School & Daycare Illness Return Guide

Illness & Contagion Return Guide

Tap a condition to calculate the 24-hour clearance window in real time.

Must be 24 hours past the first antibiotic dose AND fever-free.
When was the first dose of antibiotics administered?
Has your child had a fever (≥ 100.4°F) in the past 24 hours?
Enter a date and time to calculate the 24-hour clearance window.
Strep is highly contagious until antibiotics have been on board for a full 24 hours. Complete the entire course of antibiotics even after symptoms resolve.
Must be 24 hours past the first antibiotic drop AND discharge cleared.
When was the first antibiotic eye drop administered?
Does the eye still have active, thick discharge or matted crusting?
Enter a date and time to calculate the 24-hour clearance window.
Bacterial pink eye is contagious until 24 hours after the first antibiotic dose. Viral pink eye can return when redness and discharge have resolved. Always wash hands and avoid sharing towels.
Must be fever-free for a full 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.
Date of Last Fever
Time of Last Fever
Stay home.
Safe to return on Tue, Jul 28 at 9:46 PM.
Clearance Rule
Your child may return to school or daycare once they are entirely fever-free for a full 24 hours without using any fever-reducing medications (such as Acetaminophen/Tylenol or Ibuprofen/Motrin).
Clinical Guidance
Fever is defined as a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. They must also be acting like themselves, returning to baseline energy levels, and tolerating oral fluids well.
Fever alone is one of the most common reasons children are sent home from school or daycare. Use this guide when no other specific diagnosis has been given.
5-day minimum isolation, then masking through Day 10 if cleared.
When did your child first test positive or develop symptoms?
Fever-free for 24 hours naturally (without medication)?
Are respiratory symptoms actively improving?
Enter a date and time to calculate the 24-hour clearance window.
COVID-19 requires a minimum 5-day isolation from symptom onset or first positive test. From Day 5–10, a well-fitting mask is required when around others. After Day 10, masking can stop if symptoms have resolved.
Safe to return if symptoms are mild and manageable, with no severe fatigue or wheezing.
Is your child's nasal discharge or coughing mild and manageable?
Is your child experiencing severe fatigue, a relentless cough, or wheezing?
Check any that apply right now:
A runny nose or mild cough without fever is generally fine. Severe fatigue, a relentless cough, or wheezing means your child needs rest at home. Practice good hand hygiene and cover coughs.
Ear infections aren't contagious, but fever or uncontrolled pain means stay home.
Has your child been fever-free (under 100.4°F) for the past 24 hours without medication?
Is your child's ear pain completely controlled, allowing them to play and learn comfortably?
Check any that apply right now:
Ear infections aren't passed from child to child. Once the fever is gone for 24 hours without medication and your child's pain is fully controlled, they can return to school or daycare.
Must be fever-free for 24 hours with no open blisters or drooling.
Fever-free for 24 hours naturally?
Are there open, weeping blisters or is your child actively drooling from mouth sores?
Check any that apply right now:
Children can return once the fever is gone and they can swallow comfortably without excess drooling. Healed blisters on hands and feet are no longer highly contagious.
Highly contagious until every lesion has fully crusted over.
Have ALL active skin blisters completely dried out and crusted over into solid scabs?
Check any that apply right now:
Varicella spreads through direct contact and respiratory droplets. Children must remain home until every active blister has dried into a solid scab — usually 5–7 days after the rash appears.
Must be fever-free with no rapidly spreading rash or extreme sluggishness.
Fever-free for 24 hours naturally?
Is the rash spreading rapidly or accompanied by extreme sluggishness?
Check any that apply right now:
Generalized viral rashes can return to school once the fever has resolved naturally and the rash is stable. A rapidly spreading rash or unusual lethargy warrants medical evaluation before returning.
Must be 24 hours past the last episode and tolerating fluids.
When was your child's absolute last episode of vomiting or diarrhea?
Is your child currently struggling to tolerate solid foods or liquids?
Enter a date and time to calculate the 24-hour clearance window.
Stomach bugs spread rapidly in group settings. Wait a full 24 hours after the last symptom, and confirm your child is hydrated and eating normally.
May return the morning after completing the first prescribed overnight treatment.
Has your child completed their first full prescribed overnight topical treatment cycle?
Check any that apply right now:
Scabies requires a full prescribed topical treatment course (usually permethrin) applied overnight. After completing the first cycle, your child is no longer contagious and may return to school or daycare the following morning.

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General guidance only. Always defer to your pediatrician and your school or daycare's specific policies.