Greenwich Academy Health Office

When to Keep Your Daughter Home

For the mornings when your child tells you that she doesn't feel well and does not want to go to school, here are some guidelines on deciding whether she needs to stay home:

	FEVER If your child has a temperature of 100.0 degrees or higher, keep her home and monitor her condition. She may return to school if she is fever free for 24 hours without the use of Tylenol or Advil.
	RASH If your child develops a rash of unknown origin, especially if she has fever or itching, she must be checked by her doctor. She can return to school once the doctor has diagnosed the rash as not contagious to others.
	EYES If your child develops a red, itchy eye with white or yellowish drainage she may have conjunctivitis and needs to be evaluated by her doctor. Conjunctivitis is very contagious so your child should stay home until the doctor says it is safe to return to school, usually 24 hours after starting medical treatment or until drainage stops.
	VOMITING AND /OR DIARRHEA If your child has persistent diarrhea through the night or vomiting in the morning keep her home and monitor her condition. She may return to school if diarrhea/vomiting has stopped for 24 hours and she can consume a meal without reoccurrence.
	STREP THROAT If your child has been diagnosed with strep throat, she must stay home until she has taken the prescribed antibiotics for 24 hours and is fever free.
	COUGH If your child has a chronic moist, productive cough with greenish nasal discharge, she should be seen by her doctor. She may return to school when her doctor says it is okay to do so.
	HEAD LICE If your child has live lice or nits present in her hair, she should remain home until treatment is given. Her hair should be treated with lice shampoo and most of the eggs (nits) should be combed out with a special comb. Make sure you wash all exposed towels, clothes, bed linen, hats and scarves in hot water. Check all members of the family and treat if necessary. After treatment, regular follow-up checks should be performed weekly by combing through and examining the hair and scalp.