Children get sick. It happens all the time. In many ways, it’s part of growing up. If your son or daughter is like most children, chances are that they’ll get sick and miss collective days or weeks of school during their journey to adulthood. However, sometimes it can be tricky to diagnose symptoms at home.
When is a condition severe or contagious enough that your child should go to school? What situations call for booking an appointment with your CapPed doctor? And what conditions require immediate medical attention (i.e. the emergency room)? Here, we’ve written out some general tips and guidelines to follow in diagnosing your child’s symptoms and determining the best course of action.
When is a condition severe or contagious enough that your child should go to school? What situations call for booking an appointment with your CapPed doctor? And what conditions require immediate medical attention (i.e. the emergency room)? Here, we’ve written out some general tips and guidelines to follow in diagnosing your child’s symptoms and determining the best course of action.
When to Stay Home From School
-No visible symptoms. If your child complains of not feeling well, but otherwise has no visible symptoms, it’s safe to say that your child can likely attend school. Tell him or her to visit the school nurse if any symptoms develop. While it’s lovely to believe our children our saints, every kid has tried to played hooky at one point or another. Your child shouldn’t miss out on valuable class-time if he or she is not displaying any symptoms.
-Fever. A fever is a sign that your child’s body is battling an infection and should probably stay home. Sometimes, however, mild fevers can accompany headaches or other conditions. If your child’s forehead is hot, but no other symptoms occur, your child is likely safe to go to school. Children with fevers greater than 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit should stay home until the fever is gone for at least 24 hours.
-Coughing. A cough alone can be caused by a variety of factors, and shouldn’t preclude your child from attending classes. If coughing is accompanied by a fever, trouble breathing, runny nose, or phlegm, keep your child home.
-Sore throat. A mild sore throat with no other symptoms occurring is passable for school. If your child’s sore throat is associated with fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, or difficulty swallowing, you should consult with your doctor.
-Vomiting. A child who is vomiting should stay home from school. You should arrange an appointment with your CapPed pediatrician in order to diagnose the cause of the vomiting.
-Extreme fatigue. IF your child seems unusually tired and needs bed-rest, it could mean the beginnings of the flu. Keep them home and let them sleep and rest it off.
-Yellow or green drainage from eyes. This could be the result of any number of issues, including the common school ailment, “pink eye.” However, yellow or green drainage from the eyes is not normal and is cause to keep your child home from school. Arrange an appointment with your doctor to investigate the issue.
-All-over rash breakout. A single rash can be caused by exposure to allergens, sports, the rubbing of fabric, or a host of other things. Most rashes will heal and disappear on their own, and shouldn’t keep your child from school. If your child breaks out in rashes all over the body, however, it could mean they’ve contracted a condition such as chicken pox or similar. Book an appointment with your doctor right away, and keep other people’s exposure to your child to a minimum, as they may be contagious.
When to See a Doctor
-Fever lasting two or more days. If your child’s fever is higher than 100.5 degrees or persists for longer than two or three days, call your doctor for an evaluation.
-Coughing. Hard coughing, cough accompanying a fever, or a cough persisting for several days should be attended to. Coughing is usually just one symptom of many associated with an illness.
- Diarrhea that is bloody or associated with fever, abdominal pain, or vomiting should be evaluated by a doctor.
-Shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness. These could be symptoms of asthma or an infectious disease. Only a doctor can tell you for sure. If these symptoms are bad enough that your child has great difficulty breathing, take them to the emergency room.
-Cold or flu that lasts longer than ten days. A flu that lasts longer than a week and a half or so is probably not a flu. Book an appointment with CapPed so that your doctor can take a look and give a proper diagnosis.
-Severe headache. A headache lasting for several hours, or a headache so severe that your child is unable to eat, play, or do normal activities, should be evaluated by a doctor.
When to Visit the Emergency Room
-Severe difficulty breathing (ex: if your child is turning blue)
-High fever only if accompanied by other severe symptoms.
-Headache accompanied by fever, vomiting, rash, or stiff neck (could be associated with a disease such as meningitis).
-Headache accompanied by blurry vision, difficulty walking, or confusion (could signify a head injury or neurological issue).
