When to Stay Home From School
Children of all ages work hard during the school day, and for an ill child, the energy required to complete the day is often not there. Not only does this put your child at risk for prolonged illness, but also puts the students around them at greater risk for becoming ill.
The Allegheny County Health Department has helpful references for infectious illnesses and diseases. This will provide basic information on the most common infections found in schools and anticipated school absence/exclusion. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that people with influenza-like illness remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100°F [37.8°C]), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
In addition, please consider the following guidelines when deciding to send your child to school:
The Allegheny County Health Department has helpful references for infectious illnesses and diseases. This will provide basic information on the most common infections found in schools and anticipated school absence/exclusion. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that people with influenza-like illness remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100°F [37.8°C]), or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
In addition, please consider the following guidelines when deciding to send your child to school:
- Acute cold and/or persistent cough—it's difficult for your child to concentrate with a constant cough and or nasal congestion.
- Nausea and vomiting - Students should be free of vomiting for 24 hours before returning to school.
- Diarrhea - Students should be free of diarrhea (frequent loose stools) for at least 24 hours before returning to school.
- Inability to sleep most of the night because they don't feel well. If a child is up all night because they don't feel well, sending them to school to "try and get through the day" most likely won't work as they won't have the energy available necessary to finish the day.
