Answer a handful of quick questions about how your child is feeling, and get a clear, friendly answer: school today, or a cozy day at home.
Quick answer: if your child has a fever of 100°F or higher, has vomited more than once, or just seems “off,” a rest day is the right call. Once they’ve gone 24 hours without a fever (and without fever medicine) and feel like themselves again, they’re usually ready to head back.
Does your child have a fever today, 100°F or higher, or have they had fever-reducing medicine to keep one down?
Any sore throat today?
Is it hard to swallow or breathe, is there a rash with it, or has the sore throat lasted more than 2 days?
Any headache today?
Is it a sudden, severe headache along with vomiting or a stiff neck?
Any stomachache or belly pain today, without vomiting or diarrhea?
Does lying down for 10 to 15 minutes help, with the pain easing up?
Any vomiting or diarrhea since yesterday?
Is there a rash anywhere on your child’s skin today?
Does the rash come with a fever, or does your child seem unwell overall?
Which one did the doctor mention?
Has treatment (like an antifungal cream) already started?
Has it been at least 24 hours since treatment for scabies started?
Has it been at least 48 hours since treatment started, and are the sores no longer oozing?
Has a doctor diagnosed any of these today?
Does it look like allergies (itchy, watery, no thick discharge), or does it look infectious (pink, goopy, or crusty)?
Has your child seen a doctor, started treatment at least 24 hours ago, and does the eye look back to normal now?
Has it been at least 24 hours since your child’s first dose of antibiotics?
Has the lice treatment been completed, with no live lice left?
Last question. Is your child acting like themselves? Normal energy, eating okay, playing, no complaints of feeling unwell?
You’re good to go! ☀️
Send them off with a smile. Here’s a good day for school.
Pack a water bottle, remind them to wash their hands often, and keep an eye out this evening. If anything changes or new symptoms show up, it’s always okay to reassess tomorrow morning.
Good to go today ☀️
Ringworm with treatment already started is not a reason to miss school.
Keep the patch covered with a bandage or clothing if possible, keep using the cream as directed (it can take about a month even after the spot fades), and avoid sharing hats, combs, or towels.
Good to go today ☀️
Once treatment has been going for 24 hours, scabies is not a reason to stay home.
Wash bedding and recently worn clothing in hot water as your doctor recommended, and keep up with the full treatment plan.
Good to go today ☀️
48 hours of treatment with no more oozing means impetigo is no longer contagious enough to stay home.
Keep the sores loosely covered at school and remind your child not to scratch or pick at them.
You’re good to go! ☀️
Allergy-type pink eye, with no infection, doesn’t call for a day off.
A cool compress can help with the itchiness. If you notice thick discharge or the eye looks worse, check in with your doctor.
Good to go today ☀️
Cleared by the doctor, symptom-free, and 24 hours into treatment. That’s the green light for pink eye.
Remind your child to wash their hands often and avoid sharing pillows or towels for a few more days.
Good to go today ☀️
24 hours of antibiotics and no fever. Strep and scarlet fever are no longer contagious enough to stay home.
Make sure they finish the full course of antibiotics, even once they’re feeling better.
Good to go today ☀️
Treated with no live lice left. Head lice on its own is not a reason to miss more school.
Keep an eye out over the next week or two, and let the school health office know so they can help watch for a second round.
Time for a rest day 💧
A fever means their body is fighting something, and it’s easy to pass along.
Back to school when: your child has gone a full 24 hours with no fever, without any help from fever-reducing medicine.
Keep them comfortable, offer plenty of fluids, and call your pediatrician if the fever climbs above 102°F, lasts more than a couple of days, or comes with a rash, stiff neck, or trouble breathing.
Let’s stay home today 💧
Repeated vomiting, diarrhea with a fever, or just feeling unwell all mean it’s a rest and recover day.
Back to school when: the stomach has settled, any fever has been gone 24 hours without medicine, and your child is eating and drinking normally again.
Offer small sips of water often to prevent dehydration. Call your doctor if you see blood or mucus in the stool, your child can’t keep fluids down, or symptoms last more than a day or two.
Let’s get this checked 💧
Trouble swallowing or breathing, a rash, or a sore throat lasting more than 2 days all call for a doctor’s look before school.
Back to school when: a doctor has ruled out strep or scarlet fever, or your child has completed 24 hours of antibiotics if needed, and is fever-free for 24 hours.
If it’s hard for your child to breathe or swallow at all, call your doctor or seek care right away rather than waiting for an appointment.
Get medical care now 💧
A sudden, severe headache with vomiting or a stiff neck needs prompt medical attention, not a wait-and-see morning.
Call your child’s doctor right away or seek emergency care. This isn’t a school-or-home decision, it’s a see-a-doctor-now situation.
Okay for now, but worth a mention 💧
A single mild headache with no other red flags usually isn’t a reason to stay home. Frequent or recurring headaches are worth mentioning to your doctor or the school nurse.
Offer water, a quiet moment, and see how your child feels. If today’s headache is severe or paired with vomiting or a stiff neck, treat that as urgent instead.
Let’s stay home today 💧
Belly pain that doesn’t ease up with rest is worth a call to the doctor, especially alongside a fever or a recent injury.
Back to school when: the pain has resolved and your child is back to eating, drinking, and acting normally.
