Simple steps can reduce the spread of childhood infections to other people in the family and in childhood education and care services, and to vulnerable people in the community.
Staff and children who show symptoms may be excluded from an education or care service. In most cases, exclusion will be based on symptoms. Contact your local public health unit on 1300 066 055 if you have any questions about the recommended exclusion periods.
Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for free 24-hour health advice or see the fact sheets listed below for more information about each of the symptoms and conditions.
Call an ambulance (000) straight away if your child has serious symptoms such as:
Chickenpox is usually a mild childhood illness causing a rash of red, itchy spots that turn into fluid-filled blisters. They then crust over to form scabs which eventually drop off. Most recover without complications, but sometimes the infection can leads to pneumonia and inflammation of the brain.
Yes, children are vaccinated at 18 months of age
Yes. Children should be excluded from school until all blisters have dried—this is usually at least 5 days after the rash first appears.
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Some symptoms can be the same as other respiratory viruses such as influenza and RSV. Symptoms of COVID-19 can include sore throat, fever, blocked or runny nose, coughing and sneezing, muscle or body aches, tiredness, difficulty breathing, loss of taste and smell, headache, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, and loss of appetite.
Yes. It is important that family members and school and childcare staff are up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccinations.
Yes. Children should be excluded from school until they are well again./span>
Visit Testing positive to COVID-19 and managing COVID-19 safely at home.
Conjunctivitis is a common eye condition where the white part of the eye becomes swollen, and red. It can be due to a virus or bacteria (infectious) or allergy (non-infectious).
No
Yes. Children should be excluded from school until the discharge from their eyes has stopped.
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Gastroenteritis (or gastro) is a bowel infection that causes diarrhoea and sometimes vomiting. Diarrhoea is runny, watery bowel motions. Bouts of gastro can cause dehydration, which can be dangerous for very young babies and young children.
Yes. Children should be excluded from school until there has not been a loose bowel motion for at least 48 hours
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Glandular fever (also known as infectious mononucleosis) is a common viral infection that can cause fever, a sore throat with exudate (deposits of fluid) around the tonsils and throat, and enlarged lymph nodes (or ‘glands’). The symptoms usually develop four to six weeks after infection with the virus. In young children, glandular fever usually causes mild or no symptoms.
No. Children do not need to be excluded from school unless they are unwell.
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Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common viral infection. It is not related to the disease in cattle with a similar name (foot-and-mouth disease).Symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease include tiny blisters on various parts of the body, including in the mouth, and on the fingers, palms of hands, buttocks, nappy area, soles of the feet, upper arms or upper legs. The blisters last a little longer than a week.
Yes. Children need to be excluded from school until all blisters have dried up./span>
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Head lice are insects that live in hair and suck blood from the scalp. They can cause itching of the scalp but they do not cause disease or illness.Check your child’s head once a week for head lice. If you find any lice or eggs, begin treatment immediately. Check for effectiveness of the treatment every 2 days until no lice are found for ten consecutive days.
No. Not excluded if effective treatment begins before the next day of attendance. The child does not need to be sent home immediately if head lice are detected.
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Hepatitis A is a viral infection and can cause abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, fever and tiredness, sometimes followed by yellow skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine and pale faeces.
A safe and effective vaccine is available against hepatitis A. Two doses taken 6 months apart is recommended for long-lasting protection.
Yes. Children should be excluded until your doctor provides a medical certificate of recovery and until at least 7 days after the onset of jaundice or if there is no jaundice, until 2 weeks after onset of other symptoms.
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Impetigo is a bacterial infection leading to sores on the skin. At the beginning these sores may be red, moist and weepy. After this, a flat, crusty yellow or 'honey-coloured' scab can appear.
The sores can occur anywhere on the body but usually appear on the skin around the nose and mouth, arms and legs. People who have a lot of sores may also have a fever and/or swollen lymph nodes.
Yes. Children should be excluded until appropriate antibiotic treatment has started. Any sores on exposed skin should be covered with a watertight dressing.
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Influenza (‘flu’) is a viral infection that can cause fever, cough, chills, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle aches, joint pains and fatigue (feeling very tired).
Some children may have nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Influenza is more serious than the common cold. Severe cases can result in breathing difficulties due to pneumonia, inflammation of the heart or brain, and sepsis (where the body has an extreme response to an infection).
Yes. Annual flu shots offer the best protection against flu and they are free for young children aged from 6 months to under5 years.
Yes. Children should be excluded from school until they are well again.
