eye)- student may return to school 24 hours after beginning antibiotic treatment.
• COVID-19- students showing symptoms of any illness should stay home. If a student has a fever, they should remain at home until 24 hours after symptoms have resolved without having taken any medicines that lower fever.
• Diarrheal Diseases- student may return to school 24 hours after diarrhea stops or is determined non-communicable by a physician.
• Fifth Disease (Erythema Infectiosum)- student may return to school once temperature is below 100 degrees.
• Flu (Influenza)- student may return to school once temperature is below 100 degrees.
• Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (Coxsackie Virus)- student may return to school when there are no signs of weeping lesions on hands or blisters in mouth.
• Head Lice- student may return to school following an application of pediculicide. No exclusion for nits.
• Hepatitis A- student may return to school 10 days after the onset of symptoms.
• Impetigo- student may return to school after completing 24 hours of treatment and all lesions are dry.
• Measles - student may return 4 days after onset of rash
• Molluscum - no exclusion, lesions must be covered.
• Mononucleosis (Mono)- student may return to school once temperature is below 100 degrees.
• Mumps - student may return 5 days after onset of parotid swelling
• MRSA- student may return to school 24 hours after beginning treatment or is deemed non-communicable by a physician.
• Pinworms- student may return to school after completing appropriate treatment prescribed by a physician.
• Ringworm- student may return to school 24 hours after beginning treatment.
• Rubella - student may return 7 days after onset of rash
• Scabies- student may return to school 24 hours after beginning treatment.
• Scarlet Fever/Strep Throat- student may return to school 24 hours after beginning antibiotic treatment.
• Shingles- all lesions must be covered until dry.
• Viral Meningitis- student may return to school once temperature is below 100 degrees.
• Whooping Cough (Pertussis)- student may return after completing 5 days of antibiotic therapy.  If no antibiotic therapy, may return 3 weeks after onset of paroxyms.

For other communicable disease information, please contact your school nurse.