My daughter has a virus, she started with a fever last night, woke up with a fever this morning. I was thinking after the morning dose of Motrin, if the fever doesnt return, she should go to school tomorrow. But, I made her take a nap and she woke up around 4:30pm with 103 temp. Im thinking since she still has a fever she should stay home from school tomorrow right??? Even if she doesnt have a fever in the morning. I thought I heard they need to be fever free for 24 hours. So, I guess my question, if she wakes up in the am with no fever should she still stay home? I HATE her missing school, but dont want her back if shes not ready.
Thanks Ladies, just as I suspected, no school tomorrow. Lisa- Chill out, if I wasnt worried about the other kids I wouldnt have asked the question.
Would you rather school or an extended hospital stay and miss even more school? I would keep my child out for the rest of the week until I felt she was fully recovered.
You can always get the makeup work and it sounds like she's got great attendance so you don't have to worry about her falling behind.
Health and safety first!!!
Yes, keep her from school. Fevers are h*** o* the body and she as well as her immune system need rest.
Fever free for 24 hours is usually the 'rule'.
If she has a fever this afternoon she wont feel much like going to school tomorrow, I'd keep her home. That 24 hour rule is a pretty good one. Think about it, after you've been down with a fever it usually take a couple of days to get back up and going normal again, it takes a lot out of you. If you sent her to school too soon she could relapse. My vote is that she has tomorrow off to finish feeling better :)
Fever free for 24 hours before they go back.
YES she should stay home until she is fever free 24 hours. Fevers almost always go away in the morning and rise in the afternoon. With a virus a fever can go up and down for a few days so keep her home to rest.
I was just dealing with that with my son. Today I kept him home & he has been fever free all day. It was definitely a free day for him b/c he could play & fight with his sister and I am sending him tomorrow. Hope your little one gets better!
Call your school and ask about their policy. My school has a policy of no school for 24 hours AFTER a fever has ended. It's the same with diarrhea or vomiting. I hope she feels better soon.
24 hours fever free without meds. No school tomorrow!
Our school is 24 hours with no fever and no fever reducing meds.
Yup. 24 hours in most schools (48 in some however). AND as Brandi, ND, Kristin, & Martha said... that needs to be 24 hours NOT on meds that have reduced or eradicated the fever. 24 hours, no fever, naturally. Which is kind of "duh" but I at least have been guilty of counting "early" just because having a sick child is distracting.
It's not just her own health (the fastest way to bring on a relapse is by the immune system shutting off due to stress: aka activity in this case, but also includes excitement & stress as we tend to think of it... ANY adrenal response shuts off the immune system)... but also because fevers often lapse for several hours before returning AND because one is nearly always contagious for the first 24-48 hours AFTER a fever breaks. Nothing the schools can do about that 2nd 24 hour period... but they can try and keep school wide epidemics at a minimum with the first 24 hour rule.
I believe most schools have a "must be fever free for at least 24 hours" before returning to school. Ours does.
Hope she's feeling better! I just wanted to chime in that people are most infectious the day or two *before* the fever starts. That is from our family practice doc. of course, nothing anyone can do about those days... But I guess the schools need some kind of a rule.
Updated
Hope she's feeling better!
I just wanted to chime in that people are most infectious the day or two *before* the fever starts. That is from our family practice doc. of course, nothing anyone can do about those days... But I guess the schools need some kind of a rule.
You've already heard it but yes - 24hrs. We are currently in the same boat :-) Remember - a fever is the body's way of fighting an infection - it's helpful and you don't want to lower it unless it really high and/or the child suffers from seizers or they are restless and unable to sleep.
Here is some helpful information on fevers:
Generally school and daycare rule is fever free--unmedicated fever free for 24 hours. Some are 100*, some 101*.
Look online for your school or district, but I know most here and in other places I have found helpful posters (I do daycare so always looking for printables =), say 100* underarm temp.
But 103..for sure. In my daycare, a parent would have to wait until 24 hours of UNMEDICATED fever free time.
Its not just about her not being ready, but about her contagion getting others sick potentially.
I hope shes better soon!
It's fever free for 24 hours without the help of motrin or tylenol.FYI, influenza A and B are going around as is strep throat. Please take your child to the doctor and don't infect anyone else's children. My kids had influenza A (h1N1) in 2009. It lasted for two weeks. If I would have sent them to school they would have infected their entire class.
As a former teacher I can tell you yes, you child needs to be naturally fever free for 24 hours. If not, there is a risk for other kids AND the teachers.
Agree...... 24 hours fever free is the rule of thumb.
here it's 24 hrs fever free
The other moms are right.....24 hours fever free with no meds. Even if it is not the rule (which in most - if not all - cases it is), it is the considerate thing to do.
BTW: I think Lisa was just sharing her experience, not trying to make you feel like a bad mom. Neither am I. Just saying....
