Communicable Diseases/ Exclusion
Communicable Diseases/ Exclusion from School for Health Reasons
To protect all children from communicable illnesses, students infected with certain diseases are not allowed to come to school while they are contagious. Students should be symptom-free for 24 hours before returning to school. Contact your campus nurse if you are unsure whether or not your child should return to school.
The guidelines below have been developed for the exclusion of students who have communicable or contagious diseases. These regulations are in compliance with the requirements of the Texas Department of State Health Services, Mercedes ISD Administrative Guidelines, and the MISD Medical Director for School Nurses.
A student with any of the following symptoms but not limited to will be excluded from school until such time as the student is free of symptoms, has been satisfactorily treated, or submits a signed physician’s statement that he/she is not contagious or medically cleared.
Temperature of 100 degrees or more. Student must be fever free for 24 hours, without medication, before re-entry.
3 or more episodes of diarrhea in 24 hours. Student must be symptom free for 24 hours without medication before re-entry.
Pain and/or swelling at angle of jaw.
Undetermined rash over any part of the body.
Undiagnosed scaly patches on the body or scalp.
Red, draining eyes.
Intense itching with signs and symptoms of secondary infection.
Open, draining lesions that can be contained.
The school nurse or campus principal, will notify parents that the student must be excluded for medical reasons.
It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to transport the student from school to his/her home in a timely manner.
For readmission, some diseases may require a statement from the student’s physician affirming that the student is not contagious.
For more information on school exclusions: