|
Chickenpox Exclusion Criteria for Schools and Daycares
Chickenpox is highly infectious. It is vital that parents cooperate with
their school or daycare to prevent the spread of illness.
Texas Administrative Code (25 Tex. Admin. Code 97.7) states that the
owner or operator of a child-care facility, or the school administrator,
shall exclude from attendance any child having or suspected of having
varicella “until the lesions become dry.” Children who have chickenpox with vesicular lesions or blisters should remain
home until all vesicular lesions or blisters have crusted. This usually takes 5
– 7 days from the first signs of eruption, but may take longer for
immunocompromised individuals.
Chickenpox occurring in individuals that have been previously vaccinated may
have an atypical presentation without vesicular lesions or blisters. Macules and
papules may be the only type of lesions present. Macules are basically little
spots in the skin that are entirely flat. Papules are small solid bumps that
rise up above the surrounding skin. These infections are still considered
infectious. In the absence of vesicular lesions, WCCHD recommends excluding a
child from school or daycare until all lesions have faded or no new lesions have
occurred within a 24-hour period, whichever is later. The lesions do not need to
be completely resolved.
For more information contact the WCCHD Communicable Disease Management Team
at (512) 943-3660.
| 
