Is My Child Too Sick For School?
With the cold and flu season in full swing, you might be asking yourself this question. Deciding whether to keep your child home from school isn't always easy. Obviously, a very sick child does not belong in school, but deciding when a child is too sick for school can be tricky. The following are some general guidelines to help you decide when to send and when to keep home!
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Students should be “fever-free”(less than 100 degrees F), without the use of fever-reducing medications (Tylenol, Motrin, etc.), for a FULL 24 HOURS before returning to school.
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Students should be able to tolerate food/fluids for a FULL 24 HOURS following a “stomach bug”, with vomiting and/or diarrhea, and be symptom-free for a FULL 24 HOURS.
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Students diagnosed with a Strep throat infection should complete 2 full days of antibiotics, and feel well enough to participate in classroom activities, before returning to school. (Doctors note required upon return)
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Any student who is too uncomfortable from any health condition (fatigue, pain, severe cough, difficulty breathing, etc.) to fully participate in classroom activities should remain home until feeling well enough.
Let’s remind our children that proper hand washing is still the best way to reduce the spread of illness, especially during the cold and flu season. It is best to wash hands with soap and warm running water for at least 20 seconds, or about as long as it takes to sing the ABC’s twice.