Sick Child Guide
This is a guide to help parents and teachers make decisions about sending or keeping children home from school. It is not a comprehensive list of illnesses children might be sent home with, so when you are in doubt do not hesitate to call us or your child’s doctor.
For immunization information, see the Texas Department of State Health Services Immunization Branch.
| Illness/Infection/Symptom | Should You Stay Home? | When Can You Come Back? |
| Chicken Pox | YES | When all the pox have scabbed over |
| Cold | NO (without fever) YES (with fever) |
See fever guidelines |
| Coxsackie (hand, mouth, and foot disease) | YES | After the fever is gone (usually 2 to 3 days). The rash is not contagious |
| Diarrhea | YES | 24 hours after last diarrhea symptoms |
| Diarrhea | YES | 24 hours after last diarrhea symptoms |
| Ear Infection | NO (with doctor diagnosis) | SMILE: You’re In School |
| Fever of 99.4 or greater (undiagnosed illness) | YES | 24 hours after fever subsides, and when fever medications have not been taken within the past 8 hours |
| Fifth Disease | NO (without fever) YES (with fever) |
See fever guidelines |
| Giardia | YES | When diarrhea subsides, or your doctor approves readmission |
| Impetigo | YES | Once treatment has begun |
| Lice | YES | After 1 treatment has been given |
| Pink Eye | YES | 24 hours after treatment has begun |
| Unidentified Rash | YES | When rash is gone, unless your doctor approves readmission |
| Ring Worm | YES (but you must keep area covered) | Must remain out of school until your child have begun treatment with a prescription oral antifungal medication. Your child may return with a medical note. |
| Roseola | YES (with fever) | See fever guidelines |
| Rota Virus | YES | When diarrhea subsides, or your doctor approves readmission |
| Strep Throat | YES | 24 hours after beginning treatment, and when you are fever-free |
| Thrush | NO (but you should seek treatment) | SMILE: You’re In School |
| Vomiting | YES | 24 hours after last vomiting |