Sick Call: When Students Should Be Absent

Illness or Injury Exclusion Criteria- Reasons for which a child may be sent home from school or for a parent to keep the child home from school.

1. Fever of 100.4ºF and over-exclude until the student has been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
2. Conjunctivitis (pink eye)-eye is pink or red with swelling of the eyelids, and/or eye discharge without a healthcare diagnosis.  The student can return if nonsymptomatic or has been cleared by a healthcare pri
3.  Strep infections-sore throat or difficulty swallowing with fever.  The student is to excluded until the fever free and after 12 hours of antibiotic therapy. 
4. Ringworm-itchy, red, scaly, or cracked skin, or ring shaped rash without diagnosis.  The student can return when appropriate treatment has begun and exposed sores are covered. 
5. Impetigo are all infections and must be treated with medication for a minimum of 12 hours before returning to school.  All sores on exposed skin must be covered.  Please do not allow affected students back before this time so that other students are not infected unnecessarily.
6. Rash of unknown origin.  A rash with blisters that are draining, painful, look like bruises, appear suddenly or spread quickly, and/or if a fever develops.  
7. Head injury
8. Colds - cold symptoms accompanied by a fever or too sick to participate in regular activities.
9. Abdominal pain that continues for more than two hours or intermittent abdominal pain associated with fever or other signs or symptoms.  Has more than three loose watery stools per day and/or sudden increase in frequency, has vomited 2 or more times in the last 24 hours.  The student must be symptom- free for 24 hours, if determined to be caused by a diagnosed non-communicable/non-infectious condition, and/or if stool frequency is no more than two times above normal and without fecal accidents.
10. Stiff neck associated with a fever and/or a recent injury.
11. Head Lice until appropriate treatment has begun.  
12. Inadequate immunizations with known disease outbreak in school.
13. Refer to the VDOH "Communicable Disease Reference Chart for School Personnel" for other exclusions/information.