A Nurse's Guide for Sending Children to School
Being at school is important for a child's health, social & academic well being.
Send your child(ren) to school when they are:
- Generally healthy - they can attend even if they:
- have a cold which may include a runny nose and/or cough
- have eye drainage, eye itchiness or eye redness
- have a stomach ache without a fever
- have a mild rash without other symptoms
- have head lice (should be treated)
- Participating in normal day to day activities
If your child is avoiding school, it may be related to anxiety. If you are concerned that your child may be experiencing anxiety, please reach out to your teacher(s), school counselor or social worker, the school nurse or other school staff to discuss and develop a plan to help
your child stay in school.
Symptoms of anxiety may include (but are not limited to): headache, stomach ache, loss of appetite, fatigue, etc.
To stay well and prevent illness, make sure your child:
- Gets adequate rest - (8-10 hours) is best - put away devices and electronics
- Gets good nutrition - protein along with fruits and vegetables
- Hydrates frequently - (6-8) 8 ounce glasses of water - limit soda and energy drinks - bring a water bottle to school every day
- Covers their cough
- Maintains frequent and good hand hygiene
Symptom Management
| Symptom | Should Your Child Stay Home? |
|---|---|
| Fever | Fever is the body's way of destroying the germs making it sick, and it's a common symptom of infections. Keep your children home if their temperature is 100.4° F or higher. Wait until children are fever-free for 24 hours without a fever reducing medication before letting them return to school. |
| Diarrhea | Diarrhea is often the result of infection, food poisoning, or a side effect to medications like antibiotics. If your child is not having pain, not having diarrhea frequently (2 or more in 24 hours) and can make it to the bathroom and wash hands well after using the bathroom they can come to school. |
| Vomiting | Vomiting is another way for the body to get rid of the germs making it sick, and is usually caused by a stomach virus or stomach infection. Keep children home if they've vomited twice or more in the last 24 hours. They can return to school when they’re symptom free and tolerating fluids. |
| Sore Throat | Sore throat can be a symptom of strep or a common cold. If your child has been diagnosed with strep throat, keep your child at home for at least 2 doses of antibiotics or 24 hours after starting antibiotics. If your child has a mild cold or sore throat with no fever, it is okay to go to school. |
| Pinkeye (conjunctivitis) |
The American Academy of Pediatrics no longer recommends staying home from school for pinkeye unless a child is not able to avoid touching their eye, has a fever over 100.4° F or the doctor recommends they stay home. |
| Rashes |
It is generally okay for a child with a rash to go to school. You can call the school nurse to assess if you are concerned. If there is a fever with the rash, keep your child home.
|
| Lice | We do not exclude from school; once identified, we notify the parent and the expectation is that they be combed out, treated and return to school the next day. |
| Earaches | Earaches are not contagious. You don’t need to keep a child with a mild earache home. |
| Mild cold or respiratory symptoms |
Mild cold or respiratory symptoms are no reason to keep children at home. A persistent productive cough may be a sign of contagious conditions such as whooping cough, viral bronchitis, pneumonia, influenza or croup, and may need medical evaluation. |