Chickenpox and School: Exclusion Guidelines and Contagion Facts

Children with chickenpox (varicella) must stay home until all lesions have crusted over—typically 7–10 days after rash onset.

Why Exclusion Matters

• Highly contagious: airborne (cough/sneeze) and direct contact with vesicle fluid.
• Incubation 10–21 days; infectious 1–2 days before rash until crusting.
• Risk to immunocompromised, pregnant women, newborns.

Return Criteria

• No new vesicles for 24 h.
• All lesions dry/crusted.
• Afebrile ≥24 h without antipyretics.

Vaccination (Varivax) prevents >90% of cases; breakthrough disease is milder and shorter.