A 5-year-old attends school with chickenpox. When can he return according to UKHSA guidance?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. At least 5 days after the rash began and once all lesions have crusted over
- Step 1: Chickenpox is infectious until lesions have crusted.
- Step 2: UKHSA advises exclusion until all blisters have crusted over, and its checklist adds at least 5 days from the start of the rash.
Answer
At least 5 days after the rash began and once all lesions have crusted over.
Why not the others: After 21 days: Twenty-one days is the incubation window. After a negative viral swab confirms that he is no longer infectious: Swabs are not needed. Only after a full course of oral antibiotics has been completed: Antibiotics do not treat varicella.
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