Family Newsletter March 15, 2024

Symptoms and Illnesses

Can My Child Go to School?

Parent is sick, stressed, hospitalized

YES - If you are sick, your child still needs to attend school. Your illness does not excuse your child from attending. Plan for these days. Ask a neighbor, relative, or spouse to take your child to and from school.

Chronic Illnesses (Asthma, Diabetes, Sickle Cell, Epilepsy, etc)

YES - As long as your child's symptoms are controlled, your child should attend school. School personnel are trained to assist children with chronic illnesses and related health care requirements. 

Cold Symptoms - Stuffy / runny nose, sneezing, mild cough, mild sore throat, earache

YES - If your child can participate in school activities school should be attended. 

Head Lice - Intense itching of the head; may feel like something is moving

YES, IF...- Your child can be in school if an initial treatment of shampooing of hair with a product for licehas been completed.

Menstural Issues

YES - In most cases, menstrual issues can be managed at school. If severe pain is interering with your child attending school, consult with a health care provider. 

Strains, Sprains, and Pains

YES - If there is no known injury and your child can function (walk, talk, eat), school should be attended. If pain is severe or doesn't stop, consult a health care provider. 

Conjuctivitis (Pink Eye)

NO - If there is yellow / green discharge from the white of the eye, your child must be evaluated by a health care provider before returning to school. If diagnosed with bacterial conjunctivitis, the child should remain home while symptomatic or until 24 hours of antibiotic treatment as been completed.

Coughing - Severe, uncontrolled, rapid couthing, wheezing, or difficulty breathing

NO - Keep your child home and contact a health care provider. If symptoms are due to asthma, provide treatment according to your child's Asthma Action Plan. When symptoms are controlled, send your child to school. 

Diarrhea

NO - If, in addition to diarrhea, your child acts ill, has a fever, or is vomiting, please keep your child home until the diarrhea has stopped for 24 hours. If stool is bloody, if the child has abdominal pain, fever or vomiting, consult with a health care provider. 

Fever

NO - If your child has a fever of 100.4 or higher, keep them home until his or her fever is below 100.4 for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication. If the fever does not go away after 2-3 days or is 102 or higher, consult with a health care provider. 

Rash with Fever

NO – Keep your child home if they have a rash with a fever. If a rash spreads quickly,

is not healing, or has open weeping wounds, you should keep your child at home and

have your child seen by a health care provider.

Strep Throat

NO – Keep your child at home for the first 12 hours after an antibiotic is begun. Your

child may return to school when they have completed at least 12hours of antibiotic

use, is fever free and symptoms are improving

Vomiting - Child has vomited 2 or more times in a 24-hour period. If vomiting is associated with diarrhea or fever, please reference the recommendations for those symptoms.

Keep your child at home until the vomiting has stopped for 24 hours. If vomiting continues, contact a health care provider.