When to keep kids home from school: Experts speak out

While it may seem obvious, the decision can be difficult for it requires juggling the family schedule: Chicago pediatrician Hanna Chow-Johnson, MD lays out guidelines to help parents do what's best for their child and his classmates.

Beginning with obvious cases such as fevers, many schools prohibit a child from attending until he's been fever-free for 24 hours.

Same for stomach problems such as gastroenteritis or the stomach flu that can cause vomiting and diarrhea, says Dr. Chow-Johnson.

"Children should not go back to school until both the vomiting and diarrhea are gone for 24 hours," she says.

When it comes to colds, a minor cough is acceptable, but Dr. Chow-Johnson reminds parents to teach their children proper coughing hygiene, which includes coughing into a tissue or their elbow, accompanied by frequent hand washing.

Believe it or not, something as simple as a sore throat may be reason enough to keep the child home, for it indicates a virus -- rather than strep throat -- up to 70 percent of the time, according to Dr. Chow-Johnson.

"Children with strep are contagious and should not be in school until they have been on an antibiotic for 24 hours," she says. "If it is a viral infection, go by comfort level as far as returning to school."

Lice and conjunctivitis are highly contagious and call for keeping the child home.

Symptoms of conjunctivitis -- also known as pinkeye -- include discomfort, redness and swelling around the eyes and a discharge that can cause the eyelids to stick together.

"Your child is contagious with bacterial or viral conjunctivitis until the redness and discharge are gone," says Dr. Chow-Johnson. "If the cause is viral eye drops won't help. The only cure is time. Don't send your child to school until the redness is gone."

In the case of lice, Dr. Chow-Johnson advises parents to comb through the child's hair using a fine-toothed, specially made apparatus to remove all lice before allowing the child to return to school.