To Send or Not to Send

Newsletter.jpgFall 2010
Volume 13 Number 3

To Send or Not to Send

As parents, we are always expected to know the answers to the big questions.

And there seems to be no question so big or so hard to answer as "when my child seems sick should my child stay home from school?" This question does not seem so easy to answer. Sure, there are some absolutes but if we kept every child who had the sniffles home during a winter in Minnesota, would there ever be anybody at school?

A fever is an absolute. Vomiting is an absolute. That Monday morning double-fisted clutch of the stomach? Maybe not.

In a recent issue of the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) News, a set of guidelines to determine whether your child should miss school was published.

Consider a day at home or visit to PIP with any of the following symptoms:

  • Persistent fever (temperature higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit when taken by mouth)
  • Severe sore throat that lasts more than 48 hours, especially when accompanied by a fever
  • A significant rash, particularly when other symptoms are present
  • Large amounts of discolored nasal discharge
  • Severe ear pain
  • An uncontrolled cough
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Severe headache, especially with a fever

After symptoms are gone for 24 hours, you can allow your child to return to school.

When you start to think about whether your children should attend school when they are sick, try to answer these questions:

  • If I send my child to school, will my child be well enough to get any meaningful learning out of the day?
  • Will my child be able to pay attention to what is being taught?
  • Will my child disrupt his or her classmates?

The bottom line is whether your child is too sick to learn.

You must also be able to tell whether your child is giving you the facts straight. If you suspect that your child is faking an illness, the AAP suggests looking at the "total child."

Does your child usually complain of illness right after a school break or weekend?

Does your child show behaviors like social isolation and mood swings that might suggest a bigger reason for avoiding school?

Your PIP provider can help you determine whether the symptoms are physically or emotionally based.

If you have any questions about your child and school attendance, call your PIP office and make an appointment to see your provider.