Is my child too sick to attend school?
Is my child too sick to attend school?
People often wonder what makes a child too sick to go to school, childcare, or camp. The spread of common illnesses such as flu and colds, gastrointestinal illnesses (diarrhea), pink eye (conjunctivitis), and strep can be limited when children and adults stay home and away from other people when they’re sick.
Keep your child home when they have:
- Diarrhea - Three or more loose stools in a 24-hour period.
- Vomiting
- Fever
- 100.4°F or over with symptoms OR
- 101°F or over if no other symptoms
Children experiencing diarrhea, vomiting or fever should remain home until they have been symptom-free without the aid of medication for at least 24 hours.
Keep your child home AND contact your child’s doctor when they have:
- Pink eye (Conjunctivitis)
- If the infection is bacterial and antibiotics are prescribed by a doctor, your child should stay home until they have been taking their antibiotics for 24 hours.
- If your child is not on antibiotics, stay home until the doctor releases your child.
- Strep Throat You should keep your child home until BOTH of the following have occurred:
- It has been at least 24 hours since their first dose of antibiotics, AND
- Your child has been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
- A productive cough
- Your child should stay home. The Health Department recommends that a child experiencing a productive cough seek medical care to determine appropriate testing and treatment.
- Your child should stay home. The Health Department recommends that a child experiencing a productive cough seek medical care to determine appropriate testing and treatment.
- Positive COVID-19 test Regardless of vaccination status
- Your child should stay home until the Georgia Department of Public Health isolation release requirements are met.
- COVID-19 Isolation Guidance dph.georgia.gov/isolation-contact.
- Rashes or sores: Your child should stay home until a doctor releases your child.
- Rash in conjunction with fever
- A rash or draining sores that can not be covered
- Mouth sores with drooling
Tell the school nurse or administrator when your child has been cleared by their doctor.
You can help prevent the spread of illness.
- Wash hands. Teach children to wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are a good alternative when soap and water are not available, but they are not as good as hand washing.
- Cover coughs. Teach children to cover coughs and sneezes with their inner elbow or a tissue. Always wash hands after coughing or sneezing.
- Don’t share personal items. Items such as drinking cups, utensils, towels, clothes, and hair care items such as brushes may contain germs that can make you sick.
- Mask when appropriate. Follow public health recommendations.
For more information about the health department, including services and locations, visit www.GNRhealth.com.
Have questions? Dial 770-339-4260 and ask for the Epi on Call. After Hours call 1-866-PUB-HLTH.
- Health and Safety