Your child doesn't feel well. Should you send them to school? This is a common dilemma for parents if their child is sick.
It's early in the morning, and your child tells you they don't feel well. Maybe they're coughing. Maybe they have a slight fever. Maybe they're just acting off. You check their forehead, ask a few questions, and start doing the mental math-do you keep them home or send them off to school?
This is a common dilemma many parents face. On one hand, you don't want your child to miss valuable learning time. On the other hand, you don't want to send them to school if they're unwell, uncomfortable, or possibly contagious.
The truth is, children get sick a lot. Research shows that the average child catches between five to seven colds a year, which is more than adults, who average two to four colds annually. Considering that school-age kids spend hours every weekday in close contact with dozens of classmates, it's no surprise that illnesses spread quickly.
So, how do you decide whether your child is too sick for school? Should a runny nose keep them home? What about a slight cough? Let's explore some key indicators and expert recommendations to help guide you.
A fever over 100.4℉
One of the clearest signs that your child should stay home is a fever. A body temperature over 100.4°F (38°C) indicates that your child's immune system is fighting off an infection, most likely viral, like a cold or the flu.
Fever isn't an illness itself, but a symptom. It usually means the body is doing its job to combat something that shouldn't be there. In children under five, even a mild fever can make them feel very tired, cranky, or dehydrated.
If your child has a fever, keep them home and monitor them closely. Most schools recommend that a child must be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication (like acetaminophen or ibuprofen) before returning to school.
Signs your Child might be contagious
When your child is contagious, keep your child home if they show signs of a contagious illness, such as a sore throat, severe headache, eye discharge, prolonged cough, ear pain, or stomach issues like vomiting or diarrhea. These could indicate conditions like the flu, pink eye, or gastroenteritis. Call your doctor for an appointment if these symptoms appear.
When your child is weak
If your child doesn't have a normal energy level, it could point to the flu. It's better to keep them home for a day and watch them to see if this is a precursor to something more. If they seem very weak, bring them to our office right away.
Use your judgment
Trust your instincts-if your child seems unusually tired, pale, or skips meals, it's best to keep them home. For teens, check their temperature; if it's normal and they have no signs of illness, it's okay to send them to school.
Call Fairway Children's Medical Group for a phone consultation or a same-day appointment when your child is too sick to go to school, or request an appointment through our online portal for other types of appointments, such as physicals. If you are new, here's how to join our clinic (Click Here).