The following guidelines will help you decide whether your child is too ill to go to school.
Child Is Too Ill
Your child is too ill to go to school if he or she has any of these signs:
- Seems very tired and needs bed rest (this is common with flu symptoms)
- Has vomiting or diarrhea
- Becomes short of breath or is wheezing
- Has a cough that disrupts normal activity
- Has distracting pain from earache, headache, sore throat or recent injury
- Has yellow or green drainage from eye(s)
- Breaks out in a rash; not all rashes require that a child stay home from school so check with your child’s doctor
Fever
Your child should not go to school if his temperature is above 100.3 degrees F.
They may return to school when they have been fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medications.
Contagious Disease
- Your child should stay home from school if he has a contagious disease
A contagious disease is one that can be spread by close contact with a person or object. Examples are: chickenpox, flu, vomiting, diarrhea, colds, strep throat and "pinkeye." A disease may be contagious before the child shows signs of illness. It is very hard to prevent the spread of some germs, especially in a school classroom. Good hand washing will help prevent the spread of germs.
- If your child has a contagious disease, ask your doctor when they may return to school.
Remember
School is a child's work. It is important for normal development. Ask your doctor if you are not sure about keeping your child home.
