Non-Covid Illness

Indian River Central School District

WHEN TO KEEP A CHILD HOME WITH ILLNESS DURING COLD AND FLU SEASON

Sometimes it can be difficult for a parent to decide whether to send children to school when they wake up with symptoms of an illness or complaints that they do not feel well. In general, during cold and flu season, unless your child is significantly ill, the best place for them is in school. Remind your children to discard used tissues promptly, not to share personal items, to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze, to keep their hands away from their face, and to wash hands thoroughly and often with soap and warm water. However, there are some situations in which it is best to plan on keeping your child home for a day to rest or to arrange for an appointment with your healthcare provider.

The following are a few situations that warrant watching and possibly calling your health care provider:

  • Persistent fever greater than 100.4° orally, including a fever that requires control with medication such as Tylenol, NEED TO BE FEVER FREE FOR 24 HOURS-WITHOUT MEDICATION BEFORE COMING TO SCHOOL

  • Child is too sleepy or ill from an illness, like vomiting and/or diarrhea

  • Sore throat that is severe along with fever and feeling ill for more than 48 hours-If prescribed an antibiotic child needs to –TAKE ANTIBIOTIC FOR 24 HOURS BEFORE COMING BACK TO SCHOOL

  • A significant rash accompanied by other symptoms of illness such as fever

  • Untreated boils/ If treated need 24 hours before return to school

  • Severe ear pain or drainage from the ear

  • Severe headache, especially if accompanied by fever

  • Any condition that you think may be serious or contagious to others.

If your child starts to develop symptoms, it is important that you call your own health care provider and follow their recommendations for exclusion from school. Be sure to ask your provider when it is safe for your child to return to school, both for your child’s health and for the health of the rest of the school. Please bring in an attendance note from your provider to excuse the absence.

Finally, if you know your child is still running a fever, it is not a good idea simply to give them Tylenol and send them onto school because as soon as the medicine wears off, you are apt to get a call from the school nurse to leave work and come to pick up your feverish child. It is better to let them stay home in bed with a fever and take their medications at home until they are fever free for 24 hours without medication and ready to learn for a full day in a classroom. If you find a pattern of your child asking to stay home from school, especially if they are falling behind or appear anxious by the thought of attending school, or if there does not appear to be any obvious physical symptoms, it may be a good idea to contact your school nurse and your health care provider to discuss your concerns. Remember, whenever you keep your child home from school, please call the school nurse or attendance office in advance of the start of the school day and leave a message that your child will be absent.

School Nurse: _____________________________________ School: ________________________________ Phone #: ________________

Fax: ___________________ Email:_________________________________