Reporting an illness in child care centres

Signs & Symptoms: Mild fever and fluid filled blisters that can be seen all over the body.  Onset 10-21 days after contact with the virus.  

Contagious period: As long as 5 days, but usually 1-2 days before rash starts until rash is crusted over.

How it spreads: Person to person through breathing in air contaminated with the virus, direct contact with the fluid from a blister or saliva of a sick person, and/or through contact with surfaces that have become contaminated.

Recommended exclusion: Do not exclude unless too ill to participate in activities.

Reportable?  Yes.

Signs & symptoms: Fever, chills, cough, loss of smell/taste, fatigue, sore throat, nausea, diarrhea. Onset 1–14 days.

Contagious period: 48 hours before symptoms until at least 10 days after onset (20 if immunocompromised).

How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air; touching eyes/mouth/nose after contact with contaminated surfaces.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude at Health Unit direction.

Reportable? Yes

Signs & symptoms: Diarrhea (may be bloody); fever; stomach cramps. Onset 10 hrs–6 days.

Contagious period: As long as germ in feces: ~1 week adults, up to 3 weeks children.

How it spreads: Fecal-oral; contaminated food/water; animals.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude at Health Unit direction.

Signs & symptoms: Diarrhea; bloating; greasy stool; fatigue; weight loss. Onset 3–25 days.

Contagious period: While germ present in feces (weeks–months).

How it spreads: Fecal-oral; contaminated food/water.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude until symptom-free 24 hors or 48 hours after anti-diarrheals. Avoid pools 1 week.

Reportable? Yes

Signs & symptoms: Mild in kids; fever, nausea, jaundice. Onset 15–50 days.

Contagious period: 2 weeks before symptoms until 7 days after jaundice.

How it spreads: Fecal-oral; contaminated food/water.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude at Health Unit direction.

Reportable? Yes

Signs & symptoms: Appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, jaundice. Onset 45–180 days.

Contagious period: Weeks before onset to years after; sometimes lifelong.

How it spreads: Blood/body fluids; mother-to-child.

Recommended exclusion: Do not exclude if well.

Reportable? Yes

Signs & symptoms: Sudden fever, cough, aches, tiredness. Onset 1–4 days.

Contagious period: 24 hours before to 7 days after onset.

How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air; contaminated surfaces.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude until well.

Reportable? Yes

Signs & symptoms: Fever, cough, runny nose, rash. Onset 7–21 days.

Contagious period: 4 days before rash to 4 days after.

How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude at Health Unit direction.

Reportable? Yes

Signs & symptoms: Headache, stiff neck, fever, vomiting, confusion, seizures. Infants may show irritability or bulging fontanelle.

Contagious period: Varies by cause.

How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude until cleared by a health care provider.

Reportable? Yes

Signs & symptoms: Fever, swollen salivary glands, aches, headache. Onset 12–25 days.

Contagious period: 7 days before to 5 days after gland swelling.

How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air; saliva.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude at Health Unit direction.

Reportable? Yes

Signs & symptoms: Rash, swollen glands, mild fever. Onset 14–21 days.

Contagious period: 1 week before rash to 4 days after.

How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude at Health Unit direction.

Reportable? Yes

Signs & symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, fever. Onset 12–36 hrs.

Contagious period: While germ present in feces (weeks).

How it spreads: Fecal-oral; contaminated food/water; animals.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude until symptom-free 24–48 hrs.

Reportable? Yes

Signs & symptoms: Diarrhea (sometimes bloody), cramps, fever, vomiting. Onset 1–3 days.

Contagious period: While symptomatic and until germ gone (up to 4 weeks).

How it spreads: Fecal-oral; contaminated food/water; sexual contact.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude at Health Unit direction.

Reportable? Yes

Signs & symptoms: Cold-like start; severe coughing fits with “whoop” sound and vomiting. Onset 6–20 days.

Contagious period: Most contagious first 2 weeks. No longer contagious after 5 days of treatment.

How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air; saliva/nasal secretions.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude at Health Unit direction.

Reportable? Yes

Signs & symptoms: Diarrhea (sometimes bloody), abdominal cramps, fever. Onset 3–7 days.

Contagious period: While symptoms persist (2–3 weeks); untreated up to 2–3 months.

How it spreads: Fecal-oral; contaminated food/water; contact with infected animals.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude until symptom-free 24–48 hrs.

Reportable? Yes

Signs & symptoms: Runny/stuffy nose; sneezing; sore throat; cough; decreased appetite; fever (sometimes). Onset 12 hours–5 days.

Contagious period: 24 hours before symptoms until 5 days after onset.

