Is your child too sick to send to school? (Child Sickness & School Attendance)

Moms and dads, this question comes up all the time, doesn't it? The worry that comes to mind when your little one has a cold or a cough or two is, "Can I send him to school now? Or is it better to keep him home?" This is really something to think about. Because we need to think about the health of the child, as well as the health of other children. So let's talk about this in a little more detail today, okay?

Is it really that hard for a child? How do you decide whether to send them to school or not?

Simply put, the best way to determine if a child is healthy enough to send to school is to see if they are able to participate in school activities. Sometimes , a sore throat, a mild cough, or a runny nose may be a sign that your child is doing their homework and playing with other children. This means that if they are feeling a little sick and it doesn't interfere with their daily activities, they can be sent to school. However, there are some signs that indicate that it is wise to keep your child home. Let's look at what they are.

If you have difficulties like this, it's better to stay home for a while!

If your child has one or more of these symptoms, it is very important to keep him/her home and rest well, rather than sending him/her to school.

• If your child has a high fever: If your child's temperature is over 38 degrees Celsius ( 100.4°F), it means that the body is fighting an infection. It's important for your child to rest during this time. Sending them to school can make it even harder for them, and they may spread the illness to other children.
• If you keep vomiting: If you keep vomiting, rather than just vomiting once or twice, it could be a sign of a stomach infection. Also, vomiting can cause dehydration , as it can cause water loss from the body. So, it's best to stay home if you're vomiting.
• If you have diarrhea (diarrhea): Just like vomiting, diarrhea is also a symptom. If your child has watery diarrhea several times a day, it could also be a stomach infection. There is a high chance of dehydration, and it is also easily contagious.
• If your child is having difficulty breathing: If your child is having difficulty breathing, feels like their chest is constricting when they breathe, or seems to be suffocating, don't take this lightly. It could be a sign of a serious condition. In such cases, see a doctor immediately. Don't even think about sending them to school.
• If the body is very lethargic and sleepy: Sometimes, children are lazy to get up in the morning. However, if the child is so lethargic that he can't even get out of bed, it means that the body is really struggling. Even in such cases, rest is the best medicine.
• If you have a rash or eczema on your body: Some skin conditions can be contagious. So if you notice a new rash or eczema, it's best to stay home until you see a doctor to determine if it's contagious or not.

Remember: If you think your child is having difficulty with any of these symptoms, it's best to consult a doctor.

If you have any doubts, ask the school!

Sometimes we can't decide whether to send our child to school or not. We may think, "It's just a little cough, is it okay to send it?" In such a case, you can call the school and ask. Many schools have guidelines to follow if a child is sick. For example, they may have information about how high the fever is to keep them home, and how many days they should stay home if they are vomiting. Also, if your child is sick and cannot be sent to school, it is very important to inform the school. Then the school staff can monitor other children who have been around your child to see if they have contracted the disease. This will help prevent the spread of the disease.

What if I get a contagious disease? When can I send my child back to school?

There are some diseases that can spread very quickly to others. Let's talk about a few such diseases.

• Chickenpox : Chickenpox causes blisters to form on the body. It is not a good idea to send your child to school until all of these blisters have dried up and crusted over. This usually takes about 6 days. This is because as long as there is fluid in the blisters, they can be contagious to others.
• Strep Throat : This is a sore throat caused by a bacterial infection. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics for this. You should keep your child home for at least 24 hours after starting the antibiotics, or for as long as your doctor tells you . This means they will need to stay home for the day after the illness is diagnosed (and possibly longer).
• Other infectious diseases: In addition to these, there are infectious diseases such as Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Whooping Cough, and Hepatitis A. Each of these diseases has its own time limit for when a child can return to school. If you suspect something like this, the best thing to do is to see your family doctor and seek advice. He or she will tell you exactly when it is appropriate to send your child back to school.

Can't you send your child to school if they have lice, scabies, or eczema?

This is also a problem for many mothers. Skin diseases like lice, scabies, and ringworm (this is not a worm disease, but a fungal infection) do not necessarily keep a child out of school. Imagine, if a teacher at school or a nurse at the school health unit sees that your child has lice on their head. Even so, your child can stay in school until the end of the day. After you get home, you can treat the lice. After the first treatment is done that evening, your child can go back to school the next morning. The same goes for things like scabies and ringworm. You can get medicine from a doctor and send them to school while they are using it. However, if there is something like this, it is better to tell the class teacher.

Mom and Dad know best!

Above all, you know your child best. Sometimes, even if your child has a cold or a runny nose, if he or she is running around the house and playing, eating well, and seems to be doing well, you may think that he or she can go to school and do his or her chores. However, if your child is crying all night, has trouble sleeping, has difficulty getting up in the morning, is lethargic, and won't eat , it's better to keep him or her at home and rest than to send him or her to school and put him or her through even more trouble. Because if that happens, he or she won't be able to go to school and do his or her chores, and he or she could spread the disease to other children.

The most important thing: Make a decision that is in line with your feelings. Look at your child's behavior, his or her activity level, and try to understand whether the child is really having a hard time or just having a little difficulty.

Take-Home Message

Okay, so, shall we recap the most important points from what we've talked about?

• If your child is having too much trouble participating in class , they need a break. Keep them home.
• If you have a fever over 38 degrees Celsius (38°C), persistent vomiting or diarrhea, or difficulty breathing, please stay home. See a doctor if necessary.
• If you suspect a contagious disease, follow your doctor's instructions. Do not return to school until your doctor tells you to.
• In cases like `(Chickenpox)`, stay home until the blisters dry up and crust over. In `(Strep Throat)`, you should stay home for at least 24 hours after starting `(Antibiotics)`.
• Skin diseases like `(Lice)`, `(Scabies)`, `(Ringworm)` can be treated while they are still in school.
• Whenever you have any doubts, ask the school or seek advice from a doctor. That's the safest thing to do.
• If your child is sick, please inform the school.
• Ultimately, you know your child best. Listen to your gut.

It's normal to feel worried when a child is sick. But, when we know the right information, we can do what's best for our child. We wish all of your children good health!

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Children's illness, sending them to school, fever, infectious diseases, parental advice, health, school health