Carolina Pediatrics of Wilmington
Although it is practically impossible to totally avoid the spread of germs in a classroom full of young children, keeping your child home when they are sick can help minimize the spread of harmful germs and diseases.
But when it seems like kids are always feeling “sick,” it becomes more difficult to decide whether or not to send them to school with a slight stomach ache or stuffy nose.
The Carolina Pediatrics team recommends keeping your child home from school in the following situations…
Fevers are a sign of infection and typically indicate that a child is contagious. Children should ALWAYS stay home from school if they have a fever – a temperature of 100.4° Fahrenheit or greater.
And remember, while certain medications can help lower their fever, a decrease in temperature does not necessarily mean your child is no longer contagious. In fact, many schools require students to be fever-free for a full 24 hours before returning to the classroom.
NOTE: If your child clearly appears sick and has a slightly lower temperature of 99.9 or 100 degrees, it still may be a good idea to keep your child home, as an illness may be developing.
In addition to fever, symptoms that may mean a day home from school include (but are not limited to)…
A contagious disease is an illness that can spread through close contact with a person or contaminated object. In addition to the symptoms listed above, your child should stay home if they show symptoms associated with the following contagious diseases.
Common contagious childhood diseases include (but are not limited to)…
If your child has one of these contagious diseases, make sure you check with your Pediatrician before sending your child back to school.
In many cases, a bit of rest, fluids, and certain medications are all your child will need in order to recover at home. However, you should set up an appointment with your pediatrician if your child experiences any of the following symptoms…
The return to the classroom depends on the disease or symptoms at hand.
Your school or child care provider may have certain rules about students returning to school after being sick. Make sure you check into those guidelines, as well.
Still unsure whether you should send your child to school? Call us today at 910-763-2476 (Wilmington, NC office) or 910-777-2013 (Hampstead, NC office).
Or schedule an appointment with your Pediatrician through our Patient Portal for a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Address:
715 Medical Center Drive
Wilmington, NC 28401
Phone: (910)763-2476
FAX: (910)763-8176
Address:
16747 US HWY 17N, Suite 114 Hampstead, NC 28443
Phone: (910) 777-2013
FAX: (910) 821-1060