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“Mom, I don’t feel good.”
The question of when to keep a child home sick from school pops up quite a bit during the school year. Parents want to nurture their kids and give them a chance to get well, but it’s often difficult to discern whether the child is actually ill or just attempting a vacation day.
sccworlds.com spoke to a school nurse from the Wentzville School District. She advised of the following circumstances which indicate a child should be kept home from school:
· the child is vomiting; · the child has diarrhea; · the child has a temperature of over 100 degrees; · the child has a persistent cough.
Symptoms such as a sore throat or runny nose, unless accompanied with a fever, usually do not warrant a sick day.
Schools have policies regarding when a child may return to school. Many require:
· the child to be fever-free for 24 hours; · 24 hours or more since the last bout of vomiting; · no more continuous coughing.
The above is just a quick guide. It’s also necessary to learn about some childhood communicable diseases and their range of symptoms. A physician should diagnose communicable diseases for treatment and determine when the child is able to return to school.
If a child has any of the following symptoms, perhaps indicating a communicable disease, the child should not be sent to school and a doctor should be consulted as soon as possible:
Chicken Pox Mild fever Raised pimples which become filled with clear fluids Scabs form later The rash may continue to appear for several days
Measles Fever Cold-type symptoms including a hacking cough Blotchy rash beginning on face spreading quickly over the body
Mumps Fever Nausea Pain when chewing or swallowing Later: Chills Headache Swelling near the jaw
Fifth Disease Rash Maybe a slight fever and muscle aches
Strep Throat Sore throat Fever Maybe a fine rash on neck, chest, folds or elbows and groin
Skin Lesions Skin lesions could be a symptom of impetigo or ringworm. A doctor needs consulted.
Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) Reddening of the white part of the eye and inner eyelid There may be drainage from the eye
Meningitis, Bacterial POTENTIALLY SERIOUS Stiff neck or stiff joints Fever Nausea Vomiting Headache Eye sensitivity to light Rash Seizures Delirium Coma
All symptoms may not be present. If you suspect bacterial meningitis, seek medical attention immediately.
It seems beneficial to err on the side of keeping kids home. After all, they can always make up the missed work, and it’s better not to spread illness to others. However, the school administration keeps track of absences, of course, and must ensure students attend school regularly.
Some school districts send letters to parents reminding them how many times their child has been absent. In the Wentzville School District, for example, letters are sent home after 5, 10, 15 and 20 missed days. After 15 days, if the parent does not inform the principal of the details regarding all the missed days, the Department of Family Services gets involved. According to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, each school district makes its own policy in handling excessive absences.
There is such a confusing line between needing to keep a child home from school and keeping them home too much. This article tackled only the most common childhood situations for quick reference. It is not all inclusive.
The sick day decision is just one more area of ongoing parental education. We just do the best we can.
Copyright 2007 Neighbors About Town
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‘Tis the season for many trips to the local pharmacy. |
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The question of when to keep a child home sick from school pops up quite a bit during the school year. Parents want to nurture their kids and give them a chance to get well, but it’s often difficult to discern whether the child is actually ill or just attempting a vacation day. |