Guidelines for Parents - Sickness and Illness Policy
As children play closely together, viruses and other illnesses are easily passed around. The following recommendations give a guide as to when and for how long your child should be kept away from playschool if they have any of the illnesses listed.
As well as the general illnesses slisted, please keep your child home from playschool if they are too unwell to be able to join in with the general play sessions, including outdoor play. It is for their own benefit that they rest at home to get better quicker as well as to the benefit of the rest of the group when illnesses are not passed around.
As well as the general illnesses slisted, please keep your child home from playschool if they are too unwell to be able to join in with the general play sessions, including outdoor play. It is for their own benefit that they rest at home to get better quicker as well as to the benefit of the rest of the group when illnesses are not passed around.
Early Childhood Ireland Information on Common Infectious Diseases
Diseases |
Early Symptoms |
Usual Incubation Period |
Period when infectious |
Minimum period of Exclusion (Keep your child home) |
Advice |
Measles |
Cold, cough, fever or chill. Sore eyes, white spots in mouth (1-2 days), Rash after 2-3 days on face, weak chest. |
8 – 15 days |
From a few days before the running nose and head cold to 7 days after rash appears. |
7 days from the appearance of rash. |
It may be advisable to temporarily exclude unvaccinated children who may be incubating measles. |
German Measles (Rubella) |
May have fever, sore throat, stiff neck. Rash after 1-2 days usually on face. |
14 – 21 days usually 12 days |
From 7 days before to at least 4 days after rash appears. |
7 days from appearance of rash whilst unwell. |
Very dangerous for pregnant mothers. Notify ALL mothers and advise consulting their doctor. |
Whooping Cough |
Fevers and catarrh for approx. 1 week before cough develops. |
7 – 14 days |
From 7 days after exposure to 21 days after whooping. |
21 days from beginning of whooping cough. |
Antibiotics may reduce the period of infectiousness. |
Mumps |
Fever, sore throat, dry mouth, pain when chewing. |
12 – 25 days |
From 7 days before swelling appears to 9 days afterwards. |
5 days from appearance of swelling. |
- |
Chicken Pox |
May be a slight fever, headache, nausea, spots appear on 2nd day, starting on the back. |
11 -21 days |
Until scabs are dry, usually 5 – 7 days from onset of rash. |
5 days from appearance of rash. |
- |
Conjunctivitis |
Sore eyes, inflamed discharge or watering. |
1 – 3 days |
Contagious. Spread by rubbing of eyes or other contact. |
Until discharge or inflammation has cleared or until they have had antibiotics for 48 hours. |
- |
Lice and Nits |
Itching of head. |
- |
Contagious until treated |
Until treated. |
- |
Impetigo |
Blisters, spreading at edges which are raised, thick yellow crust when blisters break |
- |
Contagious, spread by hands and contact with objects. |
Until skin is completely healed. |
- |
Ringworm |
(Body) Round red areas with a raised border. |
10 – 11 days |
Contagious, spread by scratching and material under fingernails. |
Until treated. |
- |
Scabies |
Intense itching, blistering, pin point blood crusts. |
Several days |
Mites spread rapidly by contact from clothing or bedding. |
Until treatment has commenced. |
- |
Bad Cold |
Coughing or sneezing. |
- |
While child is coughing or sneezing. |
- |
May pass germs in the pre-school service. |
Gastroenteritis |
Vomiting or diarrhoea. |
- |
- |
48 hours clear of vomiting or diarrhoea |
- |