Keeping your child home

When should I keep my child home from School?

In order to prevent the spread of communicable  diseases including influenza in school, to protect the health of all children and staff at school and optimize your own child's health, it is advisable that you keep your child home for the following reasons:

• A temperature of 100 degrees or more.  Your child should be fever free for 24 hours and not require medication to remain fever free before returning to school

• A diagnosis of strep throat.  Your child should remain home until he/she has been on antibiotics for 12-24 hours before returning to school

• If your child has vomited 2 or more times during the previous night or that morning

• If your child has multiple episodes of diarrhea or has diarrhea and is unable to make it to the bathroom

• If your child has had a moist, productive cough, chest congestion or thick nasal discharge

• If your child's eye(s) are swollen, red or draining

• If your child has a rash you cannot identify

• The above list is not exhaustive and may not apply to every situation. Nurses will use their best clinical judgement when determining if a child needs to stay home

When should I contact the school nurse?

Please do not hesitate to contact the school nurse if:

• Your child will be absent or tardy from school due to an illness or injury

• If your child contracts a reportable disease. Example: pertussis, lead (elevated blood levels), lyme disease

• If your child has a new medication or there is a change in your child's medication

• If your child has been hospitalized

• If you change your child's emergency contact person

• Or whenever you have any questions or concerns