Staying at home is also one of the best ways to keep others from becoming ill. It is often difficult to decide whether it is necessary to keep your child home. Below are some recommendations to guide decision-making regarding exclusion of ill children. The intent is to promote a healthy school environment by preventing exposure and spread of illness.
Reasons why children should stay at home:
- Severe colds, coughs, or sore throats
- Eye infections, especially when discharge is present
- New skin rashes, especially when draining— unless medical opinion states rash is not contagious
- Temperature of 100º or more with or without symptoms of illness
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain
- Any other sign of acute illness
- Until results of laboratory tests (i.e., throat culture, nasal swab) are known
Children may return to school when:
- Well enough to participate in normal school activities
- Free of all symptoms for 24 hours (no vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain)
- Temperature remains normal for a 24-hour period without the use of fever reducing medications
- On an antibiotic for at least 24 hours
- Or your healthcare provider states your child can return to school
For questions, please reach out to your school nurse.