 Health Services |
Illness
When
should you keep your child home from school?
Fever - The best way to check for fever is with a thermometer. No child with a temperature of 100
degrees or higher should be sent to school. Your child should be fever-free for 24 hours (without the use
of fever reducing medication) before returning to school
Mild Cough/Runny Nose - If no fever is present, even though your child may have a runny nose and
cough, we recommend he/she attend school.
Bad Cough/Cold Symptoms - Children with severe and/or persistent coughs need to stay home since
that could be symptomatic of bronchitis, flu, or pneumonia. However, once the cough improves, and the
child is feeling better, please send them back to school. Do not wait for the cough to disappear entirely –
that could take a week or longer!
Sore throat - If your child complains of a slight sore throat and has no other symptoms, he/she may go to
school. If white spots can be seen in the back of the throat or if a fever is present, keep him/her home and
contact your doctor.
Rash - Rash may be one of the first signs of one of many childhood illnesses, such as chicken pox or
measles. A rash or “spots” may cover the entire body or may appear in only one area. Please do not send a
child to school with a rash or skin eruption until your doctor has said that it is safe to do so.
Stomachache, vomiting, diarrhea - Consult your doctor if your child has a stomachache that is
persistent or severe enough to limit his/her activity. If vomiting occurs, keep your child home until he/she
can keep food down. A child with diarrhea should be kept home. Call your doctor if prompt
improvement does not occur.
Tooth pain - Consult your dentist.
Ear pain - Consult your doctor.
Headache - A child whose only complaint is a headache need not stay home. With proper over the
counter medications, headaches can be managed and the pain can be alleviated so they can attend
school.
Keeping children home from school for reasons other than illness may have a negative effect on their
attitude, work habits and progress. Please bear in mind that much of what is missed in the classroom
cannot be learned through written assignments. Use your own good common sense and remember: sick
children belong at home and well children belong in school.
- Readmission to School Following an Illness - A student who has been absent from school for five (5) or more consecutive days, due to illness, hospitalization, or surgery, must present a physician’s release before being readmitted to school.
Students recovering from a communicable disease shall be readmitted to school according to the isolation/exclusion requirements in Rules and Regulations for the Control of Communicable Diseases, published by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Send
a doctor's note when:
-
A
child has any condition requiring hospital or surgical care.
-
The
child returns to school with a cast or stitches.
-
The
child must have a restricted gym program for more than three consecutive
days. A parent note is needed for every gym excuse up to three days.
Contact
the school nurse for information regarding the taking of medications at school.
You and the physician prescribing the medication must complete the required
Medication
Authorization form .