B-C-S Healthy Hints
When To Keep Your Child Home From School
It is Monday morning and your child gets up saying “I don’t feel good.” Here are a few tips to help you make the best decision.
Fever:
A temperature, taken orally, that is over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, is considered a fever. Children should be fever-free for at least 24 hours (without medicine) before sending them to school.
Mild Cough/Runny Nose:
A runny nose by itself is not necessarily cause to keep your child home. If there is no fever, headache or nausea, the child is fine to come to school.
Bad Cough/Cold Symptoms:
Children with coughs that are persistent and productive coupled with thick green/yellowish nasal drainage should stay home.
Diarrhea or Vomiting:
Keep your child home until the illness is over, and for 24 hours after the last episode (without medicine).
Sore Throat:
A minor sore throat is usually not a problem, but a severe sore throat could be strep throat even if there is no fever. Other symptoms of strep throat in children are headache and stomach upset. Keep your child home from school, and contact a doctor. Your child needs a special test to determine if it is strep throat. He/she can return to school 24 hours after antibiotic treatment and without fever.
Rashes:
Children with a skin rash should see a doctor, as this could be one of several infectious diseases.
Conjunctivitis (pink eye):
If the lining of the inner part of the eye lid is red and/or the white part of the eye is reddened and the eye is stuck shut in the morning with drainage or if you see greenish/yellow discharge keep the child home until a doctor has given permission to return to school. Pink eye is highly contagious.
Head Lice:
Students may return after their hair has been treated and the school nurse has assessed for evidence of successful treatment.
Generally, your child may return to school when he/she is free of signs of illness. However, there may be times when it is necessary for your child to see your family physician before returning to school. Please call your school nurse if you have any questions regarding a specific condition.
If your child complains of being sick or does not look well after he/she reaches school, we will contact you. Therefore, it is important that you provide the school with up-to-date information and phone numbers to call in case it is necessary to contact you.
