When Is A Child Is Too Sick For School?

You should keep your child home if they have-

  • A harmful illness like Chicken Pox that might make other children or teachers sick.
  • Strep throat. After 24 hours of treatment they can return.
  • A fever of 101 and over and are too sick for normal activities.
  • An eye infection with pus coming from one or both eyes.
  • Thrown up more than 2 times in the past 24 hours or vomiting with fever or feeling ill.
  • Frequent diarrhea more than 2 times the normal for them or if it causes accidents. Also if it contains blood.
  • Mouth sores with drooling unless seen by the Primary Care Provider (PCP)
  • Problems breathing such as a bad cough or if your child has asthma and the medicine isn’t working.
  • A new rash with a fever or behavior change.
  • Open sores that are draining and cannot be covered by bandages or clothes.
  • Lice or scabies that haven’t been treated.
  • A concussion and are still having headaches unless cleared by the PCP to attend school.

Call your PCP or the School Nurse if you have any questions about a concern or condition not covered in this list.

Your child does not need to stay home with a minor illness such as a cold, ringworm, warts, fever or pink eyes with clear drainage.
Adapted from a Health Fact sheet from Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines in Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools