As every parent knows, it is sometimes hard to tell whether or not your child is sick enough to keep home from school.
It can be especially hard to tell whether respiratory symptoms are the cold or the flu.
One key indicator of flu is a fever, typically 101 degrees F or higher.
A sore throat and/or cough often occur with the fever. If your child has fever, he should be kept at home, especially if a sore throat or cough is also present.
If you suspect your child has the flu, especially if your child has fever, symptoms are severe, or symptoms last several days, contact your child’s health care provider immediately. Anti-viral treatment started within 48 hours of onset of symptoms can provide a lot of relief.
It is important to note that recovering from the flu can take a while. Children are often ill with the flu between 5 and 10 days.
While your child is safe to return to school once the fever has subsided and the child feels up to it, it is better to keep your child home one extra day rather than have them return to school too quickly.
