SENDING YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL
Parents are often concerned about their children missing school and may send a child back to school prematurely after an illness. This exposes other children to disease and for their own child to relapse or contact another illness that may “be going around” due to their already stressed immune system.
Please refer to the following guidelines when considering whether to keep a child at home and when to return a child to school. If you have any doubts or questions please feel free to contact either schools Health Offices to speak with the nurse.
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR SENDING/NOT SENDING CHILDREN TO SCHOOL
- A child should be feeling well and be “fever free” for 24 hours before returning to school.
- A child with strep throat must be on an antibiotic for a full 24 hours and feeling well before returning to school. Please wait for the doctor to call with the strep test results before sending the child back to school.
- A child with possible conjunctivitis (pink eye) must be seen by a doctor and may only return to school after 24 hours on the prescribed medication.
- Keep a child home if he/she:
-has had a fever* in the past 24 hours
-has a fever* of 100 degrees or higher
-is nauseous and/or vomiting and/or has diarrhea
-has vomited during the night
-has been exposed to a contagious disease and is exhibiting signs/symptoms of the disease
5. Children who have been at home because of illness, should not be brought to school for parties and/or special events.
- A fever refers to a temperature of 100 degrees or more without the use of Tylenol or Advil or other fever reducing medications. Please do not medicate a child and then send them to school.
The information provided is not intended to replace physician advice. If your child is ill, please contact your health care provider.