Spot the symptoms

When to keep your child at home: A symptom check

Your child has been vomiting during the night.

Symptoms like these could be the beginning of an infection like gastro-enteritis, so it is best to keep him home

Your child is feverish during the night.

His temperature needs to be normal for 24 hours before you can be confident he’s well enough for school.

Symptoms like tummy ache or headache are difficult to assess.

If they’re bad enough to stop your child playing or eating, then keep him at home.

Always check your child’s temperature.

If he says his head hurts as headache can be caused of dehydration.

Your child may complain of earache or sore throat.

If you don’t know the cause, the pain is making your child cry, or the symptoms interfere with eating and drinking, then he’s unfit for school that day.

You should always take a child’s temperature regularly.

Ensure he gets enough fluids and give your child pain relief in the form of children’s paracetemol or ibuprofen – always talk to your doctor if you child gets worse or fails to perk up.

Rashes often worry parents.

If your child is well in himself and the rash is only a small patch, chances are it’s unlikely to be serious. Itchy rashes are often eczema. But chickenpox is itchy too. It often begins at small red spots on the trunk before rapidly becoming more widespread – which eczema doesn’t do.

Remember

Sometimes a child’s complaints are vague. Maybe he’s gone off his food or drink, has become clingy, or is just less playful and smiling than usual.
Occasionally children refuse to get out of bed. It can be hard to distinguish illness from tiredness or problems at school, at least on the first occasion.
Taking your child’s temperature can help you decide if your child is genuinely ill.
When you keep your child off school, he should understand that it’s an opportunity for him to get better, not to have fun.
Most minor childhood illnesses improve with rest and plenty of fluids. There’s usually no need for kids to stay in bed when they’re unwell, but on the other hand your child shouldn’t be racing around outside or accompanying you to the shops or the office.

Taking your child’s temperature can help you decide if your child is genuinely ill.
A fever isn’t an illness.
Children learn by example, so being a good role model always helps.
Children catch numerous infections as they grow up.

View the pdf version of our independant research paper