It’s Monday morning, and your preschooler is moaning and groaning, and complaining of a stomach ache:

“I can’t go to school mummy, my tummy hurts!”

Your immediate reaction is to tuck your child back up in bed, give them a cuddle, and tell them that of course they can stay off school. But there is another part of you that wonders whether this stomach ache is enough to warrant them missing a whole day of learning, not to mention you missing a whole day of work!

From time to time every parent has to consider whether they should send their sick child to school or not. We know that this can be difficult, especially when you’re not sure whether your child is genuinely sick, whether they’re craving some attention, or whether they’re worried about something at school. Either way, we’re here to help you recognise when it’s best to keep your sick child at home, and when it’s best to send them to school.

So, to begin with, let’s explore the scenarios that should keep your sick child at home.

When should I keep my sick child at home?

Fever: If your child has a fever, they should without a doubt stay at home. To clarify, a fever is a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or higher. Once your child has been fever free for at least 24 hours without medication, you can then send them back to school.

Diarrhoea: Diarrhoea can often be a sign of a viral infection, which means it’s important to keep your child home if they are exhibiting this symptom. Also, diarrhoea can dehydrate your child, so make sure to keep them hydrated with an oral rehydration solution during this time.

Vomiting: If your child is vomiting, it’s best to keep them home until they haven’t vomited for a 24-hour period.

Cough: Coughs can easily spread an infection from person to person, so if your child has a serious one, it might be a good idea to keep them home. Be mindful that a cough can also stop a child from getting a good night's sleep, so they will likely be far too tired for school the next day. However, if your child just has a mild cough with no other symptoms, then they can go back to school. It’s also important to go by the general rule that if your child has a serious cough accompanied by breathing troubles, then you should call the doctor for help and keep them home in the meantime.

Rashes: If your child has a skin rash, then this could be a sign of a contagious infection like impetigo. It’s always best to take your child to the doctor so they can examine their rash before sending them back to school.

Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis): Conjunctivitis spreads very easily from one child to another, so it’s always best to keep your child home until the doctor says they are no longer contagious.

Now that we’ve explored the scenarios in which you should be keeping your child home from school, let’s talk about the times when you should conversely be sending them to school.

When should I send my sick child to school?

Stomachache: Making this decision when your child has a stomachache can be tricky. After all, stomach pains can be caused by various things - from anxiety to food poisoning. The general consensus to go by is that if your child’s stomach pains seem minor and they don’t have any other symptoms, then it’s best to send them to school. However, make sure to talk to them about any emotional issues you think may be contributing to their stomach pains.

Ear infection: Ear infections can be very uncomfortable, so it’s understandable if you don’t know whether to send your child to school or not if they are experiencing this symptom. However, if they seem to have mild ear pain, then it’s likely they will be fine at school. However, if they are very clearly uncomfortable, they probably won’t be able to concentrate anyway, so it’s best to keep them home. Also - look out for any other accompanying symptoms like a fever, which should definitely indicate that a day at home is needed!

Runny nose: Children can get runny noses from time to time, and it’s simply not realistic to keep them home every time one occurs. Therefore, use your judgement on this one. If they have a runny nose without any other symptoms, then you can send them to school.

Is my child really too sick for school?

Unii looks at when to take resistance before the school run seriously.