Important stuff
Downloads:
| Disease | How is it Spread? | When is it contagious | Exclusion recommendations |
| Chicken Pox | via saliva droplets (coughs & sneezes)/direct contact with fluid from blisters | 1-2 days before onset of lesions & until all lesions have crusted (usually about 5 days | Until all lesions have crusted & child is well enough to participate |
| Conjunctivitis | via saliva droplets/direct contact with secretions from eyes/nose | When eyes become pink or until 24hrs after prescribed treatment | 24hrs after prescribed treatment
|
| Impetigo | from contact with the secretions & rarely via saliva droplets | While there is pus in the sores or 24hrs after prescribed treatment | 24hrs after prescribed treatment has been initiated |
| Slapcheek (fifth disease) | coughing sneezing, saliva, (less commonly) sharing eating/drinking utensils | Before rash appears; no treatment required | None |
| gastroenteritis (diarrhoea &/or vomiting - D&V) | coughs/sneezes [if cause is viral] close contact, hand to mouth, ingestion of infected foodstuffs | Depends entirely on the cause of the infection | As a basic precaution, normally 48hrs after diarrhoea disappears |
| Parasites (threadworms, ringworm, headlice, scabies | Dependent on the infection, generally prolonged contact | Until infection/infestation removed | None, it is recommended parents commence treatment immediately |
| Colds, influenza ['flu] | via saliva droplets (coughs & sneezes) | Can be anything up to a week before symtoms appear & up to a few days after | None, if child is not well do not bring them to pre-school |
| Tonsillitis, pharyngitis (sore throat) | usually a symptom of a viral infection and if susceptible, bacterial infection | Viral - same as colds/flu | None as above, unless disease is known to be caused by a bacterial infection the childf should be kept away from pre-school until 24 hours after the start of treatment |
| Hand, foot & mouth disease | Minor viral infection, spread by coughs, sneezes, saliva | Unknown, probably starts just before onset of symptoms | None - see colds/'flu above |
these recommendations have been compiled using The Health Protection Agency
In general, children who seem to be so unwell that they are unlikely to benefit from being at pre-school should be kept at home. Those with a temperature and other specific signs and symptoms such as diarrhoea or vomiting should be excluded until they are better (48hrs in the case of D&V).