TDH Guidelines for specific symptoms and communicable diseases
Abdominal Pain
Children should remain home and be evaluated by a healthcare professional if pain
lasts more than two (2) hours or
occurs with fever or other symptoms.
Chicken Pox
Children should remain home until all blisters have dry, complete scabs, and the student
has no new lesions for 24
hours. This is usually seven (7) days from the beginning of the breakout with the
pox.
Conjunctivitis/ Pink eye
(Red/pink eye, crusty/sticky drainage)
Conjunctivitis/Pink Eye can result from many causes, including viruses, bacteria,
allergens, contact lens use,
chemicals, fungi, and certain diseases. Students requiring treatment for infection
may return twenty-four (24) hours
after treatment is started by their healthcare provider. To return, symptoms of the
eye drainage should be reduced. If
no treatment is required, the student may return to school.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea may be tough on children to deal with at school and can be a sign that your
child has a contagious
infection. Children should be kept home if they are having frequent diarrhea, or stools
with blood or mucus.
Students with bloody diarrhea require a note from their healthcare professional to
return to school.
Hepatitis A
Student should remain home for one (1) week after symptoms started, or as directed
by their healthcare professional.
Impetigo
Children may return to school the day after treatment begins. Sores should be covered
when the child returns to
school.
Lice (Pediculosis)
Children may attend school iflice has been treated. Please also refer to Pediculosis
Policy 6.4021.
Mouth Sores with Drooling
Children should remain home until cleared to return to school by their healthcare
professional.
Measles
Student should be kept home for four (4) days after the rash appears.
Molluscum Contagiosum
Student does not need to be kept home.
Mumps
Student should be kept home for five (5) days after parotid gland begins swelling.
Rash with Fever or Behavior Changes
Student should remain home until cleared to return to school by their healthcare professional.
Ringworm
Student may return to school the day after treatment begins. Areas should be covered
when the child returns to
school.
Rubella
Student should be kept home for seven (7) days after the rash appears.
Skin Sores with Weeping Fluid that Cannot be Covered
Students should remain home until symptoms resolve and/or sores can be covered.
Scabies
Student may return to school once treatment begins.
Staph Infection
Students with symptoms should be kept home from school until seen by provider and
advised regarding appropriate
treatment.
Strep Throat
Student should remain home until they have taken antibiotics for twenty-four (24)
hours. Student may return if they
received one (1) dose of antibiotics on the day of diagnosis, and one ( 1) dose the
following day before school.
Vomiting
Student should remain home if vomited twice in the past twenty-four (24) hours, unless
cleared to return by their
healthcare professional.
Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
Student should remain home until treated by their healthcare provider with antibiotics
for at least five (5) days.
Please note, we are aware that each child is different and unique, and illnesses may
present differently for
different children. The nurse will use professional judgment when caring for and making
recommendations
for the child.