About this topic
Having a sick child can cause stress for the whole family. There is worry over your childs health. A parent may have to miss work. This can lead to money concerns. Here is some information to help you decide if your child is too sick to go to daycare or school. ‚
General
Check with your childs school or daycare. Most of them have a policy that applies to children who are sick. Children should stay home if they have: ‚
- Loose stools or throwing up. This is also known as diarrhea or vomiting. When the signs are gone for 24 hours, your child may return to their activities.
- Fever over 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C). Your child may return to their normal activities when the fever is gone for 24 hours without taking any drugs for fever.
- Colds with a lot of coughing or sneezing may be easy to share. Keep your child home during very bad coughing and sneezing. Teach your child to cough and sneeze into their elbow or tissues.
- Signs of a more serious illness. Your child or baby may have problems staying awake. Some may cry a lot or have problems breathing. Others may have very bad belly pain, or a sore throat with fever.
- Eye drainage and a pink colored eye. Your child may return to their activities after their eye drainage has stopped. Some children are able to go back after 24 hours of drugs to treat this illness.
- Skin problems like a rash, chickenpox, impetigo, or scabies. Talk with your doctor to see if your child can go back after 24 hours of treatment. Sometimes, all of your child's sores need to be crusted over before your child returns to their activities.
- Head lice. You will have to treat your child with a special shampoo to kill the lice. Some centers have a no lice nit rule. Ask what care is needed before your child can return.
What will the results be?
Allowing your child time to rest away from daycare or school can help them to feel better. You may be able to stop the spread of germs to others. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Fight an infection
- Help with coughing
- Lower fever
- Relieve itching
- Treat an upset stomach or throwing up
Will physical activity be limited?
Have your child rest often. Have your child sleep when feeling tired. Avoid doing tiring activities. ‚
Will there be any other care needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your childs progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 15 seconds, always after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers also work to kill germs. Help your child with hand washing as well.
- If you are sick, cover your mouth and nose with tissues when you cough or sneeze. You can also cough into your elbow. Throw away tissues in the trash and wash your hands after touching used tissues. Teach your child how to do this as well.
- Avoid getting too close, kissing, or hugging people who are sick. Keep your child away from people who are sick.
- Avoid sharing your towels or hankies with anyone who is sick. Clean items used by many people, such as door handles, remotes, toys, and phones often. Wipe them with a cleaner that kills germs.
- Avoid going to crowded places.
- Get a flu shot each year.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, crying too much or change in the sound of your babys cry, stiff muscles, bulging or fullness of the soft spot on your baby's head, you feel your child is weak, fussy, or confused, your child has a faster or slower heart rate, or decreased amount of urine.
- Signs of fluid loss. These include the soft spot on a baby's head looks sunken, few or no tears when crying, dark-colored urine or only a small amount of urine for more than 6 to 8 hours, dry mouth, cracked lips, dry skin, sunken eyes, lack of energy, looks very sleepy.
- Your child is not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or is feeling worse
Where can I learn more?
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sick/too_sick.html ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