How sick is too sick for school? Series: THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE; PULSE SOUTH PINELLAS Edition

• Published in: St. Petersburg times (Saint Petersburg, Fla. : 1921)
• Main Author: Epstein, Bruce
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: St. Petersburg, Fla Times Publishing Company 09.04.2002

Medication: When a child has a condition necessitating she return to school while still on antibiotics, parents should check with the school regarding administering medication. Trained school personnel (most schools don't have nurses) will administer medication only to those students who have a signed authorization form on file at the school. Most require that all medication be in the original container. Prescription medications need only the parent's signature, because the physician's prescription is the labeled pharmacy container. Over-the-counter medications require both the parent's and physician's signatures. Both signatures are also required if the student is carrying and self-administering her own medication. Parents should work with their physician to schedule medication administration before and after school, if possible. Rash: A rash is usually a sign of a viral illness. It may also be a reaction to a medication or chemical (plant, detergents). If your child has an unusual rash or it is associated with a fever, it is probably best to keep her home until you have discussed the condition with her physician. Most viral rashes are not contagious, so parents should use common sense. For example, if your child has an allergic rash and is taking an antihistamine to prevent itching, it might be a good idea to keep her home, because these medications tend to make kids sleepy. Roseola: Students with any rash and fever should not return to school until their fever is gone. It is believed that children are contagious from a few days before the fever until onset of the rash.