Medical Advice for School Absences: When and How Long Should Children Stay Home?

Advising parents on when their child should be absent from school due to medical conditions is a crucial aspect of a doctor's role. Ensuring the child's health while minimizing disruption to their education requires a balanced approach. This guide provides doctors with detailed information on common medical conditions that necessitate school absence and the recommended duration for each.

1. Fever

• When to Advise Absence: Any child with a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
• Duration: The child should remain home until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.

2. Gastroenteritis (Stomach Flu)

• When to Advise Absence: Children with symptoms of vomiting or diarrhea.
• Duration: Typically, children can return 24-48 hours after symptoms resolve, ensuring they are well-hydrated and able to participate in school activities.

3. Influenza (Flu)

• When to Advise Absence: Children with influenza symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, and body aches.
• Duration: They can return to school at least 24 hours after being fever-free without medication and when they feel well enough to engage in normal activities.

4. Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)

• When to Advise Absence: If conjunctivitis is bacterial and the child has a yellow or green discharge from the eye.
• Duration: After 24 hours of antibiotic treatment, if symptoms have improved, the child can return to school.

5. Strep Throat

• When to Advise Absence: Children diagnosed with strep throat.
• Duration: They can return 24 hours after starting antibiotics and when they feel well enough to attend.

6. Head Lice

• When to Advise Absence: While some schools may have different policies, children with head lice are generally advised to stay home until treated.
• Duration: After appropriate treatment and when no live lice are seen, children can return to school.

7. Chickenpox

• When to Advise Absence: Children with chickenpox.
• Duration: Until all blisters have crusted over, usually about 7-10 days after the onset of the rash.

8. Measles

• When to Advise Absence: Children diagnosed with measles.
• Duration: Until at least 4 days after the rash appears and the child is fever-free.

9. Mumps

• When to Advise Absence: Children diagnosed with mumps.
• Duration: Until 5 days after the onset of gland swelling.

10. Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

• When to Advise Absence: Children diagnosed with whooping cough.
• Duration: Until 5 days after starting antibiotic treatment or 21 days after the onset of symptoms if untreated.

11. Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

• When to Advise Absence: Children with hand, foot, and mouth disease.
• Duration: Until fever-free and mouth sores have healed, usually about 7-10 days.

12. Rubella (German Measles)

• When to Advise Absence: Children diagnosed with rubella.
• Duration: Until at least 7 days after the rash appears.

13. Scarlet Fever

• When to Advise Absence: Children diagnosed with scarlet fever.
• Duration: Until 24 hours after starting antibiotics and fever-free.

14. Impetigo

• When to Advise Absence: Children with impetigo.
• Duration: Until 24 hours after starting antibiotic treatment and when lesions are no longer weeping.

15. Ringworm

• When to Advise Absence: Children with ringworm of the scalp.
• Duration: Until 24 hours after starting antifungal treatment.

16. RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)

• When to Advise Absence: Children with severe RSV symptoms.
• Duration: Until fever-free and symptoms have improved, usually about 7-10 days.

17. Mononucleosis

• When to Advise Absence: Children diagnosed with mononucleosis.
• Duration: Based on the severity of symptoms, typically 2-4 weeks; they should avoid physical activities until cleared by a doctor.

18. Hepatitis A

• When to Advise Absence: Children diagnosed with hepatitis A.
• Duration: Until at least 1 week after onset of jaundice or symptoms.

19. Scabies

• When to Advise Absence: Children diagnosed with scabies.
• Duration: Until 24 hours after starting treatment.

20. Tuberculosis (TB)

• When to Advise Absence: Children diagnosed with active TB.
• Duration: Until a doctor certifies that the child is no longer infectious, typically after a few weeks of treatment.