When is a Child To Sick To Go To School? Most children get sick
from time to time. Health experts say sending a sick child to
school may prolong the illness and possibly spread an infection
to classmates. Sometimes the need to stay home is obvious. When
the symptoms are less obvious, it can be hard to know when to
keep a child at home, and for how long. As a general rule,
children should stay at home who have a fever (100 degrees or
higher), or if they are experiencing nausea and/or vomiting,
diarrhea, persistent pain such as a headache or ear ache, wide
spread rash, or serious cough. Some health experts recommend
that children with a fever, diarrhea, or vomiting stay home for
24 hours after symptoms have cleared. Usually there is no need
to keep children home with a cough or runny nose without fever,
unless the child is too uncomfortable to make it through the
day. Children who do not feel well or are tired are probably
better off staying home and resting. Some schools have
guidelines for parents who are not