A MESSAGE FROM OUR SCHOOL NURSE
Is My Child Ill?
Should I Send My Child to School?
One of the problems most often confronting parents of school-age children occurs when a child complains of not feeling well on a school day. A decision must be made as to whether the child stays home or goes to school! Good attendance is important for establishing good work habits, a positive attitude toward school and general success in school.
What do you do?
How do your make the right dicision?
You do not want to keep a child home if he/she really is not sick; but you also do not want to send a sick child to school.
FEVER
STOMACHACHE
A FEVER is a warning light that all is not right with the body. The best way to check for fever is with a thermometer, which every home should have. No child with a temperature over 100 degrees should be sent to school. As the body temperature is lower in the morning 99 degrees may be a warning sign of COMING illness. When a thermometer is not available, check the child’s forehead with the back of the hand. If it is hot, keep the child home until he temperature can be checked with a thermometer. Do not allow your child to return to school until she/she has been free of a fever for 24 hours. If the fever was over 102 degrees, an extra day will be necessary for the child to recover and not relapse to a more serious illness.
Consult your doctor if your child has a STOMACHACHE which is persistent (more than 24 hours) or severe enough to limit activity. If vomiting occurs, keep your child home until food and water can be kept down. A child with diarrhea should be kept home until the condition has cleared up. Call the doctor if prompt improvement does not occur.
NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED AS MEDICAL ADVICE.
SPOTS/RASH
A RASH may be the first sign of one of childhood’s many illness, such as chickenpox, Fifth Disease or strep throat. A rash may cover the entire body or may appear in only one area. Do not send a child with spots or rash to school until your doctor has said that it is safe to do so. Children with communicable diseases such as scabies, pinkeye, impetigo, ringworm, or “strep” throat can return to school when on an antibiotic or other appropriate medication for 24 hours, or with a note from your physician stating your child is no longer contagious.
NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED AS MEDICAL ADVICE.
COLD
COUGH
SORE THROAT
The “common cold” present the most frequent problem to parents. A child with a “mildcold” but otherwise feeling well may go to school. A child with a “heavy cold” and a deep or hacking cough belongs home in bed even though he/she may not have a fever. Do not send a child to school with a nagging or a deep cough. If your child complains of a sore throat and has no other symptoms, your child may go to school. If white spots can be seen in the back of the throat or if a fever is present, keep your child at home and call the doctor. After two days with no improvement or difficulty swallowing water, it is advisable to call your doctor.
NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED AS MEDICAL ADVICE.
PAIN
TOOTHACHE: Contact your dentist.
EARACHE: Consult your doctor without delay.
HEADACHE : A child whose only complaint is headache can usually come to school.
NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED AS MEDICAL ADVICE.
MEDICATION
Remember , all medication given at school must be in the original container and have a form on file signed by parent and physician. (We can usually “fax” the physician.)
HEAD LICE
Head lice must be treated with a pediculocide and ALL nits removed before the child returns to school. Contact the school when your child contracts this condition.
NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED AS MEDICAL ADVICE.