Guidelines for your ill child

One of the goals of our clinic is to keep students in class as much as possible, but we also don't wants students in the classroom who are very ill and exposing others to the illness. Here are some guidelines to help you make an informed decision about whether to send your student to school. May I emphasize that it is extremely important that the school know how to reach a parent or other designated person in the event of illness or emergency.

• Runny nose - occurs when exposed to pollen, dust, etc. or simply a change of season. If it isn't a common cold, then it's an allergy and allergies aren't contagious. Medicate your child according to your physician's instructions and send your child to school.

• Cough - a bad or persistent cough can indicate a severe cold, bronchitis, flu or even pneumonia. Cough does accompany a common cold and can be treated with cough medicine before coming to school. If your child is having difficulty breathing, not taking fluids or is not "acting right", contact your physician immediately.

• Vomiting and diarrhea - These alone or in combination make children uncomfortable, and being near a bathroom becomes a top priority. In the case of repeated episodes of vomiting and/or diarrhea accompanied by fever, rash or general weakness consult your physician and keep your child at home until the illness passes. A single episode of either diarrhea or vomiting may not be reason enough to keep a child home, however if the child is really ill it will recur and we will probably be calling you.

• Fever - This is our body's way of fighting infection and let's us know we are ill. Fever accompanies many illnesses and when it occurs along with a sore throat, earache, nausea, listlessness, or a rash, your child is contagious and should not come to school. Physicians advise parents to keep children home while the child has fever and for 24 hours after the fever has passed.

• Strep throat and scarlet fever - two highly contagious conditions caused by a streptococcal (bacterial) infection. Symptoms are sore throat and most of the time, but not always, fever. With scarlet fever a rash will appear 12-48 hours later. Keep your child home and contact your physician, since both strep throat and scarlet fever must be treated with antibiotics prescribed by a physician. Once your child has been on antibiotics for 24 hours and with your physician's permission may return to school.

• Chicken pox - a viral infection that is very uncomfortable and extremely contagious. If symptoms include fever, itching and pink or red spots with watery centers on back, chest, face chances are it is chicken pox. Contact the school clinic, your physician and keep your child home until all sores have scabbed over. Chicken pox can be serious infection. Even if you child has not problem, other children whose immune system doesn't work well may be seriously affected.

• Conjunctivitis or pink eye - contagious and uncomfortable. Contact your physician if your child awakens with matted eyes and the eyes are red. This must be treated with antibiotic eye drops or ointment. Keep your child home for 24 hours after eye drops or ointment are started.

• Ear infections - contagious and can cause permanent hearing loss if left untreated. Contact your physician.

• Flu - also know as influenza, it is contagious and attacks the respiratory tract(nose, throat, lungs). Different from a cold - usually come on suddenly - symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, body aches. There is a preventative vaccine each year. Flu can be serious. Contact your phy