Policy IHCF - Communicable Diseases
Exhibit 1 - Common Diseases Summary
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/hp/phys/nor/if-hp-phys-moh-nz-school-
Common Diseases Summary common-diseases.pdf
Disclaimer: this document is intended as a general reference only and does not replace medical advice from a healthcare provider. If you require
further information call HEALTH Link 811.
Disease Symptoms How long How long is it How is it spread? Exclusion
before contagious? (Mode of Transmission)
Symptoms (Period of
Appear? Communicability)
(Incubation
Period)
Baby Measles • Sudden onset of a fever • Not known • Contact with saliva from an No exclusion
(Roseola) (as high as 410 C) that 10 days infected person
lasts 3-5 days.
• Once fever breaks, a rash (Commonly
(red, raised marks) 5-15 days)
occurs on the trunk and
later all over the body.
Chickenpox • Slight fever, feeling • Up to 5 days before • Spread through the air when No exclusion, from
unwell for 1-2 days before 10-21 days the rash begins until infected person coughs, settings with persons
rash (commonly rash crusts over sneezes or breathes, already exposed (e.g.
• Rash begins as red, 14-16 days) (usually 5 days), • By touching fluid in blister Daycare or school) but
raised marks, progressing • Most infections 1-2 exclusion from settings
to blisters and pustules days before rash with persons not
which leave a scab lasts starts to 1-2 days previously exposed (e.g.
about 7 days, after weekly classes)
• Rash can be very itchy
Fifth disease, • Headache, mild fever, • A few days before • Spread through large droplets No exclusion.
(Parvovirus B19 achiness for 3-4 days 4-20 days rash begins, when infected person coughs
or Slapped • A bright, red rash on the • No longer or sneezes directly in one's
Cheek) cheek ("slapped cheek" contagious once face,
look), rash appears • By touching objects that have
• 1-4 days later a red lace- the virus on them.
like rash appears on the
arms, legs and body. May
be itchy.
• The rash comes and
goes for 1-3 weeks.
Impetigo • Small blisters that may • Until sores healed or • Person-to-person by touching Recommended exclusion
(caused by ooze a watery liquid or 7-10 days on antibiotics for 24 the infected area until 24 hours after
different bacteria pus and develop a honey hours starting appropriate
Staph or Strep) colored crust. antibiotic treatment.
NZ OBM
Revised and Reviewed September 2018
NZ MOH www.ahs.ca/nzmoh
Page 1 of 4
Common Diseases Summary
Disclaimer: this document is intended as a general reference only and does not replace medical advice from a healthcare provider. If you require
further information call HEALTH Link 811.
Disease Symptoms How long How long is it How is it spread? Exclusion
before contagious? (Mode of Transmission)
Symptoms (Period of
Appear? Communicability)
(Incubation
Period)
Hand, Foot and • Fever, sore throat, grey • While person has • Spread through the air when No exclusion
Mouth Disease colored sores in mouth symptoms infected person coughs,
3-5 days
sneezes or breathes
(Enterovirus) • Blisters on the palms,
fingers, soles of feet, • By contact with stool, nose or
and/or diaper area throat secretions.
Lice Pediculosis • First signs are usually • As long as lice or • By direct contact with a No exclusion.
itching and scratching the eggs are alive; can person with lice; indirectly, by
head BUT may have no 1-2 weeks live up to 3 days off contact with items such as
symptoms, the scalp bedding, hats, and combs of
• Nits (eggs) may be seen a person with lice
firmly attached to the hair
close to the scalp
Norovirus • Nausea, vomiting, • From the moment a • Direct contact with the feces Yes, until 48 hours after
diarrhea, stomach person feels ill until or vomit of someone who is the symptoms have
cramps, low-grade fever, 24-48 hours at least 48 hours infected with Norovirus disappeared.
chills, headache, muscle after diarrhea stops • Eating foods or drinking
aches and fatigue. liquids that are contaminated
with Norovirus
• Touching surfaces or objects
contaminated with norovirus.
