ILLNESS/DISEASE
SYMPTOMS/
SIGNS
INCUBATION
PERIOD
SCHOOL ACTION AND
COMMENTS
ON COMMUNICABILITY
SOURCE OF INFECTION
AND MODE OF
TRANSMISSION
Hand, Foot, and Mouth
Disease Sores occur toward the front of
the mouth, on the sides of the
tongue, inside the cheeks, and
on the gums; may last 7-10
days. In most cases, sores can
be found on the palms of the
hands, the fingers, and the
soles of the feet. A low-grade fever may last 1-2 days.
Usually 3-5 days Exclude until temperature is
normal for 24 hours and child
is well enough to participate
in normal, daily activities.
Sores may still be present. Coxsackievirus spreads
through contact with nose
and throat discharge and
stool of infected persons.
Hand washing important.
Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) Bacterial: pink or red conjunctiva
with pus that causes matting of
the eyelids, pain or redness of
eyelids.
Viral: pink conjunctiva with clear
watery discharge and without
pain or redness of eyelids. 1-3 days Refer for medical diagnosis
and treatment. Most are viral in etiology,
some bacterial. May be
spread through hand-eye
contact.
Reye Syndrome Sudden onset of violent
vomiting, mental confusion,
extreme sleepiness, or
fatigue, twitching or jerking
movements, hostility, coma. 1-7 days following viral
infection (cold, flu, chicken
pox) 1. If one or more symptoms
appear, call physician
immediately.
2. Go to emergency room
of hospital.
3. Do not give aspirin to a
child with a viral illness.
4. Exclude from school until
clinically well. Usually follows viral
infection. It is not conta-
gious. Cause unknown.
No prevention. Requires
immediate attention at
onset of symptoms. Most
common in young children.
Ringworm Body: Ringworm appears as flat,
spreading ring-shaped lesions. The
edge of the lesion may be dry and
scaly or moist and crusty. As the
lesion spreads outward, the center
often becomes clear.
Scalp: Ringworm may be hard to de-
tect in the early stages. It often be-
gins as a small, scaly patch on the
scalp. Mild redness and swelling
may occur. Infected hairs become
brittle and break off easily. Body: 4-10 days Exclude from school until 24
hours after treatment has
been started. Lesions must be covered
when participating in
contact sports. Fungus
spread by contact with
infected person, animal
or contaminated articles.
Exclude from school until 24
hours after treatment begins. Mite is transferred by direct
contact with skin or through
shared bedding, towels, and
clothing of a person with
scabies. Treat all members
of household at the same
time.
Exclude until throat culture re-
port is received. If positive for
strep, exclude from school
until 12 hours after antibiotic
treatment is started and until
clinically well. Communicable
until 12 hours after treatment
is started. Exclude from
school until temperature has
been normal for 24 hours. Bacteria spreads directly from
nose and throat discharges of
infected persons.
Scabies
Streptococcal Sore Throat /
Scarlet Fever
Rash and intense itching which
may be more severe at night.
Common locations to see the
rash are folds of skin between
fingers, around wrists, elbows,
and armpits. Other areas where
rash may appear are knees,
waistline, thighs, male genitals,
abdomen, chest, and lower
portion of buttocks. Infants may
be infected on head, neck,
palms, and soles of feet.
Sudden onset of fever, sore throat,
swollen glands, headache, abdomi-
nal pain, nausea and vomiting in
severe cases. With scarlet fever a
very fine raised rash is present. A
fuzzy, white tongue may occur. The
rash appears most often on the
neck, chest, in folds of the armpit,
elbow, groin, and the inner thigh.
Later there may be peeling of the
skin on the fingertips and toes.
2019-20 School Handbook
ahschools.us/policies
Scalp: 10-14 days
2 weeks - 2 months:
Symptoms may appear
in less than 1 week if the
person has had scabies
before.
Usually 1-3 days
13