Is Your Child Too Sick To Go to School?
Going to school regularly is important for your child to learn and grow. If they’re sick and you’re not sure if they should go to school – this guide can help.
Send to School
Your child can go to school if they:
- Don’t feel their best but can still participate in normal activities
- Have mild cold symptoms (stuffy nose, coughing a little) that are getting better
- Have started head lice treatment. If lice is found on your child at school, they DO NOT need to be sent home. They can finish the school day and return the next day, if treatment was started.
When To Call the Doctor
Call your child’s doctor, health care provider or the school-based health center if they have:
- Fever that lasts more than two days
- Vomiting that lasts more than two days
- Symptoms lasting over one week without getting better
- Ear pain or sore throat with painful swallowing
- Breathing symptoms that are getting worse
- Blood in poop
Keep Home From School
Keep your child home if they have:
- Fever of 100.4F (38C) or higher
- Return after 24 hours fever-free without fever reducing medicine
- Extreme tiredness or weakness (common with flu)
- Loose poop (diarrhea)
- Bloody poop OR
- Two or more poops than normal for them
- Vomiting more than two times in 24 hours
- Cough that limits normal activity
- Wheezing or trouble breathing
- Pain (ear, head, throat or injury) that limits activity
- Yellow or green eye drainage
- New rash or draining skin sores
- Especially if they can’t be covered with a bandage
You can support your child through mild illness to help them stay in school. Eating nutritious food, drinking plenty of fluids and using over the counter medications, when appropriate, can help them stay in the classroom.
To schedule an appointment at a school-based health center, call (614) 355-2590, option 3.
