Is
Your Child Too Sick to Go to School?
As parents, we
have all wondered what to do on those mornings when
our child doesn’t feel well. If your young child
stays home from school, you, or your husband, will
need to miss a day of work. If you send your child to
school, you may very well end up having to leave work
early to pick them up and if not, you know they are
spending the day miserable and sharing their germs
with the rest of the class. So how do you know whether
to send them off to school or to keep them home?
- If
your child is running a fever, they should not
attend school. A fever is normally considered a
temperature of 100 and greater. They should not
return to school for at least 24 hours after the
temperature has returned to normal.
- If
your child has diarrhea, they should stay home.
They should remain at home for at least 24 hours
after the diarrhea has ended.
- If
your child vomits, they should stay home. Children
should remain home for at least 24 hours after the
vomiting has ended. Some experts, however,
recommend waiting to see if they vomit more than
once. One time could be a result of something they
ate or a way to avoid going to school if they are
overly concerned or nervous about something.
- Is
your child lethargic? Children that are lethargic
from illness will not be able to participate or
learn while in school. They should spend the day
at home resting.
- Coughing
uncontrollably, trouble breathing or wheezing may
signal a severe illness and children should stay
home.
- If
your child has a rash, they should remain at home.
Your doctor should be notified if a rash is
spreading or is accompanied by a fever or
behavioral changes.
For the common
cold, most children do not need to stay at home.
However, parents should always determine if a child
should attend school based on symptoms and how a child
is feeling. If they do not feel well at all, will they
gain anything from being in school? At the same time,
sometimes children with a cold will not feel well in
the morning, but once they get moving, they are fine.
Parents may want
to let the school nurse know if their child is not
feeling well. The nurse will then be better able to
offer the best care. If you have given your child
medication, the nurse can also look for side effects
of the medication. In addition, the school may be able
to let parents know if there are particular viruses
going around.
By Eileen Bailey
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