It can be a difficult decision whether or not to send your child to school. On one hand, you don't want your child to miss more school days than necessary, but on the other hand, you don't want to infect other children with your child's illness. The decision of whether or not to send your child to school is ultimately your decision, but you also do not want your child to be sent home ill either. To help you make the decision of whether or not to send your child to school, read on for some helpful information.
1. Does Your Child Have A Fever?
If your child has a fever, it should be an automatic reason to keep your child at home. A fever could indicate a lot of things, but one thing may be certain, your child is not feeling well and could possibly be contagious. It's best to keep your child at home and kept home until the fever is gone for at least 24 hours. Some schools may ask for a physician's note to return to school if they are sent home with a fever, so it's best to just keep your child at home where he or she will be most comfortable and allowed to get well. If the fever persists, it's best to take your child to urgent care for a diagnosis and for medication if necessary.
2. Is Your Child Throwing Up?
If your child is throwing up, it's best to keep him or her at home. Your child doesn't want to be throwing up at school and is most likely not going to be up for learning when they are nauseous. Keep your child at home instead to rest.
3. Is Your Child Coughing A Lot?
A cough can be from just about anything, and some of those things may not even be contagious, but if it is something that is going to get in the way of their learning or someone else's learning, it's best to keep your child at home to rest. Coughing may be due to allergies, or possibly even from a severe cold or from chest congestion, but if it's a major disruption, keep your child at home.
4. Does Your Child Have Eye Discharge?
If your child has eye discharge, itchy eyes, crusty eyes, or watery eyes, you may want to keep your child at home just in case. Pink eye can be very contagious, and if that's what it is, it could affect children and teachers alike. Keep your child home from school, and take them to an urgent care facility for an exam and medication to treat the infection.
If your child is just generally not feeling well, keep him or her at home to rest. If you think your child is sick or has any of the symptoms listed above, consider taking them to an urgent care facility for diagnosis and treatment to feel better and to be able to return to school.
For more information about urgent care, contact a medical facility near you.