When to Keep Your Child Home Due to Respiratory Illness

Mild illnesses are very common during the school year; however, there are very few illnesses that mandate exclusion from participation in school. The case of a contagious respiratory infection is one of these illnesses. In cases of respiratory infection, children should stay home from school or childcare until the fever is gone and they feel well enough to attend.

Children with respiratory illnesses should be excluded from school when:

1. The illness severity prevents the child from participating in school activities.
2. Fever [Temperature greater than 101 degrees orally], excessive sleepiness, difficulty breathing, persistent cough or other signs suggesting severe illness is present.

Given the recent identification of increased cases of respiratory illness, parents are urged to err on the side of caution when deciding to send their children to school when they are exhibiting signs of respiratory illness. If your child exhibits any of these symptoms at school, be prepared to have the school nurse contact you to take your child home. Parents should contact their own child’s physician if they have specific questions regarding which illness a child has, whether their child fits the criteria for school exclusion, and management of any underlying or complicating situations.

Sources: The Pediatric Group (Princeton, N.J.), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The American Academy of Pediatrics and the R.I. Department of Health