Illness

Health Services

Illness

When should you keep your child home from school?

Fever - The best way to check for fever is with a thermometer. No child with a temperature over 100 Fahrenheit should be sent to school. Your child should be fever-free for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medicine) before returning to school.

Mild Cough/Runny Nose - If your child does not have a fever, and feels fairly good, your child may attend school.

Bad Cough/Cold Symptoms - Children with severe coughs should stay home, and may need to see a doctor. Severe coughs may indicate the child has a severe cold, bronchitis, flu, or pneumonia. When your child’s cough improves, and is feeling better, he/she may return to school. A child with a lingering, but not severe cough may return to school.

Sore throat - If your child complains of a slight sore throat and has no other symptoms, he/she may attend school. If white spots can be seen in the back of the throat or if the child has a fever, he/she should stay home and may need to see a physician.

Rash - A rash may be the first sign of one of childhood's many illnesses, such as chicken pox or measles. A rash or "spots" may cover the entire body or may appear in only one area. A child with a rash or skin eruption should stay home until your physician has said that it is safe to do so.

Stomachache, vomiting, diarrhea - It is recommended that you consult your physician doctor if your child has a stomachache that is persistent or is severe enough to limit his/her activity. If vomiting occurs, the child should stay home until he/she can keep food down. A child with diarrhea should be kept home. You may need to call your physician if prompt improvement does not occur.

Tooth pain - Consult your dentist.

Ear pain - Consult your physician.

Headache - A child whose only complaint is a headache usually need not be kept at home.

Keeping children home from school for reasons other than illness may have a bad effect on their attitude, work habits and progress. Please bear in mind that much of what is missed in the classroom cannot be learned through written assignments. Use your own good common sense and remember sick children belong at home and well children belong in school.

Readmission to School Following an Illness - A student who has been absent from school for five (5) or more consecutive days, due to illness, hospitalization, or surgery, must present a physician’s release before being readmitted to school.

Students recovering from a communicable disease shall be readmitted to school according to the isolation/exclusion requirements in Rules and Regulations for the Control of Communicable Diseases, published by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Send a doctor's note when:

A child has any condition requiring hospital or surgical care.
The child returns to school with a cast or stitches.
The child must have a restricted gym program for more than three consecutive days. A parent note is needed for every gym excuse up to three days.

Contact the school nurse for information regarding the taking of medications at school. You and the physician prescribing the medication must complete the required Medication Authorization form .