Is your child too sick to go to school?

When you child says he/she is not feeling well, how do you decide whether to send them to school or not? The following guidelines will help you decide what will be best for them and the other children at school as well.

If your child:

• Has a temperature of 101.5 degrees or higher. He might not be very sick, but he’s probably not going to feel very good. Let him rest at home.
• Is having bouts of vomiting or diarrhea. Dehydration could become a problem, so it’s best to keep the child at home and keep the child hydrated with fluids. If the child was sick the night before, but the symptoms have disappeared by morning, go ahead and send the child to school.
• Has a sore throat, coupled with a fever or fatigue or if the child has had a sore throat for more than a day or two, keep them at home and take the child to the doctor to make sure the sore throat is not a strep infection.
• Has an ongoing cold and the child is tired and not feeling well, it’s OK to stay home. After a day or two, it’s usually OK to go back to school.Has pinkeye (conjunctivitis). Most schools will not let your child attend with pinkeye unless child has been treated for at least 24 hours.