How long should a student with Tinea (ringworm) infection stay out of school?

School Exclusion for Tinea (Ringworm) Infection

Direct Answer

Students with tinea corporis (body ringworm) should stay out of school for a minimum of 72 hours after starting topical or systemic antifungal therapy, with lesions covered thereafter; students with tinea capitis (scalp ringworm) require a minimum of 2 weeks of systemic antifungal therapy before returning to school. 1

Type-Specific Return-to-School Guidelines

Tinea Corporis (Body Ringworm)

• Minimum 72 hours of antifungal treatment required before return to school 1
• Treatment can be either topical (terbinafine or naftifine) or systemic antifungal therapy 1
• Lesions must be covered with a gas-permeable or bio-occlusive dressing once the student returns 1
• Students with extensive and active lesions (confirmed by potassium hydroxide preparation or treatment review) should remain excluded until lesions improve 1
• Solitary or closely clustered lesions that cannot be adequately covered require continued exclusion 1

Tinea Capitis (Scalp Ringworm)

• Minimum 2 weeks of systemic antifungal therapy required before return to school 1
• Systemic therapy is mandatory as topical agents do not penetrate hair follicles adequately 2, 3
• Students with extensive and active lesions should remain excluded even after 2 weeks if infection persists 1

Tinea Pedis (Athlete's Foot) and Tinea Cruris (Jock Itch)

• No school exclusion required for general attendance 1
• Exclude from swimming pools until treatment has been initiated 1
• Discourage walking barefoot on locker room and shower floors until treatment begins 1

Important Considerations for School Return

Most Experts Support Minimal Exclusion

Children receiving appropriate systemic and adjunctive topical therapy should be allowed to attend school or nursery, as most experts consider prolonged exclusion impractical. 1 This represents a shift from older policies that recommended extended exclusion periods.

Household Screening is Critical

• More than 50% of family members may be affected with occult disease, particularly with anthropophilic species like T. tonsurans 1
• Screen and treat all family members to prevent recurrence and ongoing transmission 1
• Failure to treat the entire household results in high recurrence rates 1

Environmental Decontamination

• Clean hairbrushes, combs, and other fomites with disinfectant 1
• Use simple bleach or 2% aqueous sodium hypochlorite solution 1
• Sporicidal shampoos (selenium sulfide) can aid in removing scales and eradicating viable spores 4

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Do not rely on clinical appearance alone for determining return to school—ensure adequate treatment duration has been completed 1
• Do not allow covered active lesions at time of return in athletic/contact sport settings 1
• Do not use topical therapy alone for tinea capitis—systemic treatment is mandatory 2, 3
• Do not forget to address household contacts—untreated family members are a major source of reinfection 1