When to Keep Your Student Home From School
It is a good idea to keep your child home from school if they have any of the following symptoms:
EYES – thick mucus or pus draining from the eye or pink eye (conjunctivitis).
FEVER – temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. It is recommended that a child should be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school without fever reducing medication.
GREENISH NOSE DISCHARGE, AND/OR CHRONIC COUGH – should be seen by a health care provider. These conditions may be contagious and require treatment.
SORE THROAT – especially with fever or swollen glands in the neck.
DIARRHEA – 3 or more watery stools in a 24 hours period especially if the child acts or looks ill.
VOMITING – vomiting 2 or more times within the past 24 hours.
RASH – body rash with fever. Heat rashes and allergic reactions are not contagious.
EAR INFECTIONS WITHOUT FEVER – do not need to be excluded, but the child needs to get medical treatment and follow-up. Untreated ear infections can cause permanent hearing loss.
LICE, SCABIES – It is recommended that children not return to school until lice treatment has been initiated. Children with diagnosed scabies can come to school after treatment.
- Bringing a child to school with any of the above symptoms puts other children and staff at risk of getting sick.
- If all parents keep their sick children at home, we will have stronger, healthier and happier children.
- While we regret any inconvenience this may cause, in the long run this means fewer lost work days and less illness for parents.
Cover all coughs and sneezes – wash hands frequently! Get yearly flu shots for everyone in the family. Prevention is the best defense we have against illness.