Deciding when a child is too sick to attend school can be a difficult decision.  When trying to decide, please use the guidelines below  seek the advice of your health care provider. 

GO to school:

 

·  Sniffles, clear runny nose, and/or mild cough or throat irritation without fever.

·  Vague complaints of aches, pains, or fatigue.

·  A single episode of diarrhea without other complaints.

 

KEEP at home:

Chickenpox	Chickenpox blisters appear in crops and may leave scabs. Your child should remain home until all blisters are crusted over (usually 6-7 days after rash first appears). A slight fever may or may not be present.
Colds	General symptoms are watery discharge from eyes/nose, sneezing, mild cough or throat irritation. If symptoms persist beyond 7-10 days, or if fever develops, keep child home and see your doctor.
Diarrhea	Keep child home for two or more watery stools in a 24 hour period, or if accompanied by cramping, fever, and body aches. If your child will not eat, keep them home.
Ears	Drainage from the ear and/or ear pain should be evaluated by your health care provider.
Eyes	Thick mucus, pus, or ‘sticky’ eyes may be contagious. One or both eyes may appear extremely red and feel irritated, itchy, or painful. The eye may be swollen and sensitive to light. A visit to the doctor is needed to confirm pink eye. Return to school when eyes have cleared, or after 24 hours of antibiotic treatment.
Fever	A fever is a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or greater. May return when fever-free for 24 hours  the use of Tylenol or Motrin, etc. Remember, fever is a symptom indicating the presence of an illness.
Fractures/Sprains or Surgery	A doctor’s note is needed to notify the nurse of any modifications to physical activity, length of the school day, mobility or transportation needs. Bus transportation may be affected by the use of crutches. Doctor’s note must include dates of restrictions.
Lice or Scabies	With lice, your child may return when treated adequately. The child must be cleared by the doctor, Health Department or school clinic before returning to class. Our district practices a policy of “no live Lice”. With scabies, your child may return to school 24 hours after medical treatment has been started.
Nasal Discharge	If drainage becomes yellow/gold to greenish, please stay home until evaluated by your doctor.
Rashes	Rashes of unknown cause are considered potentially contagious, especially when accompanied with fever and itching. Many skin problems are contagious (impetigo, scabies, and chicken pox.) The rash should be evaluated by a doctor before your child comes to school. Child may return when rash disappears, or after medically recommended.
Sore Throat	Sore throat with presence of fever, swollen glands, or white spots on the throat should be evaluated by your health care provider. May return to school when cleared by doctor, or after 24 hours of antibiotic treatment.
Vomiting	When a child vomits, they should be isolated from other children for 24 hours. If your child has two or more episodes in the past 24 hours or vomits during the night, do not send them to school. They should remain at home until without a symptoms for 24 hours.

 

If you are not sure if your child should stay home from school or if they need to be evaluated, please call your doctor. Thank you for your cooperation.  These represent the recommendations of the school nurse, the Ohio Department of Health, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.  Please see the Administrative guidelines section on our website for additional information on management of casual contact diseases.