Absence and Illness

What to do if your child is ill

COVID 19 Update:

Please refer to this document-

GUIDE TO ABSENCE DURING ILLNESS

If your child is ill you should telephone the school office on 020 7254 4564 by 8:00am.  If you are not sure how long your child should be off school the table below will provide a guide for you.  For more information on an illness or condition and the latest up-to-date guidance please visit nhs.co.uk

 

Summary of Guidance for Schools and GPs for Managing Sickness Absence in Schools – Liam edit v2

 

Condition

Recommended period to be kept away from school (once child is well)

Comments

Chickenpox Until all spots have crusted and formed a scab – usually five-seven days from onset of rash Chicken pox causes a rash of red, itchy spots that turn into fluid-filled blisters. They then crust over to form scabs, which eventually drop off.
Cold sores None Many healthy children and adults excrete this virus at some time without having a ‘sore’ (herpes simplex virus)
German measles Five days from onset of rash The child is most infectious before the diagnosis is made and most children should be immune to immunisation so that exclusion after the rash appears will prevent very few cases
Hand, foot and    mouth disease None Usually a mild disease not justifying time off school
Impetigo 48 hours after treatment starts and/or until lesions are crusted or healed Antibiotic treatment by mouth may speed healing. If lesions can reliably be kept covered exclusion may be shortened
Measles Five days from onset of rash Measles is now    rare in the UK
Molluscum    contagiosum None A mild condition
Ringworm (Tinea) None Proper treatment by the GP is important.  Scalp ringworm needs treatment with an antifungal  by mouth
Roseolla None A mild illness,    usually caught from well persons
Scabies Until treated Outbreaks have occasionally occurred in schools and  nurseries.  Child can return as soon as  properly treated.  This should include  all the persons in the household.
Scarlet fever Five days from child commencing antibiotics Treatment    recommended for the affected
Slapped cheek or    Fifth disease (Parvovirus) None Exclusion is Ineffective as nearly all transmission takes place before the child becomes unwell.
Warts and    verrucae None Affected children    may go swimming but verrucae should be covered
Diarrhoea and/or    vomiting (with or without a specified diagnosis) Until diarrhoea and vomiting has settled (neither for the previous 48 hours).  Please check with the school before sending your child back. Usually there will be no specific diagnosis and for most conditions there is no specific treatment.  A longer period of exclusion may be appropriate for children under age 5 and older children unable to maintain good personal hygiene.
E-coli and    Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome Depends on the type of E-coli seek FURTHER ADVICE from the CCDC
Giardiasis Until diarrhoea has settled for the previous 24 hours) There is a    specific antibiotic treatment
Salmonella Until diarrhoea and vomiting has settled (neither for the previous 24 hours) If the child is under five years or has difficulty in personal hygiene, seek advice from the Consultant in Communicable Disease Control.
Shigella    (Bacillary dysentery) Until diarrhoea has settled (for the previous 24 hours) If the child is under five years or had difficulty in personal hygiene, seek advice from the Consultant in Communicable Disease Control.
Flu (Influenza) None Flu is most    infectious just before and at the onset of symptoms
Tuberculosis CCDC will advise Generally requires quite prolonged, close contact for spread on action.  Not usually spread from children.
Whooping cough (Pertussis) Five days from commencing antibiotic treatment Treatment (usually with erythromycin) is recommended  though non-infectious coughing may still continue for many weeks
Conjunctivitis None If an outbreak    occurs consult Consultant in Communicable Disease Control
Glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis) None
Head lice (nits) None Treatment is    recommended only in cases where live lice have definitely been seen
Hepatitis A See comments There is no justification for exclusion of well older  children with good hygiene who will have been much more infectious prior to the  diagnosis.  Exclusion is justified for  five days from the onset of jaundice or stools going pale for the under fives  or where hygiene is poor
Meningococcal    meningitis/septicaemia The CCDC will give specific advice on any action needed There is no    reason to exclude from schools siblings and other close contacts of a case
Meningitis not    due to Meningococcalinfection None Once the child is    well infection risk is minimal
Mumps Five days from onset of swollen glands The child is most infectious before the diagnosis is made and most children should be immune due to immunisation
Threadworms None Transmission is uncommon in schools but treatment is recommended for the child and family.
Tonsillitis None There are many causes, but most cases are due to viruses and do not need an antibiotic.  For one cause, streptococcal infection, antibiotic treatment is recommended
HIV/AIDS HIV is not infectious through casual contact.  There have been no recorded cases of spread within a school or nursery.
Hepatitis B and C Although more infectious than HIV, hepatitis B and C have only rarely spread within a school setting.  Universal precautions will minimise possible danger or spread of both hepatitis B and C.