Keep Me Home If........
When Your Child is Sick:
1. Have plans for back up child care.
2. Tell your caregiver what is wrong with your child, even if your child stays home.
There are three reasons to keep your child home:
1. Your child does not feel well enough to participate comfortably in daily activities.(extreme tiredness, unexplained irritability or persistent crying)2. Your child requires more individual care than can be provided by center staff.3. The illness or symptoms are listed below and could effect the health and safety of the other children in care.IF YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN SENT HOME DUE TO ILLNESS, THEY MUST BE SYMPTOM-FREE FOR 24 HOURS BEFORE RETURNING.
ILLNESS OR SYMPTOMCHILD MUST BE AT HOME?CHICKEN POXYes - until blisters have dried and crusted
Yes - until blisters have dried and crustedCONJUNCTIVITIS (pink eye) Yes - until 24 hours after treatment (if indicated) If your provider (pink color of eye and thick yellow/green discharge) decides not to treat your child, a note is needed authorizing
Yes - until 24 hours after treatment (if indicated) If your provider (pink color of eye and thick yellow/green discharge) decides not to treat your child, a note is needed authorizingreturn to group care.COUGHING Yes - medical attention is necessary.
Yes - medical attention is necessary.(severe, uncontrolled coughing or wheezing, rapid/difficult breathing)Note: children with asthma may be cared for with a written
Note: children with asthma may be cared for with a written health care plan and authorization for medication/treatment.COXSACKIE VIRUS No - may attend if able to participate in usual activities, unless
No - may attend if able to participate in usual activities, unless(Hand, foot and mouth disease) the child has mouth sores and is drooling.
the child has mouth sores and is drooling.CROUP Seek medical advice.
Seek medical advice.(see COUGHING) Note: May not need to be excluded unless child is not well
Note: May not need to be excluded unless child is not wellenough to participate in usual activities.DIARRHEA Yes - if child looks or acts ill;
Yes - if child looks or acts ill;(frequent, loose or watery stools compared to child's normal pattern;diarrhea with fever and behavior change; diarrhea with vomiting;
diarrhea with fever and behavior change; diarrhea with vomiting;not caused by diet or medication) diarrhea that is not contained in toilet.
diarrhea that is not contained in toilet.EARACHENo - unless unable to participate in usual activities or behavior
No - unless unable to participate in usual activities or behaviorchanges (see FEVER)FEVER Yes - when fever is present, child must go home.
Yes - when fever is present, child must go home.(an elevation of body temperature above normal)
Note: An unexplained temperature of 100 degrees F or above
is significant in infants 4 months or younger & requires medical attention.
FIFTH'S DISEASE No - child is no longer contagious once rash illness appears.
No - child is no longer contagious once rash illness appears.HEADLICE OR SCABIES May return after treatment starts.
May return after treatment starts.HEPATITIS A Yes - until 1 week after onset of illness or jaundice and when
Yes - until 1 week after onset of illness or jaundice and when able to participate in usual activities.HERPES No - unless child has mouth sores and blisters and does not
No - unless child has mouth sores and blisters and does not have control of drooling.IMPETIGOYes - until 24 hours after treatment starts.
Yes - until 24 hours after treatment starts.BODY RASH with fever Yes - seek medical advice. Any rash that spreads quickly, has
Yes - seek medical advice. Any rash that spreads quickly, hasopen, weeping wounds, and/or is not healing should be evaluated.Note: body rash without fever or behavior changes usually doesnot require exclusion from the center.RESPIRATORY OR COLD SYMPTOMS No - may attend if able to participate in usual activities.
No - may attend if able to participate in usual activities.(stuffy nose with clear drainage, sneezing, mild cough)
RINGWORM May return after treatment starts. Keep area covered for the
May return after treatment starts. Keep area covered for the first 48 hours of treatment.ROSEOLAYes - seek medical advice.
Yes - seek medical advice. Note: a child with rash and no fever may return to child care.RSV Seek medical advice. Once a child has been infected, spread
Seek medical advice. Once a child has been infected, spread(Respiratory Syncytial Virus) rapid.
rapid. Note: a child does not always need to be excluded unless child is not able to participate in usual activities.STREP THROAT Yes - until 24 hours after treatment and the child is able to
Yes - until 24 hours after treatment and the child is able to participate in usual activities.VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES Yes - until judged not infectious by the health care provider.
Yes - until judged not infectious by the health care provider.VOMITINGYes - until vomiting resolves or a health care provider approves
Yes - until vomiting resolves or a health care provider approves(2 or more episodes of vomiting in the past 24 hrs; return to the center. Observe for other signs of illness and for
return to the center. Observe for other signs of illness and forvomiting with fever; recent head injury) dehydration.
dehydration.YEAST INFECTIONSNo - may attend if able to participate in child care activities.
No - may attend if able to participate in child care activities.(thrush or candida diaper rash) Follow good hand washing and hygiene practices.
Follow good hand washing and hygiene practices. Developed by The Children's Hospital School Health Program Denver, CO
