When To Keep Your Student Home From School

Certain symptoms in children may suggest the presence of a communicable disease. Excluding an ill child may decrease the spread of the disease to others in the school setting. Recommended exclusion varies by the disease or infectious agent. 

Children with the symptoms listed below should be excluded from the school setting until symptoms improve or a healthcare provider has determined that the child can return. 

• Fever: A child with a temperature of 100 degrees or above should stay home until the fever is normal for 24 hours without the use of Tylenol or Ibuprofen. If the fever is accompanied by a sore throat, earache, nausea, listlessness, inability to participate in routine activities, or a rash, the child may be contagious and should see their healthcare provider.

• Diarrhea or Vomiting: Children need to stay home until 24 hours after diarrhea or vomiting stops.

• Eye Drainage: When purulent (pus) drainage and/or fever, crusting, or eye pain is present, the child should remain home until a medical exam indicates that the child may return. 

• Ear Pain: Children with ear pain or drainage and a fever over 100 should remain at home. 

• Signs/Symptoms of Possible Severe Illness: A child who is unusually tired, has uncontrolled coughing, unexplained irritability, persistent crying, difficulty breathing, wheezing, or other unusual signs for the child should remain home until a healthcare provider has done an evaluation to rule out severe illness.

If you are not sure about when to keep your child home from school or have questions about treatment, call your child's Primary Care Provider.