Communicable Diseases In Children Attending Schools

According to state law, a person in charge of a public, private, parochial, or other school shall exclude from school a child, who is suspected by a physician or the school nurse of having any of the following communicable diseases, infections or conditions. Readmission shall be contingent upon the school nurse or, in the absence of the school nurse, a physician, verifying that the criteria for readmission have been satisfied. The diseases, the periods of exclusion and the criteria for readmission are as follows:

1. Diphtheria. Two weeks from the onset or until appropriate negative culture tests.
2. Measles. Four days from the onset of rash. Exclusion may also be ordered by the Department of Health (relating to special requirements for measles).
3. Mumps. Nine days from the onset or until subsidence of swelling.
4. Pertussis (Whooping cough). Three weeks from the onset or 5 days from institution of appropriate antimicrobial therapy.
5. Rubella. Four days from the onset of rash.
6. Chickenpox. Five days from the appearance of the first crop of vesicles, or when all the lesions have dried and crusted, whichever is sooner.
7. Respiratory streptococcal infections including scarlet fever(i.e. strep throat). At least 10 days from the onset if no physician is in attendance or 24 hours after institution of appropriate antimicrobial therapy.
8. Infectious conjunctivitis (pink eye). Until judged not infective; that is, without a discharge.
9. Ringworm. The person shall be allowed to return to school, child care or other group setting immediately after the first treatment, if body lesions are covered. Neither scalp nor body lesions that are dried need to be covered.
10. Impetigo contagiosa. Twenty-four hours after the institution of appropriate treatment.
11. Pediculosis capitis (head lice). The person shall be allowed to return to either the school, child care or other group setting immediately after first treatment. The person shall be reexamined for infestation by the school nurse, or other health care practitioner, 7 days posttreatment.
12. Pediculosis corpora (body lice). After completion of appropriate treatment.
13. Scabies. After completion of appropriate treatment.
14. Trachoma. Twenty-four hours after institution of appropriate treatment.
15. Tuberculosis. Following a minimum of 2 weeks adequate chemotherapy and three consecutive negative morning sputum smears, if obtainable. In addition, a note from the attending physician that the person is noncommunicable shall be submitted prior to readmission.
16. Neisseria meningitidis. Until judged noninfective after a course of rifampin or other drug which is effective against the nasopharyngeal carriage state of this disease, or until otherwise shown to be noninfective.