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Too Sick for School?

Deciding when to keep your child home from school can be challenging. Keeping a sick child home prevents the spread of communicable disease and others from getting sick. Additionally, keeping a sick or injured child home allows them to rest and heal. Here at Pasco School District, we want your child healthy and ready to learn. Below is guidance to assist you in the decision on when to keep your child home.   

When to Keep Your Child Home 

Here are some guidelines on when it may be necessary to keep your child home.  Any questions or concerns, please reach out to your child’s school nurse.   

Fever 

  • Stay Home: A temperature (taken by thermometer) of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher 
  • Return to School: Fever free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medication 

Sore Throat 

  • Stay Home: Presents with fever, difficulty swallowing, or pain 
  • Return to School: When symptoms improve or are mild and manageable 

Cough 

  • Stay Home: Frequent, constant cough that is difficult to control or accompanied with difficulty breathing or fever 
  • Return to School: When symptoms improve or are mild and manageable 

Vomiting 

  • Stay Home: One or more unexplained episodes  
  • Return to School: Free for 24 hours or note from healthcare provider 

Diarrhea 

  • Stay Home: Two or more events of loose stool in 24 hour (unrelated to a chronic condition or medication) 
  • Return to School: Free for 24 hour or note from a healthcare provider 

Rash 

  • Stay Home: If spreading; has open, oozing sores; and/or with fever 
  • Return to School: When rash is gone or note from healthcare provider 

Eye Infection 

  • Stay Home: Redness with drainage from one or both eyes 
  • Return to School: Drainage is gone or note from healthcare provider 

Unusual Appearance/Behavior 

  • Stay Home: Not their usual self, pale, difficult to wake, confused, or lack of appetite 
  • Return to School: When symptoms improve or note from healthcare provider 

Pain 

  • Stay Home: Too distracting to concentrate (e.g. ear, stomach, etc) or causing inability to move around safely at school 
  • Return to School: When symptoms improve or note from healthcare provider 

Major Health Event 

  • Stay Home and communicate with the school nurse: Any health concern or injury that results in an extended absence from school and/or requires accommodations when child returns to school 
  • Return to School: Once the school has received a note from the healthcare provider and accommodations are in place 

This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. These guidelines are in line with public health recommendations but should not be interpreted as medical directives. Any questions or concerns regarding your child’s health should be directed to their healthcare provider or school nurse.