This document provides information on common infectious diseases including incubation period, how they spread, symptoms, exclusion criteria, and prevention recommendations. It covers a wide range of diseases that affect the eye, ear, nose, throat, chest, gastrointestinal tract, skin, rash and meningitis. For each disease, it outlines how long it takes to develop after exposure, how transmission occurs, common signs and symptoms, and guidance on when an infected person can return to school or work. Standard prevention methods are also listed such as handwashing, vaccinations, cleaning/disinfection and avoiding contact with ill individuals and contaminated surfaces or body fluids. All disease outbreaks must be reported immediately to the local county health department.

1. DISEASE
INCUBATION
PERIOD
HOW DOES IT SPREAD? COMMON SYMPTOMS
RETURN TO
CENTER OR SCHOOL?
REPORT TO
COUNTY
HEALTH
DEPARTMENT?
DISEASE PREVENTION
EYE,EAR,NOSE,THROAT&CHEST
Bronchiolitis,Bronchitis,Common
Cold,Croup,EarInfection,Pneumonia,
SinusInfection
&MostSoreThroats
Variable
Contactwithrespiratorydropletsor
contaminatedsurfaces.
Variousrespiratorysymptoms,
possiblywithfever.
Norestrictionsunless
childhasafever.
NO Covercoughs&sneezes.
Influenza 1–4days
Contactwithrespiratorydropletsor
contaminatedsurfaces.
Fever,cough,sorethroat,fatigue.
After24hourswithoutfever&
withoutanti-fevermedication.
NO
Immediateexclusion.
Annualinfluenzavaccination.
Mononucleosis
(Epstein-Barrvirus)
4–6weeks
Contactwithrespiratorydropletsor
contaminatedsurfaces.
Fever,fatigue,sorethroat,
swollenlymphnodes.
Norestrictionsunless
childhasafever.
NO Avoidcontactwithrespiratorydroplets.
Mumps 12–25days
Contactwithrespiratorydropletsor
contaminatedsurfaces.
Swollen&tendersalivaryglands. 5daysafterswellingbegins. YES Routinepediatricvaccination.
Pinkeyeor
Conjunctivitis
Variable
Contactwitheyesecretionsor
contaminatedsurfaces.
Pinkorredinwhitesofeyes
&dischargeorcrustingaroundeyes.
Onrecommendationofphysician. NO Increasedhandwashing.
RespiratorySyncytialVirus(RSV) 2–8days
Contactwithrespiratorydropletsor
contaminatedsurfaces.
Cold-likesymptoms,fever,
difficultybreathing.
After24hourswithoutfever&
withoutanti-fevermedication.
NO Covercoughs&sneezes.
StrepThroat
(GroupAStreptococcus)
1–5days
Contactwithrespiratorydropletsor
contaminatedsurfaces.
Sorethroat,fever,swollenlymphnodes.
After24hourswithoutfever&
withoutanti-fevermedication.
NO
Immediateexclusion.
Avoidcontactwithrespiratorydroplets.
Covercoughs&sneezes.
Tuberculosis(TB) Variable Contactwithrespiratorydroplets.
Persistentcough,bloody
sputum,weightloss,fever.
Countyhealthdepartmentpermission. YES Immediateexclusion.
WhoopingCough#
(Bordetellapertussis)
5–21days
Contactwithrespiratorydroplets
orcontaminatedsurfaces.
Cold-likesymptoms,persistentcough,vomiting
aftercough&difficultybreathing.
After5daysofappropriate
antibiotictreatment.
YES—URGENT
Routinepediatric&adultvaccination.
Boosterrecommendedforadults.
GASTROINTESTINAL
Campylobacteriosis 1–10days
Consumingimproperlycookedfood.
Contactwithhumanoranimalfeces.
Diarrhea,abdominalpain,fever. After24hourswithoutdiarrhea. YES
Properfoodpreparation/handling&handwashing.
Handwashingafteranimalcontact.
Cryptosporidiosis 1–12days
Swallowingcontaminatedwater.
Contactwithhumanoranimalfeces.
Waterydiarrhea,
abdominalpain&fever.
