As children across the UK return to classrooms this week, the National Health Service has issued essential guidance to help parents navigate the tricky decision of when a sick child should stay home. The advice, shared via social media and the NHS website, outlines a clear list of contagious illnesses and symptoms that warrant keeping a pupil away from school, nursery, or playgroup.
Key Symptoms That Require Staying Home
The NHS stresses that while a slight cough or common cold symptoms like a runny nose or sore throat are usually fine for school, a high temperature of 38C or more is a definite reason to stay home. Parents should keep their child off until the fever has passed and encourage good hygiene practices like regular handwashing.
Similarly, children suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea must not return to school until 48 hours have passed since their last episode. This crucial window helps prevent the spread of stomach bugs through the school community.
Specific Illnesses and Required Absence Periods
For several well-known childhood illnesses, the NHS provides specific timelines for exclusion. If your child contracts chickenpox, they must remain at home until all the spots have crusted over, which typically takes about five days from the first appearance.
In the case of measles, a more serious infection, exclusion is required for at least four days from when the rash first appears. The NHS advises contacting a GP if you suspect measles and avoiding contact with vulnerable individuals.
Other conditions with clear guidance include impetigo, where a child can return 48 hours after starting antibiotics, and scarlet fever, which also requires antibiotic treatment and allows a return after 24 hours on medication.
Navigating COVID-19 and Other Infections
The updated advice on COVID-19 states that children with mild symptoms who feel well enough can attend school. However, they should try to stay home if they have a high temperature or do not feel well enough for normal activities. If a child tests positive, the NHS recommends they try to stay home and avoid contact with others for three days after the test was taken.
For common issues like ear infections, the decision hinges on symptoms: a child with a high temperature or severe earache should stay home until they improve. The NHS also reminds parents that if a child is well enough to attend but has a passable infection like a cold sore or head lice, their teacher should be informed.
The overarching message from the health service is one of community responsibility. By keeping contagious children at home during key infectious periods, parents can help protect classmates, staff, and the wider community, ensuring a healthier environment for everyone as the new term gets underway.
