Illness: How do I know when to keep my child home from school because of illness?
Updated: 11.21.11
Parents should keep their child home from school because of a serious illness, injury or a condition that can be passed on to other children. Although no comprehensive list is possible, the following conditions may be considered appropriate reasons to keep a student home from school:
Examples of serious illness or injury:
- Vomiting
- Temperature 100 F or greater
- Abdominal pain
- Earache
- Head injury
- Adverse medication effect
- Suspected fracture
- Chest pain
- Severe pain
- Severe shortness of breath or wheezing
Examples of possible communicable conditions:
- Vomiting
- Loose stools/diarrhea
- Suspected communicable disease
- Nuisance condition not currently being treated, e.g., ringworm, scabies, head lice
- Red, draining eyes
- Persistent runny nose with yellow/green discharge, accompanied by fever
- Productive cough, accompanied by fever
- Undiagnosed rash
Parent's Note: Help Stop the Flu and other Common Illnesses (PDF)
Parents should consult with their doctor for advice and/or treatment of the conditions or symptoms listed here.