When you begin the process of coaxing your child out of bed for school, you notice their forehead feels warm and their skin is pale and clammy. They seem to be feeling lousy, but do you upset your carefully executed daily routine by keeping them home from school, or do you give them some Tylenol and tell them to feel better soon?
It’s hard for moms and dads to know if their child is too sick to go to school. Scott & White pediatrician, Shaili M. Singh, MD, gives those perplexed parents some advice on what constitutes a sick day.
Fevers
School bound:
If your school-age child has a hot forehead, but their fever is below 100.5oF, and they can keep fluids down, then it is okay to send them to school. Giving them a dose of Tylenol or ibuprofen can help take the edge off of a pesky fever while they’re in school.
Back to bed:
If your child has a fever over 100.5oF or is experiencing any other symptoms like a severe headache, they are not fit to join the class.
To the doctor:
Dr. Singh said that a low-grade fever is nothing to worry about, but if your child has a fever over 104oF or has had a persistent fever for several days, they need to be seen by a physician.
Vomiting
School bound:
Throwing up once the night before, or even that morning, may not be grounds for letting your child stay home. Dr. Singh said that children who vomit only once will often feel better on their own without any medication or rest.
Back to bed:
If you spent the night holding back your child’s hair while she vomited, it’s probably a good idea to keep her home from school, at least to save some other parent from a similar fate.
To the doctor:
Vomiting in itself is not too dangerous, but it can be an emergency if your child becomes dehydrated. If she’s not urinating like she should, is having trouble urinating, or doesn’t produce tears when she cries, then that may be a sign of serious dehydration. To avoid a loss of fluid, try offering small amounts of liquid as often as he or she can tolerate it. And you should seek immediate medical attention if you see any blood in your child’s vomit.
Diarrhea
School bound:
If last night’s Mexican dinner didn’t agree with Junior, it’s probably not cause for a sick day. Having one or two loose stools doesn’t constitute sickness, and your child will probably feel better on his own.
Back to bed:
But if your child has repeated bouts of diarrhea and can’t keep anything in his body, it’s probably a good idea to keep him home from school.
To the doctor:
If your child has become severely dehydrated or you notice blood in their stool, then they should be seen by a physician, especially if it is accompanied by severe abdominal pain.
Why is it important to keep a sick child home from school?
“One reason is that the sick child will have a difficult time paying attention in school and getting what he’s supposed to out of it,” Dr. Singh said. “And for infectious disease purposes—it helps to keep the disease from spreading to anyone else.”
It’s also important to keep your little one home if they are sick because teachers, who have a classroom full of kids to monitor, may not notice if your child is getting sicker and needs to seek medical attention. It’s easier for a parent to pick up on worsening symptoms.
How can illness be prevented?
General hand washing and covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough is a good way to keep from getting sick or making someone else sick.
“It’s also important to wash your hands frequently during the day and before you eat,” she said. “And tell children to avoid putting their fingers in their mouth or touching their faces.”
When it is it okay to send them to school, even if they’re feeling under the weather?
“As long as the child isn’t experiencing any severe symptoms like severe vomiting, diarrhea or a high fever, then there’s no reason they can’t go to school.”
Even if the child has a cold, they are still well enough to be around other children.
“With a cold, they’ll get some headaches, some mild malaise or body aches. That kind of stuff is normal, and they can still go to school.”
If your child is feeling bad, and is old enough, you can offer them over the counter medications for pain, sore throat or congestion to help them feel a little better and get through their day.
“The bottom line is that the parent knows their child best, so they should use their best judgment,” Dr. Singh said. “If the child looks significantly ill to the parent, they need to trust their gut.”
If you’re still wondering if your child is too sick for school, contact your child’s pediatrician or Scott & White’s VitalCare Nurse Advice Line at 1-877-505-7947.
Was this article helpful in determining what symptoms constitute a sick day for your child? What other information would you have liked to see?
