Avoiding Infection Spread in Settings With Children and Vulnerable Individuals
| Condition | Recommended period to be kept away from school, nursery or childminders |
|---|---|
| Athlete’s foot | None. Treatment is recommended. |
| Chickenpox† | Until all vesicles have crusted over.1 See: vulnerable children and female staff – pregnancy. |
| Cold sores (herpes simplex) | None. Avoid kissing and contact with the sores. |
| Conjunctivitis | None. If an outbreak/cluster occurs, consult the local health protection team. |
| COVID-19 | Stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you no longer have a high temperature (if you had one) or until you feel better.2 |
| Cryptosporidiosis† | 48 hours from last episode of diarrhoea. Exclusion from swimming is advisable for two weeks after the diarrhoea has settled. |
| Diarrhoea and/or vomiting | 48 hours from last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting. |
| Diphtheria† | Exclusion is essential. Always consult with the local health protection team. Family contacts must be excluded until cleared to return. Preventable by vaccination. |
| E. coli O157 / VTEC† | 48 hours from last episode of diarrhoea. Further exclusion required for children ≤5 yrs and those with difficulty adhering to hygiene practices until microbiological clearance. |
| Flu (influenza) | Until recovered. See: vulnerable children. |
| German measles (rubella)† | Four days from onset of rash. Preventable by immunisation (MMR × 2 doses). See: female staff – pregnancy. |
| Glandular fever | None |
| Hand, foot and mouth | None. Contact the local health protection team if a large number of children are affected. |
| Head lice | None. Treatment is recommended only where live lice have been seen. |
| Hepatitis A† | Exclude until seven days after onset of jaundice (or seven days after symptom onset if no jaundice). |
| Hepatitis B†, C, HIV/AIDS | None. Blood-borne viruses; not infectious through casual contact. |
| Impetigo | Until lesions are crusted and healed, or 48 hours after commencing antibiotic treatment. Antibiotic treatment speeds healing and reduces the infectious period. |
| Measles† | Four days from onset of rash. Preventable by vaccination (MMR × 2). See: vulnerable children and female staff – pregnancy. |
| Meningococcal meningitis† / septicaemia† | Until recovered. No reason to exclude siblings or close contacts. The health protection team will advise on any action needed. |
| Meningitis† (other bacteria) | Until recovered. Hib and pneumococcal meningitis are preventable by vaccination. No reason to exclude siblings or close contacts. |
| Meningitis (viral)† | None. Milder illness. Contact tracing is not required. |
| Molluscum contagiosum | None. A self-limiting condition. |
| MRSA | None. Good hygiene, in particular handwashing, is important. |
| Mumps† | Five days after onset of swelling. Preventable by vaccination (MMR × 2 doses). |
| Ringworm | Exclusion not usually required. Treatment is required. |
| Roseola (infantum) | None |
| Scabies | Child can return after first treatment. Household and close contacts require treatment. |
| Scarlet fever† | 24 hours after commencing appropriate antibiotic treatment. If more than one case in a setting, contact the health protection team. |
| Shigella† (dysentery) | 48 hours from last episode of diarrhoea. Further exclusion may be required for young children ≤5 yrs until microbiological clearance. Consult the health protection team. |
| Shingles | Exclude only if rash is weeping and cannot be covered.3 Can cause chickenpox in those who are not immune. See: vulnerable children and female staff – pregnancy. |
| Slapped cheek (fifth disease / parvovirus B19) | None once rash has developed. See: vulnerable children and female staff – pregnancy. |
| Threadworms | None. Treatment is recommended for the child and household contacts. |
| Tonsillitis | None. Most cases are due to viruses and do not need an antibiotic. |
| Tuberculosis† | Always consult the local health protection team. Requires prolonged close contact for spread. |
| Typhoid† / Paratyphoid† (enteric fever) | Further exclusion may be required until the child is no longer excreting. Consult the health protection team. Microbiological clearance may be needed. |
| Warts and verrucae | None. Verrucae should be covered in swimming pools, gymnasiums and changing rooms. |
| Whooping cough (pertussis)† | 48 hours from commencing antibiotic treatment, or 14 days from onset of illness if untreated.4 Preventable by vaccination. Non-infectious coughing may continue for many weeks. |
† Notifiable disease — required by law to be reported to the Director of Public Health.
UK national variations:
1 Chickenpox: The NI guidance requires only that all vesicles have crusted over, with no minimum period. The UKHSA guidance (England, Scotland, Wales) specifies 5 days from when the rash first appears.
2 COVID-19: The NI guidance advises staying home until no longer febrile or until feeling better. The UKHSA guidance advises staying away from the setting only where symptoms are more than mild (for example a high temperature); routine testing is not recommended.
3 Shingles: The NI guidance excludes only if the rash is weeping and cannot be covered. The UKHSA guidance advises staying away from the setting if the spots cannot be covered or have not yet formed scabs.
4 Whooping cough: The NI guidance specifies 14 days from onset if untreated. The UKHSA (England, Scotland, Wales) guidance specifies 21 days from onset if untreated.
Primary source: PHA Northern Ireland “Guidance on infection control in schools and other childcare settings in Northern Ireland”, September 2024. Cross-referenced with UKHSA, “Public health exclusion periods in children and young people’s settings” (updated 9 July 2026). Scotland uses the UKHSA guidance directly.