When Should I Keep My Child Home from School Due to Illness?

Some people might think fall is the best of all, but with it also comes the dreaded cold and flu season. As kids are back in school, they'll soon be swapping stories of their summer adventures — and germs. Here's what you should know about keeping your child home from school due to illness.

Most schools and childcare facilities will have policies related to absences due to illness. You should first check with your child's school or daycare provider and familiarize yourself with their guidelines.

Typically, you should keep your child home until they've been fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a fever is when a person has measured a bodily temperature of at least 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit.

What if your child is showing the beginning signs of an illness? If you're worried your child's condition might worsen throughout the day, here's what you should look for when deciding if you should keep them home.

• Does your child have a fever? If the answer is yes, then you should keep your child home for 24 hours fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medication.
  • If your child's fever lasts more than five days, is 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher or isn't responding to fever-reducing medication, it's time to see a health care provider.
• Is your child vomiting? If your child has had two or more episodes of vomiting, keep your child home until the vomiting has subsided for at least 24 hours.
  • If your child's vomiting lasts more than 24 hours, includes a fever or if he or she is showing signs of dehydration, it's time to see a healthcare provider.
• Does your child have diarrhea? If there have been two more episodes or they also have a fever or vomiting, yes, keep your child home for at least 24 hours after diarrhea has stopped.
• Does your child have a persistent cough that won't go away? Your child can go to school with minor cold symptoms but anything severe or persistent may call for day or two of rest.
  • If your child is coughing severely or wheezing, it's time to see a health care provider.
• Does your child have weeping sores or a weeping rash? If the answer is yes, you should keep your child home and make an appointment to see their primary care provider.
• Is your child complaining of abdominal pain? If it's been for more than 2 hours or it comes and goes along with a fever, keep them home and make an appointment to see your primary care provider.
• Does your child have a sore throat with a fever, stomachache or headache? If yes, it could be strep throat. Keep your child at home and contact a health care provider.

If you have questions regarding keeping your child home from school due to illness, reach out to your child's primary care provider.