Buckingham

When to Keep a Child Home from School

It is imperative that the health office be notified if your child contracts a communicable disease. Children are excluded from school for the following common diseases: 

Streptococcal Pharyngitis (Strep Throat and Scarlet Fever): Excluded until 24 hours after treatment has begun and student is fever free.

Central Bucks also reserves the right to exclude children from school based on the following criteria:

• Illness that prevents the child from participating in activities

• Fever (100.4 degrees or higher)

• Diarrhea or vomiting in during the previous 24 hours

• Rash with a fever

• Other conditions deemed appropriate after assessment by the certified school nurse and/or staff nurse

Chickenpox: Excluded until at least six days after the last outbreak of “pox.”

Conjunctivitis, Acute (“Pink Eye”): Excluded until prescribed treatment has been given for 24 hours.

Head Lice: Excluded if live insects or nits are found within 1/2" of the scalp. Must be treated with special shampoo and be rechecked by the school nurse for re-admittance to school.

Impetigo: Excluded until judged non-infective by the child’s physician or school nurse

Measles: Excluded until four days from onset of rash.

Mumps: Excluded nine days from onset or until swelling subsides.

Pertussis (Whooping Cough): Excluded four weeks from onset or seven days from start of antibiotic treatment.

Ringworm: Excluded until judged non-infective by the child’s physician or the school nurse.

Rubella (German Measles): Excluded four days from onset of rash.

Scabies: Excluded until judged non-infective by the child’s physician or the school nurse.