It is not always easy to decide if your child is sick enough to stay home or well enough to be in school. Children who come to school are expected, with few exceptions, to participate fully in school activities.
Here are some guidelines that might help in a parent/guardian’s decision-making:
- Fever: A fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or more signals an illness that is probably going to make a student uncomfortable and unable to function well in class. If your child has a fever and you give them medicine, their temperature will go down but it’s temporary – – your child is sick and should stay home. Your child may return to school when their temperature is normal (under 100 degrees Fahrenheit) without any medicine for fever for at least 24 hours (a full day) and feeling well enough to return to school.
- Vomiting, Diarrhea or Severe Nausea: These are symptoms that require a student to remain at home until a normal diet is tolerated the night before and the morning of school.
- Infectious Diseases: Diseases such as impetigo, pink eye with thick drainage, and strep throat require a health care provider’s examination and prescription for medication. Contacting the health care provider and using the medicine as directed for the full recommended length of time are necessary. Once medication has been started at home and the child is feeling well, he/she may return to school.
Students with chicken pox may return to school when all the scabs are completely dried and no new lesions are developing (usually 5-7 days).
- Rashes: Rashes or patches of broken, itchy skin needs to be examined by a health care provider if they appear to be spreading or not improving.
- Injuries: If a student has an injury that causes continuous discomfort, the student should not attend school until the condition is checked by a health care provider or it improves. Injuries that interfere with class participation need a medical evaluation. If participation in physical education classes is not recommended, a medical excuse is required.