When your child should be kept off school and when they can go in - 17 illnesses to check
It's that time of year when youngsters can easily fall ill as the weather turns cold.
Sometimes children might get a mild cough or cold but at other times their condition may be more serious. And it can be tricky for parents to decide whether or not to keep their child off school.
The NHS has outlined some common illnesses and explained what you should do in each case. It says: "If you do keep your child at home, it's important to phone the school or nursery on the first day. Let them know that your child won't be in and give them the reason.
READ MORE:Cheap superfood breakfast 'could help weight loss and leave you fuller for longer'
READ MORE:Newcastle Hospitals to get 'crack team' support to bring down waiting lists
"If your child is well enough to go to school but has an infection that could be passed on, such as a cold sore or head lice, let their teacher know." More details are given below and further information is available on the NHS website here.
High temperature
If your child has a high temperature, keep them off school until it goes away. A normal temperature in babies and children can vary slightly from child to child. A high temperature is 38C or more.
The NHS says: "If your child or baby has a high temperature, you can usually look after them at home. The temperature should go down over 1 to 4 days."
Coughs and colds
It's fine to send your child to school with a minor cough or common cold. But if they have a high temperature, keep them off school until it goes. Encourage your child to throw away any used tissues and to wash their hands regularly.
Chickenpox
If your child has chickenpox, keep them off school until all the spots have crusted over. This is usually about five days after the spots first appeared. Here is more information about the signs of chickenpox to look out for.
Cold sores
There's no need to keep your child off school if they have a cold sore. Encourage them not to touch the blister or kiss anyone while they have the cold sore, or to share things like cups and towels.
Conjunctivitis
You don't need to keep your child away from school if they have conjunctivitis, unless they are feeling very unwell. Do get advice from your pharmacist. Encourage your child not to rub their eyes and to wash their hands regularly.
Covid-19
If your child has mild symptoms, such as a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough, and feels well enough, they can go to school. Your child should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if they have symptoms of COVID-19 and they either:
have a high temperature
do not feel well enough to go to school or do their normal activities
Your child is no longer required to do a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test if they have symptoms. But if your child has tested positive for Covid, they should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for three days after the day they took the test.
Ear infection
If your child has an ear infection and a high temperature or severe earache, keep them off school until they're feeling better or their high temperature goes away.
Hand, foot and mouth disease
Hand, foot and mouth disease is a common childhood illness. It usually gets better on its own in 7 to 10 days. Read about its symptoms here.
If your child has hand, foot and mouth disease but seems well enough to go to school, there's no need to keep them off. Encourage your child to throw away any used tissues straight away and to wash their hands regularly.
Head lice and nits
There's no need to keep your child off school if they have head lice. You can treat head lice and nits without seeing a GP.
Impetigo
Impetigo is a skin infection that's very contagious but not usually serious. Anyone can get it, but it's more common in young children. With treatment, impetigo often gets better in a few days.
If your child has impetigo, they'll need treatment from a pharmacist or GP, often with antibiotics. Keep them off school until all the sores have crusted over and healed, or for 48 hours after they start antibiotic treatment. Encourage your child to wash their hands regularly and not to share things like towels and cups with other children at school.
Measles
If your child has measles, they'll need to see a GP. Call the GP surgery before you go in, as measles can spread to others easily.
Keep your child off school for at least 4 days from when the rash first appears. They should also avoid close contact with babies and anyone who is pregnant or has a weakened immune system.
Ringworm
Ringworm is a common fungal infection. It's not caused by worms. You can usually buy medicine from a pharmacy to treat it.
If your child has ringworm, see your pharmacist unless it's on their scalp, in which case you should see a GP. It's fine for your child to go to school once they have started treatment.
Scarlet fever
If your child has scarlet fever, they'll need treatment with antibiotics from a GP. Otherwise they'll be infectious for 2 to 3 weeks.
Your child can go back to school 24 hours after starting antibiotics. Here is more information about scarlet fever and its symptoms.
Slapped cheek syndrome (fifth disease)
You don't need to keep your child off school if they have slapped cheek syndrome because, once the rash appears, they're no longer infectious. But let the school or teacher know if you think your child has slapped cheek syndrome. Read more about this condition here.
Sore throat
You can still send your child to school if they have a sore throat. But if they also have a high temperature, they should stay at home until it goes away. A sore throat and a high temperature can be symptoms of tonsillitis.
Threadworms
Threadworms (pinworms) are tiny worms in your poo. They're common in children and spread easily. You can treat them without seeing a GP.
You don't need to keep your child off school if they have threadworms. Speak to your pharmacist, who can recommend a treatment.
Vomiting and diarrhoea
Children with diarrhoea or vomiting should stay away from school until they have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days (48 hours).