Too Sick for School?

When to Keep a Child Home

Here are some guidelines for making the decision:

FEVER: It is recommended a child’s temperature be normal (98.6 orally) for 24 HOURS BEFORE sending him or her to school.

Example: If your child has a fever in the evening, and is normal the next AM, s/he still may not be ready to return to school. During the course of an illness, it is typical for a person’s temperature to be lower in the morning and then rise again in the afternoon.

VOMITING: If your child has vomited 2 or more times in the last 24 hours, DO NOT send him/her to school, even if s/he is feeling better. S/he should spend the day resting and probably will require a liquid or soft diet.

COLDS: Colds and runny noses are rampant in the winter months. IF COLD SYMPTOMS ARE SEVERE, THAT IS, IF THERE IS A THICK, GREENISH NASAL DISCHARGE AND/OR FREQUENT COUGHING which interferes with your youngster’s learning or the learning of others, KEEP YOUR CHILD AT HOME.

EARACHE: An earache should NEVER BE IGNORED. If your child complains of pain in one or both ears, keep him/her at home and make an appointment with your physician.

“BUGS”: Conditions such as lice, scabies, impetigo, ringworm, and pinworms are usually highly contagious. ALL must be properly treated before your child returns to school.

STREP THROAT: Your child MUST BE ON ANTIBIOTIC treatment for a period of 24 hours before returning to school. Be certain to give your child the full course of treatment even after s/he feels better.

PINK EYE: When there is a yellow discharge, dried matter on eyelashes or cheek, and reddened sclera, this is indicative of a bacterial infection. Pink eye is very contagious, and a child MUST STAY HOME until s/he has released by a note from the doctor or has been on antibiotic drops for 24 hours.

Keeping a child at home can disrupt the family’s schedule, but it is IMPERATIVE to do so in order to enable your child to return to health and keep others healthy as well. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.