Genesee County Health Department

Better Life Through Better Health

When is a child sick enough to keep home from school? This is a common dilemma for parents and caretakers when a child doesn’t feel well. Some symptoms argue for keeping your child home.

• A fever of over 100 degrees F.

If the temperature is 102 degrees or higher, especially with abdominal pain, blood in the stool or vomiting, keep the child home and call your doctor. Do not return the child to school until the temperature is normal (98.6 degrees).

• Vomiting or diarrhea.

If vomiting is severe with pain or persists beyond 48 hours or diarrhea occurs every hour for 8 hours with a fever above 100 degrees for over 72 hours, take the child to a doctor.

• A hard time swallowing, a persistent chest pain or cough.

Always call the doctor if the child has trouble breathing or has chest pain.

• An earache with severe or persistent pain.

Keep the child home and consult a doctor.

• Crusty, draining and red eyes.

The child should not return to school until the infection is cleared or has been treated by a doctor.

• A rash which is unfamiliar or hasn’t been examined by a doctor.

Keep a child with a rash home until it is gone or the doctor says there is not a risk to other students.

For more information about school and child health, call the Genesee County Health Department at 257-3591.