Guidelines for Sick Children
SICK CHILDREN BELONG AT HOME - WELL CHILDREN BELONG AT SCHOOL
Occasionally children get sick. Out of consideration for others, as well as your own child, it is recommended that when any of the following conditions exist, you keep your child home from school and contact your health care provider for treatment when necessary. Temperature - 100 degrees or above. A fever is a warning sign that all is not right with the body. Keep your child home until his/her fever has been gone WITHOUT the aid of medication for 24 hours.
Cold or Flu
Both are respiratory illnesses caused by different viruses. Both can cause fever, body aches, cough and fatigue. If your student is ill, please keep them home. They can come back to school when they have not had a fever for 24 hours without the aid of medication and their symptoms are improving.
Strep Throat
The first symptoms are fever, sore throat, and swollen tonsils. This illness is spread by contact with the infected person. The child should be kept home until they have been on antibiotics for 24 hours. The antibiotic should be taken for as long as the healthcare provider has ordered. This helps prevent further complications.
Vomiting and Diarrhea
This indicates an illness that can best be taken care of at home. Keep your child home for 24 hours after the LAST time he/she vomited or had diarrhea.
Persistent Cough
It is recommended that a healthcare provider evaluate any heavy or hacking cough or a cough that persists for more than 2 weeks. It is also recommended that a persistent runny nose with yellow or green discharge should be evaluated.