When to Keep Your Child Home from School

Your child should not attend school if:

• The child has a temperature of over 100 degrees by mouth.



• The child has conjunctivitis, which is an eye infection commonly referred to as Pink Eye. The eye is generally red with some burning and there may be thick yellow drainage.



• The child has bronchitis and/or croup, which may occur together, but more often separately. Bronchitis or croup can begin with hoarseness, cough, and a slight elevation in temperature. The cough may be dry and painful, but it may gradually become productive. In croup, there is a loud noise as the child breathes in and there may be increased difficulty in breathing. Older children or adolescents should stay home if they have a persistent deep cough that has not been evaluated and treated by a physician.



• The child has a rash that has not been diagnosed by a physician. We urge you to have rashes diagnosed. If a rash is diagnosed as a result of an infection, the physician must assure us in writing that the rash is no longer contagious before your child can return to school.



• The child has an infection of the skin, which shows up as red pimples, small vesicles surrounded by a reddened area, raw, crusted or weeping lesions, warm red or painful lesions, or any skin sores accompanied by fever. When your child may return to school is dependent on the type of infection that is present and the medication your physician has prescribed.



• The child has diarrhea (watery or greenish bowel movements, which look different and are much more frequent than usual). A child should not return to school until three days have lapsed since the onset of diarrhea, or until the child’s physician provides documentation that the child’s condition is not communicable.



• The child has been vomiting within the past 24 hours (more than the usual spitting up as in the case of an infant).



• The child has a significant cold with sneezing and nose drainage.



• The child seems really sick without obvious symptoms. In this case, a child may look and act different. There may be unusual paleness, irritability, unusual tiredness, or lack of interest.



• The child has a contagious disease. If a doctor places a child on antibiotics, the child should not return to school until they have had medication for at least 24 hours or until they are no longer contagious (per documentation of physician or according to policy of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health).