Is my child too sick for school?
It can be difficult for a parent to know if their child should come to school when the parent knows the child is not feeling well. Here are a few guidelines to consider when making that decision.
1. Does the child have a fever?
- Keep your child home until his or her fever has been gone for 24 hours without medication.
- Does the child have symptoms that prevent him or her from participating in school, such as:
- Excessive tiredness or lack of appetite
- Productive coughing, sneezing
- Headache, body aches, earache
- Sore throat
- A minor sore throat may not be a problem, but a severe sore throat could be strep, even if there is no fever. Other symptoms of strep throat in children include headache and stomachache. Contact your healthcare provider to see if your child needs a throat culture.
2. Has the child been vomiting or diarrhea?
3. Do you think your child may be contagious to other children?
Please note: these tips should not take the place of medical advice from a healthcare provider.
If my child is sick, how do I help them feel better?
- Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and reduced screen time
- Encourage fluids such as water, soup, juice and ice
- Help your child relax by reading a story and giving plenty of TLC
- Consider using cool humidifier
How can I prevent my child from getting sick?
- Teach your child to wash his or her hands frequently, using plenty of soap and warm water
- Teach your child to cough and sneeze into an elbow
- Keep the childās environment tobacco free
- Try to minimize the time your child spends with others who have respiratory symptoms
- Keep an annual well-child exam to follow the changes in your childās health
- Keep all of your childās immunizations up-to-date
- Prevention guidelines now recommend an annual flu shot for most children from the age of 6 months
- Serve a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. Daily vitamins may be recommended by your childās healthcare provider
- After your child is feeling better, clean all surfaces, wash bedding, and air out the room
- Keep surfaces like door knobs, phones, remote controls, toys, and keyboards clean
- Always make sure to consult with healthcare professionals with concerns or questions
If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Four Georgians Health Room at 324-1291