Signs And Symptoms Chart Reference For The Health Office printable pdf download

Appendix A

Signs and Symptoms Chart Reference for the Health Office

Symptom

Common Causes

Complaint/Observation

Notify

Send Home from School

Re-admit When

Parent

Common Cold

Viruses

Nasal congestion and drainage; cough; watery eyes; fever.

Yes

No, unless there is fever with

Criteria for sending home is

behavior change; difficulty breathing;

resolved

child looks or acts very ill.

Cough

Common cold; lower

Dry or wet cough; runny nose; sore throat; hoarse voice;

Yes

No, unless there severe cough; rapid

Criteria for sending home is

respiratory infection

barking cough.

and/or difficulty breathing; wheezing

resolved

(pneumonia); croup; asthma;

that is not responsive to inhaler;

sinus infection; bronchitis.

cyanosis

Diarrhea

Usually viral; less commonly

Frequent loose stools compared to child’s normal pattern;

Yes

Yes, if diarrhea is causing accidents

No further accidents; cleared

bacterial or parasitic.

abdominal cramps; fever.

for toilet trained children; stool is not

by physician for any bacterial

contained in diaper; blood or mucus

or parasitic infection; able to

in stool; fever with behavior change;

participate.

looks or acts very ill.

Difficult or noisy

Common cold; croup;

Common cold-stuffy nose, sore throat, cough; croup-

Yes

Yes, if child has difficult or labored

Criteria for sending home is

breathing

asthma; bronchitis;

barking cough, hoarse, fever; very noisy breathing;

breathing; fever accompanied by

resolved

epiglottitis; pneumonia;

Asthma- child is working hard to breath, rapid breathing,

behavior changes; child looks or acts

object stuck in throat.

wheezing; Epiglottitis- gasping for breath with mouth wide

very ill; blue color to lips/skin; new

open, high fever, drooling, cyanotic.

onset of wheezing; child with known

diagnosis of asthma does not

respond to rescue inhaler.

Earache

Bacterial or viral; often occurs

Fever, pain or irritability; difficulty hearing; blocked ears;

Yes

No, unless unable to participate or

Criteria for sending home is

with common cold.

drainage, swelling around ear.

has fever with behavior change.

resolved

Eye Irritation,

Bacterial or viral

Bacterial infection- pinkeye with yellow/green discharge

Yes

No, unless child is too ill to

Criteria for sending home is

Pink Eye

conjunctivitis; allergic or

that is crusted on eyelids in morning. Viral infection-

participate.

resolved

chemical irritation.

pinkeye with swelling and watery discharge. Allergic and

Yes, if student has severe sensitivity

chemical irritation- red, tearing and itchy eyes, runny nose

to light, pain or swelling- seek

medical attention for evaluation.

Fever

Viral, bacterial or parasitic

Flushing, tired, irritable, decreased activity. Fever alone is

Yes

No, unless fever is 100.5 or more

Criteria for sending home is

infection; overheating;

not harmful. Elevated body temperature is defense against

orally (or 101 taken rectally, by ear or

resolved; Able to participate

reaction to medication.

infection. Rapid elevation of temperature sometimes

temporal scan); behavior change;

triggers a febrile seizure in children 6 and under.

unable to participate.

Headache

Bacterial or viral infection;

Tired an irritable. May occur with other symptoms.

Yes

No, unless child is unable to

Able to participate

other noninfectious causes.

participate. A case of sudden, severe

headache with vomiting and stiff

neck might signal meningitis and

requires prompt medical evaluation.

Adapted from American Academy of Pediatrics Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools. This chart is for references purposes, not for distribution. Developed by Howard Taras, MD,

Consulting School Physician, San Diego Unified School District, used by permission of San Diego Unified School District. Approved for countywide distribution by San Diego Health & Human Services

Agency - Public Health, January 2012

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Signs And Symptoms Chart Reference For The Health Office

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