Mrs. Antonia Reo RN CSN
Hillcrest School Nurse
(732) 246-0213
Email Mrs. Antonia Reo

• If a child has a fever (oral temperature over 100) or had a fever yesterday or last night, the child must stay home. Often a temperature will be normal in the morning, but as the day progresses, the temperature rises. Fever reducing medication might lower the temperature temporarily but will not eliminate the underlying cause and so it will go back up. A child should remain home until the child is fever free for 24 hours.

• If a child has vomited or vomited yesterday or last night, the child must stay home. Again, 24 hours without vomiting is the time frame to use.

• If a child has diarrhea or diarrhea yesterday or last night, the child must stay home. When a child is free of diarrhea for 24 hours and shows no other signs or symptoms, the child may return to school.

• If a child has a very runny nose or a persistent cough, the child should stay home until symptoms have lessened for 24 hours.

• If a child has any sores, "weeping" skin areas or rash, a healthcare provider's note stating that the child is not contagious is to be given to the nurse upon returning to school.

• If a child has been placed on antibiotics for any infection they must stay home for a minimum of 24 hours after the start of the medicine or until there are no other symptoms (fever, vomiting, diarrhea, persistent cough, etc.) for 24 hours.

• *In the close environment of the classroom, other students and teachers are susceptible to the illness of a sick child. Also, a child's resistance is lowered as the child's body is fighting a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, mucus drainage, cough, or broken skin. Therefore, the child may develop additional signs of illness.