Is Your Child Too Sick for School?

When should you let your child stay home?
Here are a few guidelines you might want to follow:

A runny nose is the way many children respond to pollen, dust, chalk or simply a change of season. If it isn't the common cold, then it's an allergy. Don't keep the child home from school.

 A bad cough or cold symptoms can indicate a severe cold, bronchitis, flu or even pneumonia. A run-of-the-mill cold should not be a reason to miss school. But if your child is not acting right, has a fever, has difficulty breathing or is becoming dehydrated, it could be serious. Check with your doctor right away.

 Diarrhea and vomiting make children very uncomfortable. If your child has repeated episodes of diarrhea and vomiting, accompanied by fever, a rash or general weakness, consult a doctor and keep your child out of school until the illness passes. A single episode of diarrhea, or even vomiting, unaccompanied by any other symptoms, may not be reason enough for the child to miss school. Please be sure we know how to reach you, if needed.

 Fever is an important symptom; when it occurs along with a sore throat, nausea, listlessness or a rash, your child could be carrying something very contagious. Most doctors advise parents to keep children home during the course of a fever and for an additional 24 hours after the fever has passed, without using medication to keep it down.

 Strep throat and scarlet fever are two highly contagious conditions caused by a streptococcal (bacterial) infection. They usually start with a sore throat and high fever. Some 12 to 48 hours after the onset of scarlet fever, a rash may also appear. A child with either strep throat or scarlet fever sould be kept home and treated with antibiotics, as prescribed by a doctor. After 24 hours on an antibiotic, the child may return to school, with doctor permission.

 Chicken pox, a viral disease, is not usually life threatening to children but is very uncomfortable and extremely contagious. If your child has a fever, is itching, and begins to sprout pink or red spots with watery centers on the back, chest and/or face, the chances are good it's chicken pox. Please tell us if it is; it's important that schools know this information. Keep your child home for at least a week from the time the rash appeared or if there is still fluid in any of the pox.

 Conjunctivitis or pink eye is highly contagious and uncomfortable, so take heed when your child complains of an eye or eyes burning, itching and producing a whitish or yellow discharge. All cases require treatment with prescription eye drops. It's best to keep your child home until your doctor says it's all right to return.

 Ear infections, unless properly treated, can cause permanent hearing damage. Here again you should follow the 24-hour rule for fever and antibiotic therapy.

 Mites and lice, once brought into a home or school, can quickly produce an epidemic of itching and scratching. Mites are tiny insects that burrow under the skin and can cause scabies. Lice are tiny parasites that thrive on the human scalp. School nurses require that you keep the child home until the initial treatment is completed. Caution your child against sharing anybody else's combs and brushes or clothing, especially hats. You can put linens, clothing, etc., in the dryerfor twenty minutes to kill the lice. Vacuum mattresses, furniture,car seats and carpets in general, then trow the vacuum bag away.

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Last update - September 28, 2003

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