Got cold symptoms? Here’s when kids should take a sick day from school
PHOENIX — As schools reopen for a new year, they are focused on improving student attendance. But back to school comes just as the number of COVID-19 cases is increasing. This raises the question: when is a child too sick to go to school?
The number of school absenteeism has increased during the pandemic and have not yet recovered. Nearly 1 in 4 students remains chronically absent, defined as missing 10% or more of the academic year, according to the latest data analyzed by The Associated Press.
One reason for the persistently high absenteeism: After years of quarantine due to COVID-19, parents have become more cautious about sending children to school, as they may be contagious with an illness.
When a child misses school, even for an excused absence such as a sick day, it is more difficult for them to staying on track academicallySchools and health experts are therefore trying to change the culture surrounding sick days.
This is what they want parents to know.
During the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged people who tested positive for COVID-19 to isolate and quarantine at home for several days after exposure to the coronavirus. In some settings, people with mild illness were urged to stay home until their symptoms resolved.
Those standards and the caution behind them, remained for years after schools reopened for in-person learning. That meant children often missed large chunks of school after contracting or being exposed to COVID-19 or other illnesses.
This spring, COVID-19 guidelines officially changed. Now the CDC advises people treat COVID-19 like other respiratory illnessessuch as the flu and RSV.
If a child has a fever, he or she should stay home, regardless of the illness.
A child can return to school if the fever has been gone for 24 hours without antipyretic medication. Other symptoms should improve.
If a child does not have a fever, it is okay to send him or her to class with some signs of illnessincluding a runny nose, headache or cough, according to schools and the American Academy of PediatricsIf symptoms do not improve or are severe, such as a cough, contact your child’s doctor.
Vomiting and diarrhea guidelines vary by school district. In general, students should stay home until the symptoms stopaccording to the guidelines of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Older children may be able to mild diarrhea at school.
“Unless your student has a fever or has vomited in the last 24 hours, you should come to school. That’s what we want,” said Abigail Arii, director of student support services in Oakland, California.
According to Los Angeles Unified School District guidelines, students can come to school with mild symptoms, such as a runny nose or cold, but should stay home if they have vomiting, diarrhea, severe pain or a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
School districts in the US have similar guidelines, including Texas, Illinois And New York.
The CDC says people take extra precautions for five days after returning to school or other normal activities.
Masks and social distancing are no longer mandatory, but are encouraged to prevent the spread of disease. Experts also recommend frequent hand washing and taking steps to clean the air, such as opening a window or using an air purifier.
School districts say parents should stay up to date on all medical screenings and vaccinations for students so they don’t miss extra days of school.
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Jocelyn Gecker, an AP education reporter in San Francisco, contributed.
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This article is part of AP’s Be Well coverage, which focuses on wellness, fitness, nutrition and mental health. Read more Be good.
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