A problem parents commonly face is when to keep a child home from school if she/he complains of not feeling well. Use the following guidelines until your

health care provider can be contacted. Children should usually be kept at home if any of the following conditions are present (keep in mind the ab-sence of fever does not always indicate the child is well enough to attend school).

  • Fever over 100 degrees within the past 48 hours
  • Vomiting within the past 48 hours
  • Diarrhea within the past 48 hours
  • Undiagnosed skin rashes
  • A communicable disease
  • Evidence of a live lice infestation
  • Persistent sore throat along with loss of voice, difficulty swallowing and/or rash
  • Severe headache, toothache, or ear pain
  • Stiff neck or headache with fever
  • Skin infections
  • Abdominal pain with low grade fever
  • Eyes that are painful, red and matted