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Too Sick for School?When Is Your Child Too Sick to Attend School?
Watch for These Signs of Illness
Chilliness Skin eruption/rash Cough Sore throat Headaches
Unusual flush to cheeks Rise in temperature Vomiting/diarrhea Runny nose
*At the first sign of illness, put your child to bed and call your family doctor for instruc-
tions. Notify the school and inform them that your child is ill. Keep your child home
until they are fever free for 24 hours without medication.
Most children with mild illness can safely attend school. However, a child may
be too sick to attend if:
ü The child does not feel well enough to participate comfortably in normal school
activities.
ü The child has any of the following symptoms (unless a healthcare provider
determines that the child is well enough to attend and that the illness is not con-
tagious, in writing):
Ø Fever (greater than 100.5° F.), especially if accompanied by behavior
change and other signs or symptoms of illness (the child looks and acts
sick).
Ø Signs or symptoms of possibly severe illness (persistent crying,
extreme irritability, uncontrolled coughing, difficulty breathing, wheezing, lethargy)
Ø Diarrhea: Changes from the child’s usual stool pattern – increased
frequency of stools, loose/watery stools, child can’t get to the bathroom in time.
Ø Vomiting more than once in the previous 24 hours.
Ø Mouth sores with drooling
Ø Rash with a fever or behavior change.
ü The child has any of the following diagnoses from a healthcare provider:
Ø Infectious conjunctivitis/pink-eye – until 24 hours after treatment
started
Ø Scabies, head lice, or other infestation – until after appropriate
treatment Ø Impetigo – until 24 hours after treatment started.
Ø Strep throat, scarlet fever, or other strep infection – until 24 hours after treatment started and the child is free of fever.
Ø Chicken pox – until 5-7 days after start of rash or all sores have
crusted over.
Ø Oral Herpes (cold sores) – if child is drooling or lesions cannot be
covered – until lesions heal.
*As always follow your personal healthcare provider’s instructions.
Nuisance Diseases
Scabies or “itch” Pediculosis or “head lice”
Ringworm Pink Eye Impetigo
ü “Nuisance” diseases are highly contagious and can cause serious problems in a
group setting.
ü Children with signs of these conditions may need to be sent home until the condi-tion is no longer communicable.
ü Appropriate medical treatment will make it possible for the child to return to the group setting.
ü Other members of the child’s family may also need to be treated.
Points to Remember
ü Children need to stay home at the beginning of an illness.
ü Children who are ill may pass the infection to others.
ü Children who stay home on the first day of an illness may decrease the risk of a lengthy
illness.
ü Your child will learn more if he/she feels well. A sick child is often uncomfortable and
irritable.
ü The law requires the school to send home a child who is ill.
ü When your child shows signs of an illness, it is important for you to cooperate with your school and local public health officials by keeping your child home. |