NZ OBM
Revised and Reviewed September 2018
NZ MOH www.ahs.ca/nzmoh
Page 2 of 4
Common Diseases Summary
Disclaimer: this document is intended as a general reference only and does not replace medical advice from a healthcare provider. If you require
further information call HEALTH Link 811.
Disease Symptoms How long How long is it How is it spread? Exclusion
before contagious? (Mode of Transmission)
Symptoms (Period of
Appear? Communicability)
(Incubation
Period)
Pink eye • Scratchy feeling, burning • 24 hours after • By touching the discharge Recommended exclusion
(Bacterial or pain in the eye. May be 2-3 days appropriate from eye; until 24 hours after
Conjunctivitis) watery or pus like antibiotic treatment • By touching articles used on starting appropriate
discharge; for bacterial pink eye the infected eye (e.g. tissue, antibiotic treatment;
• Bacterial pink eye tends is started (e.g. facecloth)
to have more discharge antibiotic eye drops No exclusion if viral pink
(pus) and inflammation of or ointment) eye
the eye than viral pink
eye.
Rotavirus • Vomiting is often the first 1-3 days • During the acute • Direct contact – Changing Exclusion until 48 hours
symptom. Usually, a fever stage of illness and diaper of infected child or after symptoms have
and diarrhea follow. until diarrhea stops assisting with toilet training. ended.
• Indirect contact – touching
and object contaminated with
rotavirus. The virus can
survive long periods of hard
surfaces.
RSV Respiratory • Rhinorrhea, sneezing, • Significant and • Direct contact with infectious No exclusion.
Syncytial Virus cough, sore throat, 2 to 8 days. prolonged contact is secretions of nasal or Supportive treatment.
bronchitis, headache, required with conjunctival mucosa with Premature infants,
fatigue, fever.> URT, infected individual. contaminated hands. elderly, <2yrs with
LRT, Otitis Media, • Can shed for weeks chronic lung conditions,
Pneumonia, Bronchiolitis. even after clinical and
recovery immunocompromised are
at high risk.
NZ OBM
Revised and Reviewed September 2018
NZ MOH www.ahs.ca/nzmoh
Page 3 of 4
Common Diseases Summary
Disclaimer: this document is intended as a general reference only and does not replace medical advice from a healthcare provider. If you require
further information call HEALTH Link 811.
Disease Symptoms How long How long is it How is it spread? Exclusion
before contagious? (Mode of Transmission)
Symptoms (Period of
Appear? Communicability)
(Incubation
Period)
Shingles (herpes • Blister like rash usually Reactivation of • For 7 days after rash • Direct contact with fluid in No exclusion as long as
zoster) confined to one section or own virus from appears (susceptible blister rash can be covered
side of the body previous persons may • Less frequently spread
• Severe pain, with and chickenpox develop chickenpox through the air when infected
following shingles, is disease or not shingles) person coughs, sneezes or
common in adults but varicella vaccine breathes
rare in children
Strep Throat • Fever, sore throat, • If untreated 10-21 • Spread through droplets in Recommended exclusion
/Scarlet Fever sometimes swollen 1-3 days days (longer if the air when infected person until 24 hours after
glands with NO cough or illness more severe); coughs, sneezes or breathes starting appropriate
runny nose • For 24 hours after • By contact with the saliva of antibiotic treatment;
• May have sandpapery appropriate an infected person
rash on body. antibiotics have No Exclusion.
been started
Whooping cough • Cold-like symptoms; • From the beginning • Spread through droplets in Exclusion until 5 days of
cough that lasts for 6-21 days of symptoms until 3 the air when infected person the antibiotics are
weeks (100 day cough); (usually 7-10 weeks after the coughs, talks or sneezes completed or 3 weeks of
coughing spells may be days) cough starts OR up coughing have passed in
followed by gagging and to 5 days after settings where there are
vomiting appropriate vulnerable persons.
• Coughing is usually antibiotics are (Vulnerable persons
worse at night started include children less than
1 year of age and
pregnant females in the
third trimester).
NZ OBM
Revised and Reviewed September 2018
NZ MOH www.ahs.ca/nzmoh
Page 4 of 4
