When to Keep Your Child Home
| When to stay home | Ready to go back to school | |
|---|---|---|
| Fever | Temperature of 100° F or higher (orally) |
No fever for at least 24 hrs. without the use of fever reducing medications |
| Vomiting | Child feels nauseated or has vomited in the past 24 hours |
When vomiting has ceased for at least 24 hours |
| Diarrhea | In the past 24 hours | When stools are normal for at least 24 hours |
| Strep Throat | Confirmed strep test | When your child has been on antibiotics for 24-48 hours |
|
Coughing/Sore Throat |
Achy throat, swollen glands, a headache, or stomachache |
When symptoms improve |
|
Pinkeye: Viral or Bacterial Conjunctivitis |
If the eye is stuck shut, bright red, oozing white, yellow or green discharge, redness or swelling to the skin around the eye/eyelid, watering profusely, itching, pain or sensitive to light |
When your child has been on antibiotics for 24-48 hours or per your health care provider. Minimal redness of the white of the eye with no other symptoms; may attend school. |
| Rash | Undiagnosed or confirmed contagious rash |
Free from rash, itching, or fever; Evaluated by doctor if needed |
| Open Wound | Draining and can’t be covered |
Evaluated by doctor if needed |
| Influenza | Fever, chills, headache, body aches, fatigue, cough, sore throat |
Fever is gone (see above) and well enough to participate in school activity |
Other reasons a child may need to stay home include stomachache, pale or flushed face, headache, persistent cough, earache, thick yellowish discharge from nose, loss of energy or decrease in activity.
Hand Hygiene:
Studies show that hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds can prevent 1 in 3 diarrhea-related illnesses and 1 in 5 respiratory infections such as the cold and flu.
Illness at School:
If your child reports not feeling well at school or does not look well we will contact you to come and pick up your child. We are unable to house ill children on campus therefore prompt pick up is necessary. Always keep contact numbers up to date.
What else should I watch for?
Children, sometimes, use illness as a reason to miss school. On the other hand, some children force themselves to go to school even though they are sick. Children who cannot actively participate in their academic program due to signs/symptoms of illness/fatigue should stay home.