When to Keep Your Child Home

  • Sometimes when your child does not feel well, it is difficult to decide whether or not to send the child to school. Here are some guidelines to follow when making that decision.

     A child should not be in school when he/she has:

    • Nausea or vomiting, or has vomited during the night
    • Diarrhea
    • Frequent coughing or sneezing
    • Evidence of a communicable disease such as a rash, fever or unusual sores
    • A temperature of 99.5 degrees or above. If a child has had a fever, he/she may not return to school until she/he has been fever-free for 24 hours (without taking fever-reducing medication)
    • Sore throat
    • Strep throat – must be on an antibiotic for 24 hours and be symptom-free
    • A new cold or generally feels bad
    • Unusual watery, burning or red, crusted eyes

San Mateo County and Center for Disease Control guidelines:

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