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Deciding when a child is too sick to go to school can be a difficult decision for parents to make. When trying to decide, use the guidelines below and seek the advice of your health care provider.
Stay at home
You should keep your student home from school if he/she is too sick to comfortably participate in classroom and other school activities. Your student could spread a contagious disease to other students and/or school staff. We encourage you to seek medical advice if you have any doubts about sending your student to school. Your student should not return to school until they are fever or symptom free for 24 hours. If your student begins to show any of the signs of illnesses above, it will be necessary for you to pick up your student. Please keep all emergency information up to date. Please contact your school nurse if you have other questions or concerns.
If your child has any of the following symptoms, please keep your child at home or make appropriate child care arrangements.
CHICKENPOX (Varicella)
Chickenpox blisters appear in crops and are infectious until ALL blisters are dried and crusted over (usually 5-6 days after start of rash). Only then can children return to school.
COLDS
Runny nose by itself is not necessarily cause to keep your child home. Keep them home with runny nose AND a fever, bad cough, headache or nausea, or if the child is too tired or too uncomfortable to function at school.
DIARRHEA
Keep children home for three (3) or more watery stools in a 24-hour period, especially if the child acts or looks ill. Persistent diarrhea, especially if accompanied by fever and cramps, should be evaluated by your health care provider.
EARS
Drainage from the ear and/or ear pain should be evaluated by your health care provider. Untreated ear infections can cause temporary and/or permanent hearing loss.
EYES
Thick mucus, pus, or clear liquid draining from the eye may be contagious. One or both eyes may also appear extremely red and feel irritated, itchy, or painful. The eyelid may be swollen and the eye may be sensitive to light. Return to school when drainage and symptoms have cleared.
FEVER
A child must stay at home if he/she has a temperature of 100 degrees or higher. The child must be fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medications (I.E. tylenol, motrin, etc.)
FRACTURES OR SURGERY
Notify the school nurse for evaluation of any modifications to physical activity, length of day, mobility or transportation needs. You may be asked to provide written information from your health care provider regarding limitations and special needs.
LICE
Students may return to school after they have been treated for lice. (See head lice page for more details.)
NASAL DISCHARGE (greenish) AND/OR CHRONIC COUGH
These conditions may be contagious and require treatment. Your child should be seen by your health care provider.
RASH
Any skin rash of unknown cause is considered contagious, especially with fever and itching. To return to school the rash must be gone, or you must present a medical excuse stating that the rash is not contagious.
SORE THROAT
A sore throat, especially with fever or swollen glands in the neck may be contagious. If strep throat, the child may return to school after 24 hours of appropriate treatment, if there is no fever, and they feel physically well enough.
VOMITING
Anytime a child vomits two (2) or more times, they need to be isolated from other children for 24 hours. If it happens during the night, keep them home the following day.
DISCLAIMER:
The information above is intended to provide medical advice about any specific medical condition. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to call or see their physicians or other health care providers promptly with any health related questions they may have. Visitors should never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something that is read off a website.
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