How To Know Whether Your Child Is Too Sick For School

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There are a lot of different opinions floating around on how parents should decide whether a child is too sick to go to school or not. Usually, if a child has vomiting or diarrhea, is down with fever and seems too tired, is short of breath or wheezing, has a terrible cough, or is in too much of pain, parents allow their children to stay at home. Parenting experts also advise that if there is a yellow or green drainage from child's eyes or the child breaks out in a rash, it is the time to see the doctor and ascertain whether the child is fit enough for school or not.

The Science Daily has now published that a new poll by the University of Michigan Health System finds that the kids have different opinions on how sick is too sick for the children to stay home. The C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health recorded responses from 1,442 parents who had at least one child age between the ages of 6 and 18 years. It found that 75% parents reported at least one sick day leave for their child. Their top concerns to keep back their child at home were the child's illness would get worse, or the infection may spread to his or her classmates.

The poll results showed that health-related concerns were the most important factors for parents to call in a sick day for children who were 6 to 9 years old. On the other hand, 40% of parents of high schoolers called in for a sick day when their children missed tests or fell behind class work.

80% parents said that they are not likely to send a child to school with diarrhea while only 58% agreed that it is advisable to keep a child at home if he or she is vomiting. Less than half (49%) parents said that if a child has a slight fever and is acting normally, they are likely to keep him or her at home. Only 16% parents thought that a child with no fever but red watery eyes needed to stay at home. Even fewer parents (12%) affirmed that if a child has a dry cough or a runny nose but no fever, they will keep him or her at home.

For some parents, missing work is also an important issue. 11% parents said they do not want to call in a sick day at their work to look after their child. 18% parents agreed that if they do not find someone to stay at home and look after the child, it is difficult to keep the child at home. However, 32% parents of older children allow them to stay at home alone when they are sick.

The site WebMD reports that according to the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents should consider three things to decide how sick the child really is. If the temperature of a child is 101 degree Fahrenheit or higher, or seems too run down to do lessons, or has a contagious disease like flu or pinkeye, he or she should be kept at home.

Similarly, if a low-grade fever persists for three or more days or is accompanied by other symptoms such as vomiting or lethargy, it is better to see a healthcare provider. Doctors also recommend that if a child has just a runny nose but is playing and eating normally, you can send him or her to school with extra tissues.