Childhood Illness & Exclusions

Exclusion Period 

48 hours (2 calendar days)

(after final episode)

• A child who has been vomiting throughout the night or in the morning should not attend care.
• Children must be able to fully participate in all areas of the program, including outdoor play.

Example: 

Child vomited on Monday and is sent home from care. Child can return to care on Thursday at the earliest if no other symptoms are present.

Exclusion Period 

48 hours (2 calendar days)

(after final episode)

• The causes of diarrhea can be infectious or non-infectious. 
• Only a health care practitioner can determine the cause of illness through an examination appointment. 
• Persistent episodes of diarrhea will be recommended for medical explanation of the cause.

Example: 

Child had diarrhea on Sunday night. 

Child can return to care on Wednesday at the earliest if no other symptoms present.

Example: 

Child had diarrhea on Sunday night and could return Wednesday… but the child had another bout of diarrhea Monday night. 

They cannot return until Thursday at the earliest if no other symptoms present.

Exclusion Period 

24 hours (1 calendar day)

(after fever breaks without medications)

• A fever may be a sign of infection. 
• Children with a fever of 100.4°F or higher need to be kept at home. 
• If your child has a fever that reaches 100.4°F while at the center, we will call you to arrange for immediate pick up. 
• Full participation in all aspects of program is required.

Example: 

Child had a fever on Tuesday night. 

Child can return to care on Thursday at the earliest if no other symptoms present – 

without the use of fever-reducing medications.

Exclusion Period 

24 hours (1 calendar day)

(upon improvement or 24 hours following a round of medication – if required)

• A sore throat may be a sign of infection, which can easily spread. 
• Children should attend care with a sore throat. 
• Only a health care practitioner can determine the cause of a sore throat.

Example: 

Child has a sore throat on Monday morning. 

Child can return to care on Tuesday at the earliest if sore throat is improving, no other symptoms present, or has been on medications for 24 hours.

Exclusion Period 

24 hours (1 calendar day)

(24 hours following a round of antibiotics)

• Strep throat is an infection caused by a bacteria called Group A Streptococcus. 
• A child should not return to the center until a health care practitioner has examined the child and antibiotics have been prescribed – taken for at least one full day (24 hours).
• The child must be well enough to take part in all aspects of programming.

Example: 

Child has a sore throat on Monday morning, is seen by a health care practitioner, strep diagnosis in the afternoon and has started antibiotic medication. 

The child can return to care on Wednesday following 24 hours of a round of antibiotics.

Exclusion Period 

24 hours (1 calendar day)

(upon scabbed sores and no fever in the last 24 hours)

• This infection is caused by the Coxsackie virus. 
• Though it mostly affects young children, it can occur at any age. 
• Outbreaks are most common in the Summer and Fall. 
• A child may return to the center when feeling well enough to participate in all activities and the sores have scabbed over. 
• However, keeping young children at home who drool and have blisters in the mouth or children with a weeping rash on their hands, can help to reduce the spread of infection to others.

Exclusion Period 

RASH IS CLEAR

(or doctor’s note stating the rash is non-contagious)

• There are many kinds of rashes in children and most are not caused by infection. 
• When a rash occurs with a fever, infection is the likely cause. 
• Only a doctor can diagnose a rash. 
• Children with rashes will be excluded from the center until the rash is gone or there is a doctor’s note indicating the rash is not contagious.