While it may seem obvious, the decision can be difficult for it requires juggling the family schedule: Chicago pediatrician Hanna Chow-Johnson, MD lays out guidelines to help parents do what’s best for their child and his classmates.
Beginning with obvious cases such as fevers, many schools prohibit a child from attending until he’s been fever-free for 24 hours.
Same for stomach problems such as gastroenteritis or the stomach flu that can cause vomiting and diarrhea, says Dr. Chow-Johnson.
“Children should not go back to school until both the vomiting and diarrhea are gone for 24 hours,†she says.
When it comes to colds, a minor cough is acceptable, but Dr. Chow-Johnson reminds parents to teach their children proper coughing hygiene, which includes coughing into a tissue or their elbow, accompanied by frequent hand washing.
Believe it or not, something as simple as a sore throat may be reason enough to keep the child home, for it indicates a virus — rather than strep throat — up to 70 percent of the time, according to Dr. Chow-Johnson.
“Children with strep are contagious and should not be in school until they have been on an antibiotic for 24 hours,†she says. “If it is a viral infection, go by comfort level as far as returning to school.â€
Lice and conjunctivitis are highly contagious and call for keeping the child home.
Symptoms of conjunctivitis — also known as pinkeye — include discomfort, redness and swelling around the eyes and a discharge that can cause the eyelids to stick together.
“Your child is contagious with bacterial or viral conjunctivitis until the redness and discharge are gone,†says Dr. Chow-Johnson. “If the cause is viral eye drops won’t help. The only cure is time. Don’t send your child to school until the redness is gone.â€
In the case of lice, Dr. Chow-Johnson advises parents to comb through the child’s hair using a fine-toothed, specially made apparatus to remove all lice before allowing the child to return to school.
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