EXCLUSION FROM SCHOOL:
WHEN SHOULD YOUR CHILD STAY HOME
OR BE SENT HOME?
In accordance with NH RSA 200:39: “Whenever any student exhibits symptoms of contagion or is a hazard to themselves or others, they shall be excluded from the classroom and their parents or guardians shall be notified as soon as possible.”
The list of reportable diseases as well as information on the appropriate actions to take for specific diseases may be found on the Department of Health and Human Services website.
It is the school nurse’s role to keep the school community healthy and safe. At the discretion of the school nurse, symptoms such as (but not limited to) the following list, will indicate a need for the student to be dismissed from school or remain at home until symptoms resolve:
- Positive COVID result from a home test/provider test. Must stay home for 5 days and show improvement in symptoms prior to return.
- Fever greater than 100.4 and/or fever within previous 24 hours; Can return to school after fever has been gone for 24 hours without medication.
- Diarrhea- 3 or more watery stools in 24 hours; Vomiting- 1 or more times within the past 24 hours; Can return to school after diarrhea/vomiting has been gone for 24 hours.
- Wheezing not responsive to medication; Return to school when stable.
- Symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection- unusually tired, pale, lack of appetite, confused or irritable.
- Undiagnosed rash, especially if accompanied by fever or behavior change, until determined by a health care provider that it is not communicable.
- Purulent Conjunctivitis until 24 hours after effective treatment by a health care provider has been started
- Persistent abdominal pain (>2 hours) or intermittent abdominal pain associated with fever, dehydration or other systemic signs or symptoms.
- Mouth sores associated with drooling, unless the student’s health care provider or local health department authority states that the student is noninfectious
- The following known infectious diseases until the time of infection has passed as determined by the standard of care: Strep throat, Impetigo, E. Coli, Shigella infection, Salmonella, Tuberculosis, Varicella, Rubella, Pertussis, Mumps, Measles, Hepatitis A
- Scabies until after treatment has been completed.
- Suspected substance ingestion.
- Suspected communicable disease until diagnosed by a physician.
- Or any illness that prevents the student from participating comfortably in school activities or which results in a greater need for care than the school staff can provide without compromising the health and safety of others.
If you ever have any questions about whether it is OK to send your child to school when ill or after illness/injury, please do not hesitate to call the school nurse, Jess Ganchi at 603-524-8733!
·