After24hourswithoutdiarrhea. YES
Avoidcontactwithuntreated/contaminated
watersources(i.e.waterplayfeatures).
Donotswimforatleast2weeksafterdiarrheastops.
Giardiasis 1–4weeks
Waterydiarrhea,abdominal
pain,fever&excessivegas.
After24hourswithoutdiarrhea. YES
Avoidcontactwithuntreated/contaminated
watersources(i.e.waterfeatures).
Donotswimforatleast1weekafterdiarrheastops.
HepatitisA 2–7weeks
Consumingcontaminatedfoodorwater.
Contactwithhumanfeces.
Fever,jaundice
(yellowskinoreyes)&fatigue.
After7daysfromonsetofjaundice. YES–URGENT Routinepediatric&adultvaccination.
PathogenicE.coli 2–10days
Consumingimproperly
cookedfoodorwater.
Contactwithhumanoranimalfeces.
Diarrhea(sometimesbloody),
abdominalpain&fever.
Countyhealthdepartmentpermission—
generally2
negativestoolcultures.
YES
Properfoodpreparation/handling&handwashing.
Handwashingafteranimalcontact.
Pinworms 2–8weeks Contactwithhumanfeces. Analorvaginalitching. Norestrictions. NO Practiceroutinehandhygiene.
Salmonellosis 6–72hours
Consumingimproperlycookedfood.
Contactwithhumanoranimalfeces. Diarrhea(sometimesbloody),
abdominalpain&fever.
After24hourswithoutsymptoms. YES
Properfoodpreparation/handling&handwashing.
Handwashingafteranimalcontact.
Shigellosis 1–3days Contactwithhumanfeces. After48hourswithoutsymptoms. YES
Immediateexclusion.
Enhancedcleaning&disinfection.
TyphoidFever
(Salmonellatyphi)
3–60days Consumingfoodorwater
contaminatedwithhumanfeces.
Contactwithhumanfeces
oraerosolizedvomit.
Highfevers,headache&abdominalpain.
Countyhealthdepartmentpermission—
3negativestoolcultures.
YES
Immediateexclusion.
Vaccinationofat-riskinternationaltravelers.
ViralGastroenteritis
(vomitingand/ordiarrhea)
NorovirusorRotavirus
1–5days
Vomiting,waterydiarrhea
&sometimesfever.
After48hourswithout
vomitingordiarrhea.
NO
Immediateexclusion.
Enhancedcleaning&disinfection.
Practiceroutinehandhygiene.
MENINGITIS
BacterialMeningitis Variable
Contactwithrespiratorydroplets.
Highfever&headache,
additionalsymptomspresent.
After24hoursofantibiotictreatment. YES
RoutineimmunizationcanpreventHaemophilusinfluenzaetypeB,
meningococcaldisease&pneumococcaldisease.MeningococcalDisease
(Neisseriameningitidis)
2–10days Highfever&headache,mayhaverash. After24hoursofantibiotictreatment. YES–URGENT
ViralMeningitis
(Enteroviruses)
3–6days
Contactwithrespiratory
dropletsorhumanfeces.
Fever&headache. Onrecommendationofphysician. NO Practiceroutinehandhygiene.
AmebicMeningitis
(Naegleriafowleri)
1–9days
Whenwatercontainingamebaentersthe
nose.Notspreadbetweenpeople.
Fever,headache,vomiting,
stiffneck,seizures,coma.
Onrecommendationofphysician. YES–URGENT
Avoidgettingwarmfreshwaterinsinuses.
Ifrinsingsinuses,usesterilewater.
SKINORRASH
Chickenpox*
(Varicellazostervirus)
10–21days
Breathingairbornerespiratorydroplets.
Contactwithlesionfluid.
Fever&itchy/bumpyrash.
Whenalllesionshavecrustedoverornonew
lesionsfor>24hoursinimmunizedchildren.
YES Routinepediatricvaccination.
FifthDisease*
(ParvovirusB19)
4–21days Contactwithrespiratorydroplets.
Red“slapped-cheek”rash,
precededbyfever.
Norestrictionsunless
childhasafever.
NO Practiceroutinehandhygiene.
