What do I do when my child is sick?
This is a guide to help parents and teachers make decisions about sending or keeping children home from school. It is not a comprehensive list of illnesses children might be sent home with, so when you are in doubt do not hesitate to call us or your child’s doctor.
For immunization information, see the Texas Department of State Health Services Immunization Branch. see the Texas Department of State Health Services Immunization Branch.
Please go to Austin Public Health Guidelines: https://www.austintexas.gov/safely-distance for the latest guidelines for exposure or testing postive to Covid.
Guidelines for Illness at school
| Illness / Infection / Symptom | Should You Stay Home? | When Can You Come Back? |
|---|---|---|
| Illness / Infection / Symptom Chicken Pox | Should You Stay Home? YES | When Can You Come Back? When all the pox have scabbed over |
| Illness / Infection / Symptom Cold | Should You Stay Home? NO (without fever) YES (with fever | When Can You Come Back? See fever guidelines |
| Illness / Infection / Symptom Coxsackie (hand, mouth, and foot disease) | Should You Stay Home? NO | When Can You Come Back? SMILE: You’re In School |
| Illness / Infection / Symptom Diarrhea | Should You Stay Home? YES | When Can You Come Back? 24 hours after last diarrhea |
| Illness / Infection / Symptom Ear Infection | Should You Stay Home? NO (with doctor diagnosis) | When Can You Come Back? SMILE: You’re In School |
| Illness / Infection / Symptom Fever of 100 or greater (undiagnosed illness) | Should You Stay Home? YES | When Can You Come Back? 24 hrs without giving fever reducing medication the last 8 hrs. |
| Illness / Infection / Symptom Fifth Disease | Should You Stay Home? NO (without fever) YES (with fever) | When Can You Come Back? See fever guidelines |
| Illness / Infection / Symptom Giardia | Should You Stay Home? YES | When Can You Come Back? When diarrhea subsides, or your doctor approves readmission |
| Illness / Infection / Symptom Impetigo | Should You Stay Home? YES | When Can You Come Back? Once treatment has begun |
| Illness / Infection / Symptom Lice | Should You Stay Home? YES | When Can You Come Back? After 1 treatment has been given |
| Illness / Infection / Symptom Pink Eye | Should You Stay Home? YES | When Can You Come Back? 24 hours after treatment has begun |
| Illness / Infection / Symptom Unidentified Rash | Should You Stay Home? YES | When Can You Come Back? When rash is gone, unless your doctor approves readmission |
| Illness / Infection / Symptom Ring Worm | Should You Stay Home? NO (but you must keep area covered) | When Can You Come Back? SMILE: You’re In School |
| Illness / Infection / Symptom Roseola | Should You Stay Home? YES (with fever) | When Can You Come Back? See fever guidelines |
| Illness / Infection / Symptom Rota Virus | Should You Stay Home? YES | When Can You Come Back? When diarrhea subsides, or your doctor approves readmission |
| Illness / Infection / Symptom Strep Throat | Should You Stay Home? YES | When Can You Come Back? 24 hours after beginning treatment, and when you are fever-free |
| Illness / Infection / Symptom Thrush | Should You Stay Home? NO (but you should seek treatment) | When Can You Come Back? SMILE: You’re In School |
| Illness / Infection / Symptom Vomiting | Should You Stay Home? YES | When Can You Come Back? 24 hours after last vomit |
