WHEN TO KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL

It is important for the health of all students, staff and families that your child is not at school when sick. The following guidelines are appropriate reasons to keep your child home from school:

• A fever of 100° For higher. Your child should be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school.
• A consistently goopy, runny nose.
• White or yellow drainage from the eye, crusty eyes, and/or redness of the eyelid or skin surrounding the eye.
• A bad cough - one that you wouldn't want your well child to be around.
• A sore throat, especially with fever or swollen glands in the neck.
• Shortness of breath or other problems with normal breathing.
• A child that seems ill - unusually tired, pale, or difficult to awaken; says he or she says headache or body ache; seems confused or irritable, and/or lacks normal appetite.
• A rash that is associated with fever or severe itching.
• Vomiting within the last 24 hours or as directed by your physician. Your child should be free of vomiting and feeling well for 24 hours before returning to school.
• Diarrhea and/or bloody diarrhea. According to Washington State Administrative Code, a child who has one episode of bloody       diarrhea episode or two episodes of diarrhea at school must be sent home and cannot return until the diarrhea has resolved. Some diarrhea may be related to bacteria or viruses. You should contact your health care provider if your child has severe or bloody diarrhea.
• If your health care provider has prescribed antibiotics, your child needs to remain at home for at least 24 hours after starting the antibiotics.
• Any contagious disease that can infect others such as chicken pox, influenza, whooping cough or gastroenteritis.
• As directed by your child's health care provider.

If you have concerns about any of the above symptoms please contact your health care provider.
After these illnesses, children can return to school if they meet the following criteria:

• Strep throat-if the child has been on antibiotics for 24 hours, has no fever and feels ok
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye) - if the child has been approved to return to school by a licensed health care provider.
• Lice-if the child has not been treated.
• Ear infections-if the child has been treated by a physician
• Chicken pox - if the child has been approved to return to school by a licensed health care provider

We encourage you to seek medical attention when you children are ill and to follow your doctor's recommendations about children returning to school. Please do not send your children to school if they are ill. Parents will be contacted if children become ill at school. Be sure the school has a number where you can be reached.

Reference from the Spokanne Regional Health District and East Valley School District.