Contagious illnesses frequently occur with school children and AES wants to help keep everyone healthy.  Here are some guidelines to help you decide whether to send your child to school.
 
APPEARANCE/DISCOMFORT
If your child appears unusually tired, irritable, pale, or has an unusual lack of appetite he needs to stay home from school for evaluation.  If the symptoms subside, then bring him to school.
 
DIARRHEA
If your child has had two or more watery stools in the 24-hour period before school, especially if your child acts or looks ill, it is recommended they not come to school.  When your child is sent home with diarrhea and has more diarrhea after arriving home, keep him home the next day – until free of diarrhea for 24 hours.
 
EYES
Sometimes eyes are swollen and irritated by allergens or virus. Because of the extremely contagious nature of bacterial pink eye (bacterial conjunctivitis), we ask you to consult your doctor before sending your child to school with these symptoms: *thick mucus or pus draining from eye – red, puffy, itchy, or painful eye.  Your child can attend school 24 hours after starting medical treatment for bacterial pink eye with a doctor’s clearance.
 
FEVER
Temperature of 100.0 or higher is an indication that your child may be contagious. Giving a child Tylenol or Ibuprofen will bring the temperature down and make him more comfortable, but will not prevent them from passing the illness on to classmates. Please keep him home. REMEMBER – NEVER give aspirin to a child under 19 years of age.
 
RASH
A body rash, especially with fever and/or itching, may be contagious.  Keep your child home and call your doctor.  He may return to school with a doctor’s clearance or when the rash subsides.
 
VOMITING
A child with vomiting two or more times within the past 24 hours should stay at home.  If your child is sent home from school with vomiting and vomits again after going home, please keep him home the next day.  He should be free of vomiting for 24 hours before returning to school.
 
HEAD LICE
Children cannot return to school until their hair has been treated with lice shampoo and all of the dead eggs (nits) have been removed. The student must be cleared by the school nurse before returning to class.
 
SEVERE SORE THROAT/ COUGH
If your child has a severe sore throat and/or a persistent cough, especially with fever or swollen glands in the neck, he should remain at home. A frequent or severe cough can be a distraction to the class besides spreading germs with each cough.  Please feel free to bring cough drops for a mild cough.   Just bring the cough drops to the school nurse, in the original container with your child’s name written on it, and a note stating the times you want your child to have the cough drops.  Parents must always bring and pick up medication at school.            

If you have any questions, please call the nurse’s office between 7:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Mrs. Martin A.E.S. School Nurse 222–1224
Mrs. Carrasco ACS Lead Nurse 334-343-8386