When Should I Keep My Sick Child Home From School?

This years cold and flu season seems exceptionally fierce.  Medical officials are suggesting that the 2017-2018 winter will compete with the 2008-2009 season that saw a H1N1 stronghold.

With so much illness going around, many parents struggle with the question of whether or not to send their child to school.  While you would think some of this would be common sense, it often helps to have some guidelines.

Along those lines, officials with the Superior Public School District have issued specific guidelines for parents to follow for the 2017-2018 winter flu season.  In general, they suggest that you should "consider" keeping your child home for the following reasons:

• Very stuffy nose or runny nose and/or a cough
• Mild sore throat - with no fever or known exposure to strep
• Headache

Meanwhile, the school district says to "definitely" keep your child home with the following symptoms:

• Fever - greater than 100
• Vomiting (even once)
• Diarrhea
• Chills
• General malaise
• Frequent congested cough
• Shortness of breath
• Lots of nasal congestion

To help prevent the spread of illness, they are also recommending the following precautions:

• Wash hands frequently
• Do not touch eyes, nose, mouth
• Cover mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; use a paper tissue, throw it away afterwards, and wash your hands.
• Avoid close contact with those who are sick

Once again, most of this is common sense - and is also a good guideline to follow for any public space - school or workplace.