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Is your child unwell?

WHEN TO KEEP SICK CHILDREN HOME FROM SCHOOL

Deciding when to keep a sick child home from school is not always easy. It is important for children to attend school and for some parents staying home means missing work. However, when a child is truly sick, they need to stay home in the care of an adult to get well and to prevent spreading illness to others.

The following information with regard to some common conditions may help you decide when to keep your child home.

COVID-19

COVID-19 is highly contagious virus that effects the respiratory system. It can cause mild to serious illness, and even death. If your child tests positive for COVID they should stay home for a least 5 full days and until clear of symptoms.

COMMON COLD

The common cold is a contagious upper respiratory infection and is a frequent childhood illness. Symptoms can last 7-14 days, but a child with no fever, mild symptoms and otherwise feeling well may be fine to attend school. A child with heavy symptoms such as deep or uncontrollable cough and significant lack of energy should remain at home.

Influenza or flu

The flu is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses and can cause mild to severe illness. A person with influenza can be contagious up to one week after symptoms appear and children are one of the biggest sources for spreading the virus. A child with a flu like illness with a fever and cough should stay home from school.

Fever

Fevers are a common symptom of viral and bacterial infection and children are likely to be contagious when they have a fever.

Please do not give a child fever reducing medication and then send them to school, the medication will wear off and the fever will likely return.

A child with a fever should not attend school until they have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.

DIARRHOEA and VOMITING

Children who have vomited or had diarrhoea should not attend school until they have been symptom free for 24 hours.

Headlice

Head lice are tiny insects that live and lay eggs in people’s hair, they do not cause illness or carry disease. They spread by head-to-head contact and an itchy scalp is the most common symptom.

A child with head lice should not attend school until treatment has commenced and all live lice have been removed.

IMPETIGO

Impetigo or school sores is a contagious bacterial skin infection that usually begins with small fluid filled blisters that once burst form a crust on the skin.

A child diagnosed with impetigo should not attend school until 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment when the infection is no longer contagious.

CONJUNCTIVITIS

Conjunctivitis is caused by several types of bacteria and viruses and is a common infectious disease of one or both eyes. The eye appears red and feels irritated and may be weeping.

A child with diagnosed conjunctivitis should not attend school until they are fully recovered.

HEALTHY HABITS – STAY WELL AND PREVENT THE SPREAD OF DISEASE

  • Wash hands often with soap and water especially after coughing, sneezing or blowing nose.
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth to help prevent the spread of viruses.
  • Don’t share food, drinks or utensils that may be contaminated with germs.
  • Try to avoid contact with sick people.
  • Cover nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and throw the tissue away and wash hands.
  • Cough or sneeze into the elbow or sleeve instead of hands if no tissue available.
  • STAY HOME IF SICK