School is back in session, and so are the coughs, runny noses and stomach bugs! One of the questions parents often face is: Does my child really need to stay home?
Not every sniffle requires a sick day. According to the South Dakota Department of Health, children should stay home when an illness keeps them from comfortably taking part in normal school activities or when they have symptoms that may indicate a more serious illness.
Keep your child home and consider contacting your healthcare provider if they have:
- Fever, especially when accompanied by other symptoms
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing
- Unusual tiredness or lethargy
- Persistent stomach pain
- Mouth sores with uncontrolled drooling
- A rash along with fever or a change in behavior
Some illnesses have their own rules for returning to school. For example, the South Dakota Department of Health recommends that children with influenza or an influenza-like illness remain home until they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. Children with strep throat should remain home until they have received at least 12 hours of appropriate antibiotic treatment.
What about the child with a runny nose or occasional cough who otherwise feels fine? They may not need to stay home. A good question to ask is, “Can my child make it through a normal school day?” If they can eat, drink, learn and participate comfortably, a minor symptom alone may not require an absence.
The Faulkton Area Schools provides its student handbook and district information online. Families should also follow any school-specific instructions when reporting an illness or returning after an absence.
Finally, don’t underestimate the basics. Encourage good handwashing, cover coughs and sneezes, and remind kids not to share drinks or water bottles.
Keeping children home when they truly are sick gives them time to recover—and helps keep their classmates and teachers healthy, too.
Sources: South Dakota Department of Health School Illness Exclusion Recommendations and Faulkton Area School District resources.