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This post was written by Tony GiaQuinta, MD, PPG – Pediatrics.
After what seemed like the longest spring break ever, parents and caregivers recently dusted off backpacks and lunch boxes, added masks and hand sanitizer to school checklists, and finally got kids out of the house and back in school. Success!
Hopefully, your startup has been as smooth as that, but if we’ve learned anything in 2020, it’s that returning to school might not be that simple. This is especially true if your child starts showing any signs of illness. In years past, if your child was fever-free and feeling comfortable, we often ignored those snotty noses and carried on with a little extra tissue. But this year, things are different.
Illnesses at school
If your child shows signs of a runny nose, cough, congestion, wheezing, headache, sore throat, belly pain, you name it, they will be sent home. Being sent home is undoubtedly a big disappointment for children who were excited to be back in the classroom and for parents trying to establish a back-to-school routine. But it’s important to remember that these protocols are in place for a good reason. The goal is to keep our schools open for as long as possible. To do this, COVID-19 must be kept out, which can be tricky because the symptoms of the coronavirus are similar to the many other seasonal viruses that circulate in a community.
The protocol
The school systems and Indiana State Department of Health are asking that we keep children with any viral symptoms home for 10 days after symptoms begin, and 24 hours from their last fever. This protocol is to prevent the possibility of COVID-19 rearing its ugly head within our schools and at best, causing those in close contact to quarantine, or worst-case scenario, shutting down schools like last spring.
Contact your family doctor
If your child gets sent home, your child’s doctor needs to evaluate them. Your physician might recommend the walk-in clinic or a virtual visit. While there is a possibility that your child’s symptoms aren’t caused by COVID-19, that’s difficult to prove, which is why testing for the virus is crucial. If your child tests positive, the school must go through the steps of notifying anyone in close contact to keep the virus from spreading.
Unfortunately, a negative test doesn’t mean you’re in the clear because tests aren't always conclusive, meaning your child could be positive for coronavirus. For this reason, we still recommend keeping children home even if the test is negative. There are a few exceptions, like medication side effects, allergies, or other testable illnesses like strep or flu, where your doctor can safely say this is not coronavirus.
Stay positive
Remember, we are working hard to keep everyone safe, and schools open. In the meantime, if your student gets sent home, please know that your school system is working hard to keep your child engaged with remote learning options until it is safe to return.
