When Should I Keep My Child At Home?

Many parents are faced with the decision of whether to keep their sick children home or send them to school. The way a child looks and acts can make the decision easier. The child should not make the decision to come to school when they are ill. Any condition that you think may be serious or contagious to others; please consult with your healthcare provider or the school nurse.

The following guidelines should be considered before your child returns to school:

Fever—Your child should remain at home with a fever greater than 100 degrees. They may return to school after he/she has been fever free for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medicines such as Tylenol or Motrin/Ibuprofen).

Diarrhea/Vomiting—A child with diarrhea/vomiting should remain home and return to school when symptom-free for 24 hours.

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)—A child may return to school with reddened eyes with a written physician/health department release staying they are not contagious. A child may also return to school, if diagnosed with Pink Eye, after being on antibiotics for 24 hours.

Cough—A significant cough that makes a child feel uncomfortable or disrupts the class. A severe persistent cough is very exhausting for the child.

Strep Throat—A child must be on antibiotic treatment for 24 hours, and be fever free before returning to school if diagnosed with Strep Throat.

Head Lice—Your child may return to school with the approval of the school nurse after they have received treatment and providing there are no live lice. Students with live lice will be sent home

If you know your child is still running a fever, it is not a good idea to simply give them Tylenol or Motrin/Ibuprofen and send them to school; as soon as the medicine wears off, you could be called by the school to come pick up your child with a fever.

Remember, if your child was sent home from school with a fever, they can not return until fever free for 24 hours—if the child returns before that 24 hour period, you will be called to come pick up your child. ** Although school attendance is essential, a sick child cannot learn effectively and is unable to participate in class as usual. Keeping a sick child home prevents the spread of illness in the school and allows the child an opportunity to rest and recover completely from their illness. Be sure to ask your healthcare provider when it is safe for your child to return to school, both for your child's health and for the health of the rest of the school

Although school attendance is essential, a sick child cannot learn effectively and is unable to participate in class as usual. Keeping a sick child home prevents the spread of illness in the school and allows the child an opportunity to rest and recover completely from their illness. Be sure to ask your healthcare provider when it is safe for your child to return to school, both for your child's health and for the health of the rest of the school.