When is your child too sick to go to school?

It's a debate that Dr. Kevin Dahlman of Aurora Health Care has heard as both a parent and a Pediatrician; when a child is too sick to go to school?

He tells CBS 58 News that it doesn't have to be complicated.

"The first think to check is if there is a fever. Then no school. That's an automatic."

Dr. Dahlman says the body is undergoing added stress to fight whatever is causing the fever which is also the subject of misconception.

"Sometimes parents say 99.1," says Dr. Dahlman. "That is not a fever. 100.4 is the cutoff for a fever."

Even if a fever subsides the doctor says you have to be sure your child is not so tired that they'll actually learn something and be able to focus.

He advises waiting a complete 24 hours once the fever breaks before sending the child back to class.

It's also important to observe other symptoms beyond a cough and sniffles that would indicate a highly contagious infections.

For example:

Drainage or redness in the eye.

The child will have to go to the doctor for treatment for something like pink eye and should not be in school where those germs could spread easily.

The doctor says vomiting and diarrhea could indicate a norovirus which has been known to shut down schools when contamination occurs.

If the child is pushing fluids and stay hydrated then they can wait out those symptoms at home.

If they do become dehydrated than medical attention is required.

To help parents, Aurora Health Care offer video conferencing.

Dr. Dahlman says a physician may still wind of asking the child to come in to check vital like heart and lungs in person.

But it can offer some comfort to parents facing that decision of whether to send their child off to school or not.

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