-Loss of consciousness.
Unsure? Call us!
There’s a reason we have a designated answering service. If you’re unsure of what your child’s symptoms mean and what you should do, give us a call at any time. We are happy to hear your situations and give you advice, especially if it means saving you an unnecessary trip to the office. If symptoms are severe and a CapPed technician is unavailable, go to the nearest hospital. After all, better safe than sorry!
-No visible symptoms. If your child complains of not feeling well, but otherwise has no visible symptoms, it’s safe to say that your child can likely attend school. Tell him or her to visit the school nurse if any symptoms develop. While it’s lovely to believe our children our saints, every kid has tried to played hooky at one point or another. Your child shouldn’t miss out on valuable class-time if he or she is not displaying any symptoms.
-Fever. A fever is a sign that your child’s body is battling an infection and should probably stay home. Sometimes, however, mild fevers can accompany headaches or other conditions. If your child’s forehead is hot, but no other symptoms occur, your child is likely safe to go to school. Children with fevers greater than 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit should stay home until the fever is gone for at least 24 hours.
-Coughing. A cough alone can be caused by a variety of factors, and shouldn’t preclude your child from attending classes. If coughing is accompanied by a fever, trouble breathing, runny nose, or phlegm, keep your child home.
-Sore throat. A mild sore throat with no other symptoms occurring is passable for school. If your child’s sore throat is associated with fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, or difficulty swallowing, you should consult with your doctor.
-Vomiting. A child who is vomiting should stay home from school. You should arrange an appointment with your CapPed pediatrician in order to diagnose the cause of the vomiting.
-Extreme fatigue. IF your child seems unusually tired and needs bed-rest, it could mean the beginnings of the flu. Keep them home and let them sleep and rest it off.
-Yellow or green drainage from eyes. This could be the result of any number of issues, including the common school ailment, “pink eye.” However, yellow or green drainage from the eyes is not normal and is cause to keep your child home from school. Arrange an appointment with your doctor to investigate the issue.
-All-over rash breakout. A single rash can be caused by exposure to allergens, sports, the rubbing of fabric, or a host of other things. Most rashes will heal and disappear on their own, and shouldn’t keep your child from school. If your child breaks out in rashes all over the body, however, it could mean they’ve contracted a condition such as chicken pox or similar. Book an appointment with your doctor right away, and keep other people’s exposure to your child to a minimum, as they may be contagious.
When to See a Doctor
-Fever lasting two or more days. If your child’s fever is higher than 100.5 degrees or persists for longer than two or three days, call your doctor for an evaluation.
-Coughing. Hard coughing, cough accompanying a fever, or a cough persisting for several days should be attended to. Coughing is usually just one symptom of many associated with an illness.
- Diarrhea that is bloody or associated with fever, abdominal pain, or vomiting should be evaluated by a doctor.
-Shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness. These could be symptoms of asthma or an infectious disease. Only a doctor can tell you for sure. If these symptoms are bad enough that your child has great difficulty breathing, take them to the emergency room.
-Cold or flu that lasts longer than ten days. A flu that lasts longer than a week and a half or so is probably not a flu. Book an appointment with CapPed so that your doctor can take a look and give a proper diagnosis.
-Severe headache. A headache lasting for several hours, or a headache so severe that your child is unable to eat, play, or do normal activities, should be evaluated by a doctor.
When to Visit the Emergency Room
-Severe difficulty breathing (ex: if your child is turning blue)
-High fever only if accompanied by other severe symptoms.
-Headache accompanied by fever, vomiting, rash, or stiff neck (could be associated with a disease such as meningitis).
-Headache accompanied by blurry vision, difficulty walking, or confusion (could signify a head injury or neurological issue).
-Loss of consciousness.
Unsure? Call us!
There’s a reason we have a designated answering service. If you’re unsure of what your child’s symptoms mean and what you should do, give us a call at any time. We are happy to hear your situations and give you advice, especially if it means saving you an unnecessary trip to the office. If symptoms are severe and a CapPed technician is unavailable, go to the nearest hospital. After all, better safe than sorry!
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