Hand,Foot,&MouthDisease
(Coxsackievirus)
3–6days
Contactwithrespiratorydroplets,
lesionfluidorhumanfeces.
Blister-likerashonmouth,
hands,buttocks&feet.
Norestrictionsunless
childhasafever.
NO Practiceroutinehandhygiene.
HeadLice 7–12days Contactwithinfestedperson. Itchingofscalp.
Aftertreatmentstarted,
evenifnitsarepresent.
NO
Avoidsharingpersonalitems.
Closecontactsneedtobeexaminedforlice.
Impetigo(Staphylococcusor
Streptococcusbacteria)
1–10days
Contactwithrespiratorydroplets,lesion
fluidorcontaminatedsurfaces/items.
Redsoresorblistersthathaveayellowcrust,
typicallyonface.
Afteratleast24hoursofantibiotics
&lesionsarecovereduntildry.
NO
Immediateexclusion.
Coverlesionswithbandage.
Measles
(Rubeolavirus)
7–21days Airbornerespiratorydroplets.
Fever,cough,redeyes,
flat/raisedrashspreadoverbody.
After4daysfromtheonsetofrash. YES–URGENT Routinepediatricvaccination.
MolluscumContagiosum 2–7weeks
Contactwithlesions
orcontaminatedsurfaces.
Smallraisedroundflesh-coloredlesions. Norestriction. NO Practiceroutinehandhygiene.Donotsharetowels.
MRSA
(Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcusaureus)
Variable
Contactwithlesionfluid
orcontaminatedsurfaces.
Redbumps,boilsor
lesionsofvaryingseverity.
Wounddrainagecanbecontainedundera
dressing&nofever.
NO
Coverskinbreaks/lesions.Avoidcontactwithwounddrainage.Proper
disposalofdressings.Donotsharepersonalitems:towels,razors,etc.
Ringworm Variable
Contactwithlesionsor
contaminatedsurfaces.
Circular,red,scalypatches
withraisededgesonskin.
Oncetreatmentbegins. NO Avoiddirectcontactwithinfectedindividuals.
Roseola 9–10days
Contactwithrespiratorydroplets.
Highfever,followedbyred
raisedrashalloverbody.
Norestrictions
unlesschildhasafever.
NO Practiceroutinehandhygiene.
Rubella* 14–21days
Flat/raisedrashspreadover
body,fever,swollenlymphnodes.
After7daysfromonsetofrash. YES–URGENT Routinepediatricvaccination.
Scabies
4–6weeksafterfirst
exposure.
1–4daysafter
re-exposures.
Contactwithinfestedpersonor
contaminatedpersonalitems.
Itchy,red,raisederuptions. Aftertreatmentcompleted. NO
Porousitemsthatcannotbelaundered
shouldberemoved—storedforoneweek.
Duringoutbreaks,treatingallclosecontactsmay
benecessarytostoptransmission.
CONTROLLING CHILDHOOD DISEASES
*These diseases are of increased concern to staff members who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.Follow-up with obstetrichealth care provider is recommended after known or suspected contact.
For outbreaks,countyhealth department staff mayrecommend additional or more strict disease control measures (i.e.exclusion of unvaccinated persons,testing of ill persons,enhanced cleaning and
disinfection,etc.).
Countyhealthdepartmentcontactinformation:
Disease reporting guidelines,www.floridahealth.gov/diseasereporting.
FORPATIENTS
•Practiceroutinehandhygienethroughouttheday,particularly
afterusingthebathroom,changingdiapers,andbeforeeating.
•Avoidsharingpersonalitems.
•Receiveroutinevaccines.
.
GENERAL DISEASE PREVENTION RECOMMENDATIONS:
AT WORK
•Maintainwrittenpoliciesforinfectiousdiseases,including
standardprecautions,andensurestaffeducationofpolicies
andprocedures.
•Establishpoliciesforfoodpreparation,routinecleaning,sanitation,
anddisinfectionofcontaminatedsurfacesandobjects.
•Excludeillpersonswhennecessary.
Alloutbreaksofdiseasemustbereportedto
yourcountyhealthdepartmentimmediately.
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