Two working parents, can't take a day off - sound familiar? How do you know if your child is too sick to go to school or childcare?
For the dreaded common cold I generally advise that if your child has had no fevers for 24 hours, has clear nasal discharge and is eating and drinking reasonably well then they can probably return to school or care. If they have delightful green snot or are coughing frequently then it would be best to keep them home to minimise the spread of the virus. It is also worth bearing in mind that while your child is fighting off an infection, they may be more susceptible to picking up the next one so it might be in their best interest to given them an extra day of rest if possible.
If you have been plagued by a gastro bug - your child needs to stay home until they have had at least 24 hours without fever, diarrhoea or vomiting. They should be eating and drinking well and should have passed a normal stool.
Infectious condition such as Roseola, Hand, Foot and Mouth Virus (Coxsackie Virus) and Chicken Pox have specific exclusion criteria so if your child has a rash it would be best to see your doctor for appropriate advice around returning to school or childcare. In some cases a clearance certificate may be required.
If your child has Impetigo (School Sores) they can attend care or school as long as the lesions are completely covered otherwise they will need to stay home until the lesions have crusted over and started to resolve.
This review originally posted on Motherly sums it up pretty nicely.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-sick-is-too-sick-to-go-to-school_us_5a7b11b0e4b0e1fa3f4d872f
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