With fall comes school. With school come sick days. Yet a poll of almost 1,500 parents nationwide shows that parents don’t agree about when to keep sick kids home.
For example, eight in 10 parents probably would not send their child to school with diarrhea, while only six in 10 parents would keep kids home after vomiting.
Age also matters. Parents of high school students often weighed missed classwork or tests as important factors, while parents of young elementary school students were more likely to weigh health considerations.
Some parents struggle to find someone to care for their sick child and can’t miss work, which can also affect their decision.
If your child is vomiting or has diarrhea, do what you can to keep him or her home (and consider giving your pediatrician a call). It’s best for both sick kids and their classmates.
When should you keep kids at home?
“Fever is often a good benchmark in deciding whether or not to send a child to school,” said local pediatrician Dr. Faith Polkey. “A temperature of 100 degrees or higher often accompanies contagious conditions. A child should remain at home until he has been fever-free for 24 hours, and certainly should be seen by a physician if the fever is high or persists.”
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