Each day many parents are faced with this decision: should they keep their sick children at home or send them off to school? Often the way a child looks and acts can make the decision an obvious one. The following guidelines should be considered:
*FEVER. The child should remain at home with a fever greater than 100. The child can return to school after he/she has been fever free for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen).
*DIARRHEA/ VOMITING. A child with diarrhea and /or vomiting should stay at home and return to school only after being symptom-free for 24 hours.
*CONJUNCTIVITIS (PINK EYE). Following a diagnosis of conjunctivitis, the child may return to school 24 hours after the first dose of prescribed medication.
*RASHES. Common infectious diseases with rashes are most contagious in the early stages. A child with a suspicious rash should return to school only after a health care provider has made a diagnosis and authorized the child's return to school.
*COLDS. Consider keeping your child at home if he/ she is experiencing discomfort from cold symptoms, such as nasal congestion and cough. A continuous green discharge from the nose may be a sign of infection. Consider having the child
seen by your health care provider.