Important update: 27th April 2022 from Derbyshire County County
Health Protection advice for schools, nurseries and other childcare facilities
Please click here to read the letter: Scarlet Fever Parent Letter 14.03.2023
| What’s it called? | What are the symptoms? Click link for information | Do I need to keep my child off school? Who should be informed? |
| Athlete’s foot | Common fungal infection that affects the feet. | No need to stay off school or nursery. It is not a serious condition. Treatment is recommended. Inform
school/nursery. |
| Chicken Pox
*(see below re pregnancy) |
Rash begins as small, red flat spots and develops into itchy blisters. | Yes, until all the spots have crusted over, and your child is well (usually 5 days after the spots have appeared).
Inform school/nursery. |
| Cold Sores (Herpes Simplex) | Cold sores are generally mild and heal without treatment but are contagious until completely healed (around 10 days). | No need to stay off school or nursery. Avoid kissing and contact with the sores. Inform school/ nursery. |
| Conjunctivitis | Usually affects both eyes and makes them red, burn or feel itchy. | No need to stay off school unless child feels unwell. Inform school/nursery. |
| COVID**
(Respiratory disease) *(see below re pregnancy) |
High temperature, cough, feeling unwell, loss of taste or smell. | Yes, stay at home for 3 days or until feels well enough to return after 3 days and no temperature. Avoid contact with others. Inform school/nursery. |
| Diphtheria ** | High temperature, swollen glands, grey / white coating to throat or tongue. | Yes, stay at home is essential (contact UKSHA for advice on exclusion time).
Must inform GP. Inform school/nursery. |
| Flu (Influenza) | High temperature, achy body, sore throat, cough, and headache. | Yes. Child needs to be well enough to attend school. Inform school/nursery. |
| German measles**
*(see below re pregnancy) |
Mild fever, swollen glands, and a rash. | Yes, as soon as symptoms develop until 5 days after the onset of the rash. Child needs to be well enough to attend
school. Inform school/nursery. |
| Glandular fever | High temperature, sore throat, swollen glands. | Yes. Child needs to be well enough to
attend school. Inform school/nursery. |
| Hand, foot, and mouth disease
*(see below re: pregnancy) |
Fever, sore throat, headache. Small painful blisters can appear inside mouth, hands & feet. | No need to stay off school if child seems well enough to go but school or nursery should be informed. |
| Head lice | Itchy head, like something is moving in your hair. | No need to stay off but school or
nursery should be informed. Treatment recommended only when live lice seen. |
| Impetigo | Starts with red sores or blisters. These can be itchy, painful, and spread. | Yes, until lesions are crusted & healed or 48 hours after starting antibiotics.
Inform school/nursery. |
| Measles **
*(see below re: pregnancy) |
Usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Small spots in mouth may appear. | Yes. Stay off school or nursery for at least 4 days from when the rash appears and when they are well enough to attend. Contact your GP. Inform
school/nursery |
| Meningococcal Meningitis or Meningitis due to other bacteria** | Rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over, stiff neck, high temperature, dislike of bright lights, drowsiness, sickness and headache. | Yes, stay off school until well enough to return. Contact your GP / Inform school/nursery. |
| Molluscum Contagiosum | Viral skin infection. | No need to stay off as self-limiting. Stop the spread by not sharing towels or squeezing lesions. Inform
school/nursery. |
| Mumps** | Painful swelling in the side of face under the ears. Mumps – NHS (www.nhs.uk) | Yes, stay off school or nursery until five days after onset of swelling. Contact
your GP. Inform school/nursery. |
| Ringworm | Common fungal infection, causing a rash (not worms). | No need to stay off but school or nursery should be informed. Antifungal
treatment required. |
| Scabies | Skin infection caused by a mite. Intense itching, especially at night, and raised rash or spots. | Yes. Back to school after first treatment. Household/close contacts require treatment at the same time. Inform
school/nursery. |
| Scarlet fever (scarlatina)**
*(see below re: pregnancy) |
Sore throat and painful glands in neck. A rash appears 12 to 48 hours later. | Yes. Child can return to school 24 hours after starting antibiotics and if they are well enough to attend. Contact GP.
Inform school/nursery. |
| Slapped cheek syndrome (fifth disease / parvovirus
B19) *(see below re: pregnancy) |
High temperature, runny nose, sore throat, headache. A red rash may appear on 1 or both cheeks. | No. If child is well, they can attend. They are no longer infectious once the rash appears. School or nursery should be informed. |
| Sickness bug/diarrhoea and vomiting | Stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Diarrhoea and vomiting – NHS (www.nhs.uk) Norovirus (vomiting bug) – NHS (www.nhs.uk) | Yes. Child can return to school 48 hours after last episode of diarrhoea or vomiting and when your child is well enough to return. Inform
school/nursery. |
| Threadworms | Itching around the anus, particularly at night. Threadworms – NHS (www.nhs.uk) | No need to stay off but school or nursery should be informed. Treatment
is recommended for child & household. |
| Warts and Verrucas | Small lumps that appear on the skin. Warts and verrucas – NHS (www.nhs.uk) | No need to stay off but school/nursery should be informed. Verrucas should be covered in swimming pools & changing
rooms. Usually resolve on their own. |
| Whooping cough** | Coughing bouts that are worse at night. The
cough will make a ‘whoop’ sound, may be sick from the mucus. |
Yes. Child can return to school 48 hours after starting antibiotics and when your child is well enough. Inform school/nursery. |
*Pregnancy – Female staff / female students – If a pregnant woman develops a rash or is in direct contact with someone with a potentially infectious rash, this should be investigated by their medical practitioner (GP, Midwife, or hospital) at any stage of pregnancy.
**Notifiable disease to UKSHA by setting: notifiable-diseases-and-causative-organisms-how-to-report (www.gov.uk) Please contact UKHSA East Midlands on: Phe.crc.eastmidlands@phe.gov.uk or 0344 2254 524
Useful Links
The complete routine immunisation schedule from February 2022 (publishing.service.gov.uk)
PHE document (england.nhs.uk) Spotty book – includes cleaning and hygiene advice
