This table has been revoked, and no longer represents the advice of NHMRC. It is included here only for historical reference purposes.
It has been replaced by Staying Healthy in Child Care - Preventing infectious diseases in child care - Fourth Edition.
| Condition | Exclusion of cases | Exclusion of contacts |
|---|---|---|
|
Amoebiasis (Entamoeba histolytica) |
Exclude until diarrhoea ceases. | Not excluded. |
| Campylobacter | Exclude until diarrhoea has ceased. | Not excluded. |
| Chicken pox | Exclude for at least 5 days AND until all blisters have dried | Any child with an immune deficiency (for example, leukaemia) or receiving chemotherapy should be excluded for their own protection. Otherwise not excluded. |
| Conjunctivitis | Exclude until discharge from eyes has ceased. | Not excluded. |
| Cytomegalovirus Infection | Exclusion not necessary. | Not excluded. |
| Diarrhoea | Exclude until diarrhoea has ceased. | Not excluded. |
| Diphtheria | Exclude until medical certificate of recovery is received following at least two negative throat swabs, the first not less than 24 hours after finishing a course of antibiotics and the other 48 hours later. | Exclude family/household contacts until cleared to return by an appropriate health authority. |
| Glandular fever (mononucleosis) | Exclusion is not necessary. | Not excluded. |
| Hand, Foot and Mouth disease | Until all blisters have dried. | Not excluded. |
| Haemophilus type b (Hib) | Exclude until medical certificate of recovery is received. | Not excluded. |
| Hepatitis A | Exclude until a medical certificate of recovery is received, but not before seven days after the onset of jaundice or illness. | Not excluded. |
| Hepatitis B | Exclusion is not necessary. | Not excluded. |
| Hepatitis C | Exclusion is not necessary. | Not excluded. |
| Herpes ("cold sores") | Young children unable to comply with good hygiene practices should be excluded while the lesion is weeping. Lesions to be covered by dressing, where possible. | Not excluded. |
| Hookworm | Exclusion not necessary. | Not excluded. |
| Human immun.-deficiency virus infection (HIV AIDS virus) | Exclusion is not necessary unless the child has a secondary infection. | Not excluded. |
| Impetigo | Exclude until appropriate treatment has commenced. Sores on exposed surfaces must be covered with a watertight dressing. | Not excluded. |
| Influenza and influenza like illnesses | Exclusion is not necessary. | Not excluded. |
| Leprosy | Exclude until approval to return has been given by an appropriate health authority. | Not excluded. |
| Measles | Exclude for at least four days after onset of rash. | Immunised contacts not excluded. Unimmunised contacts should be excluded until 14 days after the first day of appearance of rash in the last case. If unimmunised contacts are vaccinated within 72 hours of their first contact with the first case they may return to school. |
| Meningitis (bacterial) | Exclude until well. | Not excluded. |
| Meningococcal infection | Exclude until adequate carrier eradication therapy has been completed. | Not excluded if receiving rifampicin. |
| Molluscum contagiosum | Exclusion not necessary. | Not excluded. |
| Mumps | Exclude for nine days or until swelling goes down (whichever is sooner). | Not excluded. |
| Parvovirus (erythema infectiousum fifth disease) | Exclusion not necessary. | Not excluded. |
| Poliomyelitis | Exclude for at least 14 days from onset. Re-admit after receiving medical certificate of recovery. | Not excluded. |
| Ringworm, scabies, pediculosis (lice), trachoma | Re-admit the day after appropriate treatment has commenced. | Not excluded. |
| Rubella (german measles) | Exclude until fully recovered or for at least four days after the onset of rash. | Not excluded. |
| Salmonella, Shigella | Exclude until diarrhoea ceases. | Not excluded. |
| Streptococcal infection (including scarlet fever) | Exclude until the child has received antibiotic treatment for at least 24 hours and the person feels well. | Not excluded. |
| Tuberculosis | Exclude until a medical certificate from an appropriate health authority is received. | Not excluded. |
| Typhoid fever (including paratyphoid fever) | Exclude until approval to return has been given by an appropriate health authority. | Not excluded unless considered necessary by public health authorities. |
| Whooping cough | Exclude the child for five days after starting antibiotic treatment. | Exclude unimmunised household contacts aged less than 7 years for 14 days after the last exposure to infection or until they have taken five days of a 10-day course of antibiotics. (Exclude close child care contacts until they have commenced antibiotics). |
| Worms (intestinal) | Exclude if diarrhoea present. | Not excluded. |
Note: The NHMRC recommends that children who are physically unwell should be excluded from attending school, pre-school and child care centres.