Colds, fever, cough, flu, as well as gastrointestinal disorders and conjunctivitis, exanthematic diseases such as chickenpox, rubella, measles and head lice are the main problems children face during the school year. But when a child gets sick, how long does he have to stay at home? How long should the recovery take? And how can you tell if a child has really recovered or not?
Do not hurry
“Be patient and don't rush to return him to school too early,” advises pediatrician Giuseppe di Mauro, president of the Italian Society for Preventive and Social Pediatrics (Sipps). He explains: “In the early years of life and at school age, recovery is very important because infections tend to become mildly immunosuppressed in a child's immune system, which means it is easier to regenerate.”
Therefore, it is advisable that the child remains at home for a few more days: not only to avoid infection of his comrades, but also to reduce the risk of relapse.
Convalescence time
But what are the right time slots for a full recovery? “With respiratory diseases (otitis media, pharyngitis, rhinitis), as well as with colds, there are no fixed periods: each case must be analyzed individually, depending on the diagnosis and general condition of the child,” says Di Mauro, “In general, we can say that if the child still has a fever, cough or sneeze, it is advisable to stay at home until all symptoms have passed."
And if the disease is in a fever? “The ideal is to wait 24 hours, which will indicate a complete recovery of the child,” the expert advises. Remember that in case of fever, an antipyretic agent should be prescribed only at temperatures above 38 ° and only in case of real illness of the child, preferably after 48 or 72 hours. This is because fever, which is often a manifestation of a viral infection, can not only pass without the use of drugs, but also become an ally of the child, creating conditions that are hostile to the survival of the virus.
Fever in children, everything moms need to know
On the other hand, for other diseases spreading among children, a standard time to school can be established, bearing in mind, however, that the clinical picture of an individual subject must always be assessed. “For example, if you have gastrointestinal disorders, you need to wait until vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain are over,” says Di Mauro.
Again: “In case of conjunctivitis, the child can return to class two days after starting treatment, while for diseases such as measles, rubella, chickenpox (which can still be easily prevented with appropriate vaccinations), you will have to wait at least five days. After this period, the child is no longer contagious, but, obviously, we must always evaluate how we feel. The state of well-being of an individual is always very subjective."
On the other hand, it should also be remembered that exanthematous diseases significantly weaken the immune system, so it is usually easier for a child to become infected when he returns to society.
