Childhood Illnesses
We always follow the Health Protection Agency (HPA) guidelines and further details can be found at www.hpa.org.uk.
We will never knowingly accept a child into the setting who is suffering from an excludable illness. We rely on parents to be honest with us about their child’s state of health.
Below gives a brief description of the more common childhood illnesses together with an exclusion periods:
We will never knowingly accept a child into the setting who is suffering from an excludable illness. We rely on parents to be honest with us about their child’s state of health.
Below gives a brief description of the more common childhood illnesses together with an exclusion periods:
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Athlete's Foot
Itchy white patches between toes and/or red, sore and flaky patches on feet. The skin may crack and bleed. Exclusion period: None but does need treatment |
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Bronchiolitis
A viral infection of the lungs, mainly affecting babies and young children. The symptoms are a cough, rapid breathing, fever and in severe cases a ‘bluish’ complexion. Exclusion period: None |
Chicken Pox
A rash consisting of small itchy spots that become fluid-filled blisters. Children may also have a slightly raised temperature. Pregnant women who have been in contact with a suspected or confirmed case of chicken pox should inform their doctor as soon as possible. Exclusion period: 5 days from the onset of the rash or until the spots have scabbed over |
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Cold Sores
Small fluid-filled blisters appear on face and/or lips. They burst and crust over. Exclusion period: None |
Conjunctivitis
Redness, itching, irritation, discharge and occasionally abnormal sensitivity to bright light. The discharge contains pus and may cause the eyelids to be stuck together in the morning. Parents must seek medical advice from a doctor to confirm which treatment is required (eye drops or cotton wool dipped in cooled boiled water) and administer the first treatment before their child attends our setting. Exclusion period: None |
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Diphtheria
The main symptoms of diphtheria are:
Exclusion period: Is essential and is reportable to the local Health Protection Team |
Flu
Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include:
Exclusion period: Until recovered |
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Gastroenteritis (Sickness and/or Diarrhoea)
An infection of the stomach and intestines. Diarrhoea is defined by the passing of watery stools more than three times during a 24-hour period. * See below for further details. Exclusion period: 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting |
Glandular Fever
Glandular fever mostly affects teenagers and young adults and usually gets better without treatment. You should consult a doctor for the following symptoms:
Exclusion period: None |
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Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease
A mild viral infection, which has no connection with the animal Foot and Mouth disease. The incubation period is 3 – 5 days. The symptoms to look for are blisters inside the mouth and on the hand and feet. Exclusion period: None |
Head Lice
Head lice are small blood-sucking parasitic insects and contrary to popular belief, they tend to prefer clean hair rather than dirty. They are only transmitted during head to head contact – they don’t jump, fly or hop between heads and are not passed on from towels and combs etc. Head lice are extremely small (smaller than a match head) and are greyish white to brown colour. Because of their size and rapid movement, they are extremely difficult to spot. Live eggs (creamy brown) and empty egg shells (white) are a little easier to spot attached to the base of individual hair strands. Please check your child’s hair regularly. If hair lice are suspected, your doctor, health visitor or chemist will advise you on current recommended treatment. Exclusion period: None |
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Hepatitis A
The symptoms of hepatitis A develop, on average, around four weeks after becoming infected, although not everyone will experience them. Symptoms can include:
Exclusion period: 7 days after the onset of jaundice or symptoms if no jaundice and is reportable to the local Health Protection Team |
Hepatitis B, C or HIV
Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by a virus that's spread through blood and body fluids. Many people with hepatitis B won't experience any symptoms and may fight off the virus without realising they had it. If symptoms do develop, they tend to occur two or three months after exposure to the hepatitis B virus.Symptoms of hepatitis B include:
Symptoms can include:
Exclusion period: None |
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Impetigo
Is caused by bacteria entering the body through a broken area of skin. The skin reddens and small, fluid-filled blisters appear on the skin surface. As impetigo is contagious, ensure the child receives medical attention. Exclusion period: Until the lesions are crusted or healed |
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Measles
The incubation period is 8 – 13 days. The illness starts with a fever, runny nose, sore eyes, cough and the child is generally unwell. After 3 – 4 days a red rash appears, usually starting on the head and neck and then spreading to the whole body. Children are very infectious as long as the rash persists. + See below for further details. Exclusion period: 4 days from the onset of the rash |
Meningitis
The most common symptoms are headache and stiff neck with a fever, confusion, vomiting and an inability to tolerate light or loud noises. Sometimes, in small children, only nonspecific symptoms may be present, such as irritability and drowsiness. If a rash is present and it doesn’t disappear when a glass is rolled over it, the child should been seen by a doctor as a matter of urgency. + See below for further details. Exclusion period: Until recovered |
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Molluscum Contagiosum
Appears as small, firm, raised spots on the skin, which usually form in little clusters. The spots (called mollusca) may be skin-coloured, pink, or pearly white, and some may have a tiny pus-like head in the centre. Can be spread through close, direct contact with someone who is infected, or by coming into contact with contaminated objects, such as towels and flannels. The infection is not serious but it can take a long time to heal and clear completely. Exclusion period: None |
