There are three reasons to keep sick children at home:
1. The child does not feel well enough to participate comfortably in usual activities.
2. The child requires more care than program staff is able to provide, without affecting the health
3. The illness is on the list of symptoms for which a temporary exclusion is recommended.
Children with the following symptoms or illnesses should be kept (excluded) from school:
SYMPTOMS CHILD MUST BE KEPT AT HOME? NO – unless child has a severe cough; rapid and
May come from congestion anywhere from the ears
or difficulty breathing; wheezing and bluish color of
to the lungs. Coughing is the body’s response to
something that is irritating tissues in the airway. DIARRHEA YES - if child looks or acts ill; if child has diarrhea
Frequent, loose or watery stools compared to
with a fever; if the child has diarrhea with vomiting;
child’s normal pattern; not caused by diet or
if the child has diarrhea that is not contained in the
medication; blood or mucous in the stool
YES - especially when fever is accompanied by
Oral or rectal temperature above 99.9ºF with
behavior change or other signs and symptoms (for
behavior change or other signs and symptoms (e.g.
example: rash, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea etc)
rash, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea etc)
In general a student with a fever will be able to return to school when he/she is fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications
FLU SYMPTOMS YES - for 24 hours after there is no longer a fever
Fever over 99.9ºF with a cough or sore throat.
without the use of fever-reducing medicine
Other flu symptoms can include fatigue, body aches, vomiting and diarrhea MILD RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS (COLD) NO - may attend if able to participate in school
Stuffy nose with clear drainage, sneezing, mild
activities; unless child looks or acts very ill; has RASH WITH FEVER YES - Please seek medical advice.
Any rash that spreads quickly, has open, weeping
A child with a rash with fever or behavior
wounds and/or is not healing should be evaluated
changes should remain at home until a physician has determined that the illness is not a communicable disease!
Taylor County Health Department Promote, protect and improve the health of all people in Florida SYMPTOMS CHILD MUST BE KEPT AT HOME? VOMITING YES – until the vomiting resolves and the health
Vomiting more than 2 times in the past 24 hours
care provider decides it is caused by a non-
communicable condition and the child is not in danger of dehydration
CHILD MUST BE KEPT AT HOME? CHICKEN POX YES – until blisters have dried and crusted over
An illness with rash and fever caused by the
(usually 6 days after the start of the rash); If blisters
occur after chicken pox vaccination, refer to the Health Department Guidelines.
CONJUNCTIVITIS (PINK EYE) NO – unless the child is unable to participate and
Inflammation – redness and swelling of the thin
clinic RN determines that they cannot care for the
tissue covering the white part of the eye and the
child without compromising the health and safety of
FIFTH DISEASE NO – unless the child is unable to participate and
A common viral infection with low grade fever
clinic RN determines that they cannot care for the
initially then rash occurring 1 to 3 weeks after onset child without compromising the health and safety of
HEAD LICE YES – In accordance with the School District Nit Free Policy, students who have evidence of head lice or nits shall not be permitted to attend class until cleared by a Health care provider or School Clinic staff after treatment HERPES (COLD SORES) YES – Students with open, oozing skin sores that
Virus that can cause blister-like sores in the mouth
cannot be covered should not attend school, but if
and around the lips and on tissues that are in
cold sores are scabbed over (dry), it is O.K. to
IMPETIGO YES – for 24 hours after topical, oral or other
A common skin infection caused by Streptococcal
antibiotics are started. After 24 hours of antibiotic
or staphylococcal bacteria that presents with small,
treatment, student may return to school if sores are
red pimples or fluid-filled blisters with crusted yellow dry or covered with a dry dressing, if still draining. scabs found most often on the face but may be anywhere on the body MONONUCLEOSIS NO – unless the child is unable to participate and
A disease caused by the Epstein-Barr virus,
school RN determines that they cannot care for the
child without compromising the health and safety of the other children
NO – unless the child has fever with behavior
A type of bacteria that has become resistant to a
changes or is unable to participate and clinic RN
specific group of antibiotics; The sores look and
determines that they cannot care for the child
feel like spider bites, painful bumps, or a boil on the
without compromising the health and safety of the
skin which sometimes are filled with fluid
other children. The wound, if draining, must be
covered for student to be able to attend school.
Taylor County Health Department Promote, protect and improve the health of all people in Florida CHILD MUST BE KEPT AT HOME? RINGWORM NO – as long as the infected area is being treated
A fungal infection that may affect the body, feet or
with anti-fungal medication and the area is covered;
Children with ringworm of the body may return to school 24 hours after treatment has started NO – unless the child is unable to participate and
A viral infection causing rash in infants and children clinic RN determines that they cannot care for the
child without compromising the health and safety of
the other children; has a fever with behavior changes
RSV (RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS) NO - unless the child is unable to participate and
Is a virus that causes the common cold and other
clinic RN determines that they cannot care for the
child without compromising the health and safety of
the other children; has a fever with behavior changes; or exhibits rapid or labored breathing or cyanotic (blue)
YES – until 24 hour treatment of a scabicide has
An infestation of the skin by small insects or mites
been completed (i.e. 5% Permethrin, Kwell)
SHINGLES YES – until the shingles rash can be completely
An infection caused by the chicken pox virus with
covered and the blisters have dried and crusted
appearance of red bumps or blisters that may be
over, the student must remain out of school; If the
child is unable to participate and clinic RN
determines that they cannot care for the child without compromising the health and safety of the other children; If child had has a fever with behavior changes STREP THROAT AND/OR SCARLET FEVER YES – Child may return after antibiotic treatment
A disease caused by group A Streptococcus
has been started for 24 hours, is without a fever,
and able to participate in usual activities
VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES YES – until determined not infectious by the health
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (German Measles)
care provider. Must have a note for school from health care provider
This information is based upon the guidelines from American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, Taylor County Health Department School Health Infectious Disease Guidelines, and Center for Disease Control
Taylor County Health Department Promote, protect and improve the health of all people in Florida
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