Let’s stay home today 💧
A rash plus a fever, or a child who seems unwell, is worth a call to the doctor before deciding anything else.
Back to school when: your doctor has let you know what’s going on, and your child meets that condition’s specific return guidelines, plus 24 hours fever-free without medicine.
Home until the spots scab over 💧
Chickenpox spreads easily until every blister has scabbed and dried.
Back to school when: every blister has scabbed over and dried, and your child has been fever-free for 24 hours without medicine.
Avoid aspirin or aspirin-containing products for the fever. A lukewarm oatmeal bath can help with itching.
Home for now 💧
Hand, foot, and mouth disease needs a fever-free day before heading back.
Back to school when: your child has been fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine.
Doctor visit first 💧
Once treatment for ringworm gets started, most kids can head right back to school.
Back to school when: treatment (usually an antifungal cream) has begun. It’s often fine to return the very next day.
Home for one more day 💧
Scabies treatment needs about 24 hours to take effect before it’s safe to return.
Back to school when: it’s been at least 24 hours since treatment started.
A little more healing time 💧
Impetigo is contagious until the sores stop oozing and treatment has had time to work.
Back to school when: it’s been at least 48 hours since treatment started, and the sores are no longer oozing.
Home until treatment kicks in 💧
Viral and bacterial pink eye are contagious until treatment has had a chance to work.
Back to school when: a doctor has cleared it, the eye looks normal again, and it’s been at least 24 hours since treatment started.
Home for a bit longer 💧
Strep and scarlet fever stay contagious until antibiotics have had time to work.
Back to school when: it’s been at least 24 hours since the first dose of antibiotics, and your child is fever-free without medicine.
Time to treat first 💧
Active, live lice need to be treated before heading back to the classroom.
Back to school when: treatment is complete and there’s no evidence of live lice. This is often the very next day.
Trust your gut. Rest today 💧
No single symptom stands out, but you know your child best. A quieter day at home is a fine choice.
Keep an eye on them today and see how they’re doing by evening. If anything changes, or if you’re worried, a quick call to your child’s doctor or the school health office can help you sort it out.
How this checker works
This tool follows the same questions a school health office asks every morning, built from real readmission guidelines. It takes about two minutes, nothing is saved, and it’s a quick gut check, not a diagnosis. For anything unusual or worrying, call your child’s doctor or the school nurse.
A quick guide to common symptoms
The reasoning behind the checker, symptom by symptom.
Fever
100°F or higher counts as a fever. Kids need 24 fever-free hours, without medicine, before returning.
Sore throat
Trouble swallowing, a rash, or a sore throat lasting more than 2 days is worth a doctor’s visit. A mild, new one is often fine for school.
Headache
A sudden, severe headache with vomiting or a stiff neck needs care right away. Mild and manageable is usually fine for school.
Stomachache
If resting for 10 to 15 minutes eases the pain, school is usually fine. Pain that persists or is severe means a day at home.
Vomiting
One episode with no fever is usually fine. Repeated vomiting, or vomiting with a fever, means a day of rest.
Diarrhea
Two or more watery stools, a fever, or blood in the stool point to a day at home.
Rashes
A rash with a fever calls for a doctor’s opinion. No fever and feeling fine is often okay for school.
Chickenpox & hand-foot-mouth
Chickenpox needs every blister scabbed and dried, plus 24 fever-free hours. Hand-foot-mouth just needs the fever gone.
Pink eye, strep, and lice
Pink eye needs treatment and a normal-looking eye, strep needs 24 hours of antibiotics, lice needs no live bugs left.
Frequently asked questions
100°F (37.7°C) or higher. Plan on 24 fever-free hours, without medicine, before returning.
No. The 24-hour fever-free window has to happen without help from medicine.
Stay home for a fever, severe cramping, or blood in the stool. Return once things are back to normal and fever-free for 24 hours.
Allergy-type pink eye usually needs no time off. Viral or bacterial pink eye needs a doctor’s clearance and 24 hours of treatment.
Not necessarily. Once treatment is done and there’s no live lice, they’re welcome back, often the next day.
Trust your gut. A rest day rarely hurts, and your child’s doctor or the school health office can help you decide.
Skip the checklist and get help right away if you see:
Trouble breathing, or lips or face turning blue or gray
Very hard to wake up, or unresponsive
A stiff neck along with a fever, a severe headache, or repeated vomiting
Swelling of the face, lips, or tongue, especially with hives or trouble breathing
A seizure, especially a first-time seizure or one that doesn’t stop
A head injury with worsening headache, repeated vomiting, confusion, slurred speech, or one pupil larger than the other
Any of these call for immediate medical attention. Call 911 or your child’s doctor right away, don’t wait to decide about school.
Disclaimer
HallPass Health is an informational tool, not a medical provider, and this is not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional advice. The decision to send a child to school always rests with the parent or guardian. Neither HallPass Health, the school nurse, staff, nor the school district are responsible for outcomes from decisions made using this tool. For anything severe or worsening, contact a licensed healthcare provider right away.
Some communicable illnesses are also reported to the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD) as part of routine school health tracking. That reporting is handled by the school health office, not by families, so there’s nothing extra for you to do beyond letting the school know your child is out sick.
