When to Keep Your Child At Home:

First of all, you are the parent, this is your decision, nobody knows your child better than you do.  Here are a few guidelines from a medical point of view and the reasons that school nurses will send your children home from school:

1. Cold, coughing, temperature over 100 degrees
2. Vomiting, diarrhea, stomachaches
3. Temperature of unknown origin
4. Sore throat, strep infections, ringworm, conjunctivitis (pink eye), impetigo.  These are all infections and must be treated with medication for at least 24 hours but usually treated for 48 hours before returning to school.  Please do not send your child before this because they will infect other students.
5. Rash of unknown origin - this can indicate many different things and should be checked by your pediatrician
6. Pain should be taken seriously, especially in young children.  Earaches, toothache and headaches should be evaluated.