Send or don't? That is the question...

[CharityLynn]

Ok with all the sickness going around I am wondering if I should send my kids to school in the morning. Last week my daughter ran a fever of around 103 but the fever only lasted 24 hours and she was fine the next day except for coughing and sneezing/congestion. My son was ill over the weekend but he too no longer has a fever just a bad cough and he is acting totally like himself.

Do I send them to school since they're not running fevers or showing contagious symptoms? I'll give them both cough meedicine. Or do I jkeep them home because of the cough? Doctors have said the cough could last for as long as 3 months...

Thanks for your advice!

Charity

 

[Tinijocaro]

The official word is that your children should be symptom free (fever free) for 24 hours, alsthough some docs are saying 48 hours. This goes against all research that says that the virus can still be shed in children for up to a week after last fever.

If they are feeling fine, I'd send them. I've seen enough kids in-school with fever that I think you are being more considerate than the average bear.

 

[Christine]

I'd send them. At best, I might keep the one home that was sick over the weekend just so you can be sure he is totally ready to go back. My son seemed better but the first day back it took a lot out of him and he probably could have used another day at home. You're correct in that the cough can last a long time. My son's lasted 2 weeks and the cough itself made him feel bad for a couple of days because it was exhausting.

 

[golfgal]

I would send them. I have been coughing for over 5 weeks (not bad now but for the first 3 weeks it was pretty constant). Whatever the cold/virus that is going around has a cough that just lingers.

 

[ferris198]

I kept my ds home for a week only because I didn't want other kids to get ill.

 

[james'mommy]

I offically had the H1N1 and the doctor said to stay home for 24 hours after the fever went away. DS was home sick at the end of the week. When I called to report him absent they said 24 hours fever free.