In the event of meningitis, learners should be excluded from school immediately and should only return to school on approval by the learners’ doctor once treatment has started. Bacterial meningitis (meningococcal meningitis) is a notifiable disease and therefore, the local and provincial Departments of Health should be informed immediately.

In the event of chicken pox (varicella virus), learners should be excluded from school while treatment is ongoing, and can return to school with permission from the doctor.

In the event of head lice, learners should only be excluded from school until treatment with a special shampoo available from a pharmacy/chemist has started, and thereafter can return to school (even if nits are still present). Treatment with home shampoos will not be effective. A sample letter for parents is attached. Should a number of learners at school be infected, it is recommended that schools inform the parent body, and advise that their children are checked regularly (sample letter attached).

In the event of measles, learners should be excluded from school for 7 days following the appearance of a blotchy red rash all over the body.

In the event of scabies, learners should be excluded from school until 24 hours after treatment has started. Scabies cannot be self-diagnosed or treated, therefore if the school suspects a scabies infection, the learner should be referred to the nearest health clinic or doctor/nurse.

In the event of mumps, the learner should be excluded from school for 7 – 9 days after the appearance of swelling of the salivary glands, and should only return to school with letter of approval from the doctor.