Too Sick for School
In general, if your student is contagious or cannot participate in even a modified schedule of learning, they should stay home. Otherwise, they should be encouraged to come to school.
Mental Health should be treated like physical health. Mental health conditions may produce physical health symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, headaches, and digestive issues such as vomiting or diarrhea. Your school can work with you and your student to make sure they are getting the care and support they need.
If any physical or mental health symptoms last for more than 3 consecutive days or become a pattern, then you should seek medical care.
|
|
Symptoms |
Stay home from school if... |
Return to school if... |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Fever |
Fever is 100.4 or higher. |
They are fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medication like Tylenol or Ibuprofen, and they are feeling better. |
|
Vomiting |
Vomited 2 or more times in the last 24 hours related to illness. |
They did not vomit overnight, and they can drink liquids without throwing up. |
|
Diarrhea |
3 or more watery stools in 24 hours or if you can’t make it to the bathroom in time. |
Diarrhea has improved. |
|
Cough |
Symptoms also include a fever of 100.4 or trouble breathing |
Cough is under control and is not distracting or disruptive and they are fever-free for 24 hours. |
|
COVID-19, FLU, OR RSV |
Follow Public Health-Seattle King County Guidance.
|
Fever-free for 24 hours and symptoms are improving. Students should wear a mask for 5 days in case they are contagious. |
|
Rash |
Rash with fever, blisters, or drainage. |
Rash has healed or the child has been cleared for return by a medical provider. |
|
Eye infection or irritation |
|
Symptoms are improving. If a medical provider has excluded a student from school, refer to medical provider guidance for return-to-school guidelines. |
If you don’t know whether to send your child to school, have specific concerns regarding your child’s physical or mental health, or are worried your child will spread illness, contact your child’s health care provider, local urgent care, or your school nurse.
If your student comes to school with the symptoms listed above, family members will be contacted by the school nurse or office staff to pick up their student from school.
Seek Medical Care If:
- Your student has a temperature higher than 100.4°F and any of the following: ear pain, sore throat, rash, stomachache, headache, or tooth pain.
- Your student has stomach pain and fever, blood or black stool, or they are dehydrated (tired and sleepy, dry mouth), and/or they have not urinated in the last 8 hours.
- Your student has a persistent cough or trouble breathing, or if they have a fever with a cough.
- They have eye swelling, eye pain, or an eye injury.
- They have a rash that has blisters, is draining, is painful, looks like bruises, and/or has a fever with the rash.
