• This topic includes information about the transmission of common infections, including how long to stay out of school or child care.

• Incubation Period:  Time interval between exposure to the infection and onset of symptoms.

• Contagious Period:  Time interval during which a sick child's disease is contagious to others.  With precautions, children sometimes can return to child care and school before this period is over.

• Infections that are not Contagious:  Many common bacterial infections are not contagious (e.g., ear infections, sinus infections, bladder infections, kidney infections, and pneumonia).  Sexually transmitted diseases are not contagious to children unless there is sexual contact or shared bathing.

Infection Exposure Table

DISEASE

INCUBATION PERIOD (DAYS)

CONTAGIOUS PERIOD (DAYS)

Skin Infections/Rashes:

Chickenpox

10-21

2 days before rash until all sores have crusts (6 - 7days)

Fifth disease (Erythema infectiosum)

4-14

7 days before rash until rash begins

Hand, foot, and mouth disease

3-6

Onset of mouth ulcers until fever gone

Impetigo (strep or staph)

2-5

Onset of sores until 24 hours on antibiotic

Lice

7

Onset of itch until 1 treatment

Measles

8-12

4 days before rash until 4 days after rash appears

Roseola

9-10

Onset of fever until rash gone (2 days)

Rubella (German measles)

14-21

7 days before rash until 5 days after rash appears

Scabies

30-45

Onset of rash until 1 treatment

Scarlet fever

3-6

Onset of fever or rash until 24 hours on antibiotic

Shingles (contagious for chicken pox)

14-16

Onset of rash until all sores have crusts (7 days) (Note: No need to isolate if sores can be kept covered.)

Warts

30-180

Minimally contagious

Respiratory Infections:

Bronchiolitis

4-6

Onset of cough until 7 days

Colds

2-5

Onset of runny nose until fever gone

Cold sores (herpes)

2-12

Footnote 1

Coughs (viral) or croup (viral)

2-5

Onset of cough until fever gone

Diphtheria

2-5

Onset of sore throat until 4 days on antibiotic

Influenza

1-2

Onset of symptoms until fever gone over 24 hours

Sore throat, strep

2-5

Onset of sore throat until 24 hours on antibiotic

Sore throat, viral

2-5

Onset of sore throat until fever gone

Tuberculosis

6-24 months

Until 2 weeks on drugs (Note: Most childhood TB is not contagious.)

Whooping cough

7-10

Onset of runny nose until 5 days on antibiotic

Intestinal Infections:

Diarrhea, bacterial

1-5

Footnote 2 for Diarrhea Precautions

Diarrhea, giardia

7-28

Footnote 2 for Diarrhea Precautions

Diarrhea, traveler's

1-6

Footnote 2 for Diarrhea Precautions

Diarrhea, viral (Rotavirus)

1-3

Footnote 2 for Diarrhea Precautions

Hepatitis A

14-50

2 weeks before jaundice begins until jaundice resolved (7 days)

Pinworms

21-28

Minimally contagious, staying home is unnecessary

Vomiting, viral

2-5

Until vomiting stops

Other Infections:

Infectious mononucleosis

30-50

Onset of fever until fever gone (7 days)

Meningitis, bacterial

2-10

7 days before symptoms until 24 hours on IV antibiotics in hospital

Meningitis, viral

3-6

Onset of symptoms and for 1-2 weeks

Mumps

12-25

5 days before swelling until swelling gone (7 days)

Pinkeye without pus (viral)

1-5

Mild infection, staying home is unnecessary

Pinkeye with pus (bacterial)

2-7

Onset of pus until 1 day on antibiotic eyedrops