Upset stomach and diarrhea are extremely common in children of all ages and can be due to a variety of causes. When deciding whether or not to send your child to school with diarrhea, you should always use your best judgement. But as a rule of thumb, if your child feels sick and has diarrhea, it is best to keep them home and monitor their symptoms.
Diarrhea in Children: When to Stay Home from School
Diarrhea can be caused by a variety of things, including:
- Infections caused by viruses (such as gastroenteritis) parasites, and bacteria (such as salmonella)
- Medications including laxatives and antibiotics. If your child is taking medication, check the label for potential side effects.
- Food poisoning caused by eating contaminated food. Symptoms usually occur quickly after eating and last around 24 hours.
- Food allergies such as lactose or gluten allergies
Diarrhea can be tough for kids to deal with at school and can be a sign that your child has a contagious infection. To prevent teachers and other kids at your child’s school from getting sick, it is best to keep them home for at least 24 hours.
When to Take Your Child to a Medical Professional
Diarrhea in children usually gets better after a few days. However, you should take your child to see a medical professional as soon as possible if he or she:
- Has a rash
- Has bloody stool
- Has stomach pain for more than 2 hours
- Is vomiting bloody green or yellow fluid
- Has a fever over 105° F or is under age 6 months with a fever over 100.4° F
- Is dehydrated
- Is very sick
- Has had diarrhea for more than 3 days
- Is younger than 6 months of age
The medical professionals at FastMed Urgent Care are available 7 days a week to provide you and your family with fast, quality medical care. Our clinics open early and close late, meaning you can bring your child in to be seen before the start of work or school.
If you are concerned about your child’s diarrhea, don’t send them to school, bring them to one of FastMed’s convenient locations instead.
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Sources:
https://www.webmd.com/children/guide/diarrhea-treatment
https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/school-sickdays
https://www.webmd.com/children/guide/diarrhea-treatment?page=2
About FastMed
FastMed is a leading provider of high-quality, convenient, affordable, and compassionate healthcare in 34 counties across North Carolina. FastMed serves both urban and rural communities across the state with a wide range of care options, including preventive, telemedicine, occupational health, and primary and urgent care. FastMed is one of the few urgent care providers in the nation that has earned The Joint Commission’s coveted Gold Seal of Approval® for quality, safety, and infection control in ambulatory healthcare. For more information, visit www.fastmed.com.