NHS guidance on illness

Should my child go to school today?  

The advice below is taken directly from the NHS leaflet for parents called think twice every day counts.

Headache, earache and stomach ache

Children with headache, earache or stomach ache can go to school - just let the staff know they have felt unwell.  

Give paracetemol and plenty of fluids to drink.

If headache, earache or stomach ache persist then seek meical advice.

High temperature

Give paracetamol and plenty to drink.  After paracetamol, if your child feels better, bring them to school.  If the child's high temperature contines for three days or more, seek medical advice.

Coughs and colds

Children should be given paracetamol, plenty of fluids to drink and can be sent to school.  If your child is asthmatic remember they may need their blue inhaler more often.

Flu and Swine Flu

Children should go back to school when recovered - this is usually about five days.

Sore throat, tonsillitis and glandular fever

Children should be given paracetamol, plenty of fluids to drink and can be sent to school.

Head lice

Children can go to school with head lice but they must be treated to prevent further spreading.

Parents should treat their children and other family members by wet combing with a nit comb and conditioner.

See your school nurse for futher advice.

Scabies

Children can go back to school after the first treatment.  Others at home should be treated.

Threadworm

Children can go to school when they have start their treatment.

Everyone at home should be treated.

Hand, foot and mouth warts and verrucae, athletes foot and molluscum contagiosum

Children can go to school.  Verrucae should be covered in swimming pools and changing rooms.

Conjunctivitis

Children can go to school.  they should be encouraged to wash their hands to prevent further spread of infection.

Impetigo

Children can go back to school when their leisions are crusted or healed, or two days after starting antibiotics.

Measles, Chicken Pox and German Measles

Measles - children should go back to school four days after the rash has started.

Chicken pox - children should go back to school five days after the rash has started.

German measles - children should go back to school six days after the rash has started.  Please let the school know, as pregnant members of staff may be affected.

Mumps

Children should go back to school five days from the start of swollen glands.

Whopping Cough

Children should go back to school five days after starting antibiotics.  Non-infectious coughing may continue for many weeks.