When to Keep Your Child Home from School

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For the mornings when your child tells you that he doesn't feel well and does not want to go to school, here are some guidelines on deciding whether he needs to stay home:

FEVER
If your child has a temperature of 100 degrees or higher, keep him home and monitor his condition.  He may return to school if he is fever free for 24 hours without the use of Tylenol or Advil.

RASH
If your child develops a rash of unknown origin, especially if he has fever or itching, his doctor must check him. He can return to school once the doctor has diagnosed the rash as not contagious to others.

EYES
If your child develops a red/pink eye with white or yellowish drainage he may have conjunctivitis and needs to be evaluated by his doctor. Conjunctivitis is very contagious.  Your child should stay home for at least 24 hours after starting medical treatment.

VOMITING AND /OR DIARRHEA
If your child has persistent diarrhea or vomiting through the night, keep him home and monitor his condition. He may return to school when the diarrhea and/or vomiting have stopped for 24 hours and he can consume a meal without reoccurrence.

STREP THROAT
If your child has been diagnosed with strep throat, he must stay home until he has taken the prescribed antibiotics for 24 hours and is fever free.

COUGH
If your child has a chronic moist, productive cough with greenish nasal discharge, he should see a doctor.  If the doctor recommends antibiotic therapy, your son should remain home until he has taken the prescribed antibiotics for 24 hours and remains fever free.

HEAD LICE
If your child has live lice or nits (eggs) present in his hair, he should remain home until treatment is given. His hair should be treated with lice shampoo and all of the nits should be combed out with a special comb. Make sure you wash all exposed towels, clothes, bed linen, hats and scarves in hot water. Check all members of the family and treat, if necessary. After treatment, regular follow-up checks should be performed weekly by combing through and examining the hair and scalps of all your family members.  Click on "lice information" in the left margin for further information.

SKIN INFECTIONS
Staphylococcus Aureus Bacteria — usually simply called Staph — is a bacteria on your skin or in your nose or throat that can cause infections. Most of the time, the bacteria cause no problems, or relatively minor skin infections. Staph infections can turn more serious if the bacteria burrow deeper into your body, invading your bloodstream, urinary tract, lungs and heart.  In the past, most serious Staph infections occurred in people who were hospitalized or had a chronic illness or weakened immune system. Now, a growing number of otherwise healthy people also develop Staph infections that should be tested, treated and monitored by a physician familiar with the condition because certain Staph infections no longer respond to common antibiotics.  Click on the "MRSA Information" tab in the left margin for further information or go to: http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Health/documents/MRSA-student.pdf

Please contact the Health Office if a student has a skin infection.