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Measles is a highly infectious and serious viral disease. Symptoms include a fever, cough, and sore, red eyes (conjunctivitis). This is followed by a rash of large, flat, reddish blotches that often join up and completely cover the skin. The rash spreads over the entire body, and usually disappears within 6 days.
Yes. Children are routinely vaccinated against measles at 12 and 18 months of age. Infants travelling overseas to places where measles is circulating can be vaccinated from 6 months of age.
Yes. Children should be excluded for at least four days after the rash appears. Non-immunised children who are contacts of a measles case are excluded for at least two weeks after they have been exposed to the case.
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Meningococcal infection is caused by a particular group of bacteria which can cause severe infections. Symptoms may include sudden onset of fever, headache, neck stiffness, joint pain, a rash of red-purple spots or bruises, dislike of bright lights, nausea and vomiting. Infants and young children may have less specific symptoms like irritability, difficulty waking, high-pitched or moaning cry, refusal to eat or pale or blotchy skin.
Yes. Several vaccines are available to reduce the risk of disease. However, no single vaccine protects against all serogroups that cause meningococcal disease. People must still be alert for the symptoms and signs of meningococcal disease, even if they have been vaccinated.
Children suspected to have meningococcal disease should get urgent medical attention.
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Molluscum contagiosum is a common viral skin infection which causes a rash of pearly, skin-coloured lumps that can appear anywhere. In children, the lumps are mostly on the face, trunk, and upper arms and legs. The lumps are usually small, with a white centre and an indented surface.
No.
No. Children do not need to be excluded.
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Mumps is a viral infection which causes swelling of glands around the jaw (the salivary glands), high fever and headache. Boys may have tender testicles, and girls may have pain in the lower abdomen.
Yes. Children are routinely vaccinated against mumps at 12 and 18 months of age.
Yes. Children should be excluded for nine daysor until swelling goes down (whichever is sooner).
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Symptoms of RSV are similar to other respiratory viruses such as a cold with runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, fever and headache and also cough, wheezing and difficulty breathing.
Yes. Currently two RSV immunisation products (Abrysvo®, a maternal RSV vaccine, and Beyfortus™ (nirsevimab), an RSV immunisation product) are available under the 2025 RSV Prevention Program to protect newborn babies from RSV.
Yes. Children should be excluded until they are well again.
Visit Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Ringworm is a fungal infection, appearing on most areas of the skin as a flat, spreading, ring-shaped scaly patches. The outer edge is usually reddish. The area often contains fluid, including pus, but may be dry and scaly, or moist and crusted.
Yes. Children should be excluded until the day after anti-fungal treatment has started.
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Rubella is a viral illness that causes a mild fever, runny nose, swollen glands (lymph nodes) and a pink blotchy rash that lasts a short time. Some people have no symptoms.
Yes. Children are routinely vaccinated at 12 months and 18 months of age.
Yes. Children should be excluded until 7 days after onset of rash or until fully recovered, whichever is longer.
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Scabies is caused by mites that burrow under the skin causing intense itching and sometimes a rash. The rash is due to an allergic reaction to the mite. Scabies tends to be worse around wrists, armpits, buttocks, and the groin and between fingers and toes.
Yes. Children should be excluded until the day after appropriate treatment has started.
Visit Scabies .
Symptoms usually appear between 1 and 3 days after infection and include a very red sore throat, swollen glands, fever, and a red rash that feels like sandpaper.
Yes. Children should be excluded until the day after appropriate antibiotics have been started and the child feels better.
Visit Scarlet fever.
Slapped cheek disease (also known as Fifth Disease) gets its name from its most obvious symptom – a red rash that makes children’s cheeks look like they’ve been slapped. Other symptoms include a mild fever, an itchy lace-like rash, and possibly cough, sore throat or runny nose.
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Whooping cough (pertussis) usually starts like a cold, with a runny nose, tiredness and sometimes a mild fever. A cough then develops, usually in short bouts followed by a deep gasp (or ‘whoop’). Not every person makes the whooping sound—this is more common in non-immunised children. The cough can last up to 3 months.
Whooping cough is particularly serious in children under 12 months of age, and hospitalisation is often necessary.
Yes. Children are immunised at 6 weeks, 4, 6 and 18 months and 4 years of age. Specific antibiotics are used to treat whooping cough and may be recommended for some people that have been in close contact to help prevent infection.
Yes. Children should be excluded for 21 days from the start of their symptoms, or until they have taken an appropriate antibiotic for at least 5 days.
Visit Whooping cough (pertussis).
For further information please call your local Public Health Unit on 1300 066 055.
Other sources of information:
