Symptoms and illnesses that exclude children from child care centres
Information from Hamilton Public Health:
Do not allow a child with any of the following symptoms to stay at the child care centre:
Fever and other symptoms such as nausea or vomiting
Fever and a body rash
Diarrhea – two or more liquid bowel movements (poop) or a change from the child’s normal bowel movement (e.g., runny, watery or bloody poop) with no other explanation such as laxative use. 48hrs between last liquid bm and the return to school.
Vomiting one or more times in the last 48 hours with no other explanation such as medication. 48hrs between last vomit and the return to school.
Yellow or white eye discharge that is not treated
Severe cough
Yellowish skin or eyes or jaundice
Irritability, continuous crying more than usual
The list below outlines diseases or illnesses, and how long the disease requires a child to stay away from a child care centre.
Chickenpox
Until the fever goes away and spots have crusted over with scabs
Diarrhea with no known cause
48 hours after the last diarrhea
Diarrhea caused by E. coli or Shigella
Until two consecutive negative stool specimens, or poop samples, are taken, 24 hours apart
Diarrhea from Giardia
Until 48 after diarrhea stops
Diarrhea from Norovirus
Until 48 hours after the last diarrhea
Diarrhea from Salmonella or Campylobacter
Until 48 hours after the last diarrhea
Flu
Until fever goes away for 24 hrs and the child is feeling better
Head lice
Until 24 hours after the first treatment was applied
Hepatitis A
Until one week after the start of jaundice
Impetigo
Until 24 hours after starting antibiotics
Measles
Until four days after the rash started
Meningitis – bacterial or viral
Until the child is better; decision to be made by a doctor
Mumps
Until nine days after swelling started
Pertussis
(also known as whooping cough) Until five days after starting antibiotics or until three weeks if not treated with antibiotics
Pinkeye
(with yellow or white discharge) Until one full day of antibiotic treatment
Pinworms
Until 24 hours after starting treatment
Pneumonia
Until feeling better and no fever and if treated, 48 hours after antibiotic therapy has started
Ringworm
Until treatment starts; keep child from swimming or wading pools and water play until treatment is complete
Scabies
24 hours after starting treatment
Scarlet fever
24 hours after starting treatment
Strep throat
Until 24 hours after antibiotics are started
Tuberculosis
Call Public Health Services at 905- 546-2063
Vomiting
48 hrs after the vomiting stops or it is determined that the vomiting is caused by a non-infectious condition
For children well enough to be at the child care centre :
If a child has an illness but is well enough to be in child care and does not have symptoms or a disease that require exclusion ensure that :
The child does not participate in water play
Staff clean and disinfect play areas and toys more often
The child washes their hands more frequently
Staff wash hands more frequently
Symptoms or illnesses that do not exclude children from child care centres :
Cold sores, unless they are severe
Cytomegalovirus infections or CMV
Ear infections also known as otitis media, unless they are severe
Fever only unless a baby six months or less has it
Fifth disease, also called Parvovirus B19, Erythema Infectiosum and slapped face syndrome
Hand, foot and mouth disease
Asymptomatic giardia
Irritated eye without discharge
Roseola
Thrush and Candida diaper rash
Shingles