How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air; touching eyes/mouth/nose after contact with contaminated surfaces.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude if too ill to participate.

Reportable? No

Signs & symptoms: Tingling, itching, painful sores around mouth. Onset 2–14 days.

Contagious period: Most contagious with sores; may spread without symptoms.

How it spreads: Saliva; sharing utensils/items.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude if too ill; avoid direct contact.

Reportable? No

Signs & symptoms: Cold-like symptoms before rash; “slapped cheek” rash. Onset 4–21 days.

Contagious period: Contagious before rash, not after.

How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air; contact with contaminated surfaces.

Recommended exclusion: Do not exclude if well. Pregnant staff/parents contact health care provider.

Reportable? No

Signs & symptoms: Mild fever; mouth ulcers; rash with blisters. Onset 3–6 days.

Contagious period: Most contagious first week; virus in feces weeks.

How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air; fecal-oral.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude until well.

Reportable? No

Signs & symptoms: Red bumps/blisters forming crust. Onset 7–10 days.

Contagious period: From start until 24 hours after antibiotics.

How it spreads: Direct skin contact; contaminated surfaces.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude until 24 hours after treatment; cover lesions.

Reportable? No

Signs & symptoms: Small raised bumps. Onset 2–7 weeks.

Contagious period: While lesions present.

How it spreads: Direct skin contact; contaminated surfaces.

Recommended exclusion: Do not exclude if well. Cover lesions.

Reportable? No

Signs & symptoms: Fever, sore throat, fatigue. Onset 30–50 days.

Contagious period: May be contagious for a year+.

How it spreads: Saliva; sharing items.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude until well.

Reportable? No

Signs & symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Onset 12–48 hrs.

Contagious period: Most contagious while sick, up to 3 weeks.

How it spreads: Fecal-oral; contaminated food/water.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude until symptom-free 24–72 hours.

Reportable? No

Signs & symptoms: Red, itchy eyes with discharge. Onset 1–3 days.

Contagious period: Until symptoms resolve.

How it spreads: Eye discharge; contaminated objects.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude while untreated/symptomatic.

Reportable? No

Signs & symptoms: Often no symptoms; anal itching. Onset 1–2 months.

Contagious period: While eggs present.

How it spreads: Fecal-oral; eggs survive weeks.

Recommended exclusion: Do not exclude; see health care provider.

Reportable? No

Signs & symptoms: Runny nose, cough, poor appetite. Onset 2–8 days.

Contagious period: Usually 3–8 days; longer in children.

How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude until well.

Reportable? No

Signs & symptoms: Red, ring-shaped rash. Onset 4–14 days.

Contagious period: While untreated/uncovered.

How it spreads: Direct contact; contaminated items.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude until treatment started.

Reportable? No

Signs & symptoms: High fever then rash. Onset ~9–10 days.

Contagious period: Contagious during fever.

How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude until well.

Reportable? No

Signs & symptoms: Vomiting; diarrhea; fever. Onset 1–3 days.

Contagious period: 2 days before to 10 days after onset.

How it spreads: Fecal-oral; contaminated food/water.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude until symptoms stop.

Reportable? No

Signs & symptoms: Itchy, pimple-like rash (worse at night), between fingers, wrists, elbows, thighs. Onset 2–6 weeks (1–4 days if reinfected).

Contagious period: Until mites and eggs destroyed by treatment.

How it spreads: Prolonged skin-to-skin contact; sharing bedding/clothing.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude until 24 hours after treatment.

Reportable? No

Signs & symptoms: Sore throat, red “strawberry” tongue, sandpaper-like rash. Onset 2–5 days.

Contagious period: Untreated: 2–3 weeks. Treated: contagious until antibiotics started.

How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air; saliva/nasal discharges.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude until 12 hours after antibiotics and well enough.

Reportable? No

Signs & symptoms: Painful blister rash, usually one side of body/face. Onset varies.

Contagious period: While blisters present. Can cause chickenpox in those not immune.

How it spreads: Direct contact with blister fluid.

Recommended exclusion: Keep rash covered; exclude if unwell.

Reportable? No

Signs & symptoms: Sore throat, fever, swollen tonsils. Onset 2–5 days.

Contagious period: Untreated: 2–3 weeks. Treated: no longer contagious after 12 hours.

How it spreads: Breathing contaminated air; saliva/nasal secretions.

Recommended exclusion: Exclude until 12 hours after antibiotics and well enough.

Reportable? No

Signs & symptoms: White patches inside mouth.

Contagious period: While symptoms present.

How it spreads: Rarely person-to-person, via oral secretions.

Recommended exclusion: No exclusion required.

Reportable? No