Mumps
An acute viral illness. The main symptom is the inflammation and swelling of one or both glands just inside the angle of the jaw. The affected child is infectious for about a week before and 5 days after the symptoms appear. + See below for further details. Exclusion period: 5 days after the onset of swollen glands |
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Ringworm
Ringworm is a popular name for certain types of fungal skin infections – Athletes Foot being one of the most common. Ringworm is marked by ring-shaped, reddened, scaly or blistery patches on the skin. Most types of Ringworm are diagnosed by a doctor from their appearance and the treatment for most types is anti-fugal creams, lotions or ointments. Treatment may also need to be continued for some time after symptoms have subsided in order to eradicate the fungi and prevent reoccurrence. Exclusion period: Until treatment has commenced |
Rubella (German Measles)
The incubation period is 14–21 days. The illness can have symptoms similar to the flu but the primary symptom of rubella virus infection is the appearance of a rash on the face which spreads to the trunk and limbs and usually fades after three days. The facial rash usually clears as it spreads to other parts of the body. + See below for further details. Exclusion period: 4 days from the onset of the rash |
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Scabies
Scabies is caused by a mite, which burrows into the skin and lays eggs. The mite’s burrows can be seen on the skin as tiny, grey scaly swellings, usually between the fingers, on the wrists and genitals and in the armpits. Later, reddish lumps may appear on the limbs and trunk. The infestation causes intense itching particularly at night and subsequent itching results in scabs and sores. Scabies is highly contagious. Exclusion period: Until the treatment has commenced |
Scarlet Fever
The start of the rash usually looks like bad sunburn with tiny bumps, and it may itch. It usually first appears on the neck and face, it then spreads to the chest and back and finally to the rest of the body. By the sixth day, the rash usually fades, but the affected skin may begin to peel. Other symptoms can include a reddened sore throat, a fever at or above 101 °F (38.3 °C), and swollen glands in the neck. + See below for further details. Exclusion period: 24 hours after the start of antibiotics |
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Slapped Cheek/Fifth Disease
Affects children between the ages of 2 and 14. It is caused by a virus known as Parvovirus. The incubation period is 4 to 14 days. The rash starts on the checks as separate red, raised spots, which subsequently converge. Within a few days, the rash spreads in a lacy pattern over the limbs but only sparsely over the trunk. It is often accompanied by a mild fever. The rash usually clears after about 10 days but may recur over several weeks. Pregnant women who have been in contact with a suspected or confirmed case of Parvovirus should inform their doctor as soon as possible. Exclusion period: None |
Threadworm
Threadworm mainly affects children. The females are white and about 10mm long. They lay eggs in the skin around the anus, and their movements cause itching, often at night, which may cause the child to scratch. Eggs are then transferred directly via the fingers to the mouth to cause reinfestation or are carried on toys etc. The swallowed eggs hatch in the intestine and the worms reach maturity after a period of 2 – 6 weeks. Ointment may be used for the itching and a doctor or chemist may prescribe tablets, which in combination with good hygiene usually clears up the problem Exclusion period: None |
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Tonsillitis
The main symptom of tonsillitis is a sore throat, but there may be several other symptoms including coughing, headaches and a fever. Tonsillitis can be caused by either a virus or by bacteria, although most cases of the condition are viral. Tonsillitis can spread from person to person through throat or nasal fluids. The incubation period is usually between 2-4 days. Exclusion period: None |
Whooping Cough
An infection of the lining of the respiratory tract. Whooping cough is highly infectious. The main symptom is a hacking cough, which is often followed by a sharp intake of breath that sounds like a 'whoop'. Exclusion period: 5 days from commencement of antibiotic treatment or 21 days from the onset of illness if no treatment is given |
E coli, Tuberculosis, Typhoid, Shigella (Dysentery)
All have exclusion periods and advice must be sort from the Health Protection Agency (HPA).
All have exclusion periods and advice must be sort from the Health Protection Agency (HPA).
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* We appreciate that young children’s motions are often loose which makes it difficult to distinguish diarrhoea from a normal loose motion. In normal circumstances we will wait for three loose motions before we will send a child home but if diarrhoea and/or sickness has recently been present in the setting we will contact a parent after the first loose motion. It is imperative that parents are honest about their child’s motions as diarrhoea and sickness spreads like wildfire throughout the setting and can prevent us from working which then inconveniences other families who are then unable to use our services. Diarrhoea can sometimes be linked to teething but is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as a raised temperature, reddened cheeks and/or gums, excessive dribbling, poor appetite, chewing, restlessness and irritability.
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+ Denotes a notifiable illness. We, as a setting, have to inform the HPA (if they haven't already been informed) and Ofsted.
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In all non-exclusion illnesses, children are welcome in the setting as long as they are well enough to participate in the normal day’s routines and activities. It is unfair to the other children in the setting if we are unable to go out because of a child who is unwell.
Please see our Exclusion and Sick Child policies for further details.
Please see our Exclusion and Sick Child policies for further details.
