With school back in session, illnesses will be an inevitabile. And as a parent, it can be hard to know when to keep your kids home from school or when to let them power through the day. While perfect attendance sounds great, sending a child to school when they’re feeling under the weather can make their symptoms worse and spread their germs to others. On the other hand, keeping them home out of an abundance of caution can impact their studies and lead to missed work for parents. Here are some tips to help you make the right call. 

When It’s Time to Stay Home 

Sniffles or butterflies in the tummy don’t always mean your child needs a sick day, but it’s worth weighing these symptoms: 

• Fever — A temperature of 100.4°F or higher is a sign to stay home. Kids should be fever-free for at least 24 hours without medicine before heading back to school. 
• Vomiting or diarrhea — The viruses often responsible for these symptoms can spread rapidly through a classroom, so it’s best to stay home for at least 24 hours after they have resolved. 
• Strep throat — After starting antibiotics, strep throat is contagious for 24 hours. If left untreated, it remains contagious for much longer.  
• Persistent cough — If your child is coughing so much that it disrupts their sleep (or the class), it’s best to keep them home to rest for a day or two. 
• Eye infections — Red, irritated eyes with discharge could mean , which is very contagious. Bacterial pink eye is no longer contagious after 24 hours of antibiotic ointment, but viral pink eye can be contagious for several days.