2 days before rash until all sores have crusts
(6-7 days)
Fifth disease (Erythema infectiosum)
10-14
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
10-12
4 days before rash until rash gone (7
days)
Roseola
10-15
Onset of fever until rash gone (2
days)
Rubella (German measles)
14-21
7 days before rash until rash gone (4
days)
Scabies
30
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 cough until fever gone
Sore throat, strep
2-5
Onset of sore throat until 24 hours on
antibiotic
DISEASE
INCUBATION PERIOD (DAYS)
CONTAGIOUS PERIOD (DAYS)
Respiratory Infections: (continued)
Sore throat, viral
2-5
Onset of sore throat until fever gone
Tuberculosis
14-70
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
7-21
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)
Hepatitis B
50-180
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
Mumps
16-18
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
span
PARENT CARE: INFECTION EXPOSURE
QUESTIONS
Definition
This guideline
includes information about the transmission of common infections.
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 day 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.
Footnotes:
1. Cold sores: Less than 6 years old, contagious until cold
sores are dry, 4-5 days (no isolation if sores are on part of body that can
be covered). More than 6 years old, no isolation necessary if beyond touching,
picking stage.
2. Diarrhea Precautions: Contagious until stools are formed.
Stay home until fever is gone, diarrhea is mild, blood and mucus are gone,
and toilet-trained child has control over loose BMs. Shigella and E-coli
0157 require extra precautions.
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital is located in Palo Alto, adjacent to Stanford University Hospital, approximately 20 miles north of San Jose, CA and 40 miles south of San Francisco.
