GUIDELINES FOR KEEPING CHILDREN HOME FROM SCHOOL DUE TO ILLNESS

It is sometimes difficult to decide when or how long to keep an ill child home from school. Usually children need to stay home from school if they could possibly spread disease to others or are too ill themselves to do school work. The following guidelines talk about the some common childhood illnesses:

COUGH: Cough can be a symptom of many illnesses. Call your child’s doctor if your child coughs often during the night, also has a fever, or has been coughing for several weeks.

FEVER: If your child's temperature is 100 degrees Fahrenheit or greater he/she should remain home. Keep your child home until his/her fever has been gone, WITHOUT medicine, for 24 hours. Remember, fever is a symptom of an illness.

PINK EYE: Redness of the eye with burning or itching, tearing or matter coming from one or both eyes, or crusts on the eyelids. Your child should remain home from school until receiving 24 hours of antibiotic medication prescribed by the doctor. *If your child has seasonal allergies, he/she may at times have reddened eyes and can attend school.

VOMITING AND DIARRHEA (INTESTINAL VIRAL INFECTIONS): Stomachache, cramping, nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea, possible fever, headache, and body aches. Your child should remain at home until without vomiting, diarrhea or fever for 24 hours. Please do not send your child to school If your child vomits or has diarrhea during the night.

If your child has a combination of any two of these symptoms (fever, rash or cough), he/she needs to be isolated and may need to be evaluated by their doctor.

For more information or if you have questions, please contact your child’s school nurse.